For Ally Salort, music goes beyond melody; it’s about connection. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Maplewood, New Jersey is stepping into a defining moment in her career opening for Charlie Puth on his Whatever’s Clever! World Tour this summer. Salort had been looking forward to the experience saying “I’m going to be doing 29 shows opening for him all across the States and in Canada. I am so excited for it.”
Salort’s journey into music didn’t begin on stage – it started at home when she was 7 years old. “I remember watching my brother do guitar and voice lessons, and that’s when I asked my mom if I could do the same thing,” she recalls. Influenced early in her career by artists like Adele, Salort was drawn to powerful vocals and was struck by what she describes as her “first introduction to a big voice.” That influence has continued to shape her music today. Salort prides herself on taking raw emotion and shaping it into something that genuinely resonates with her audience. “Just the feeling of having someone connect to my music is so satisfying to me; that feels like success.”
For Salort, songwriting often begins with a single idea. “I start with a concept most of the time, or a lyric that I think is clever or interesting,” she explains. From there she builds a foundation, keeping it intuitive and emotionally honest. When it comes to knowing when a song is finished, she relies on instinct. “It just feels full,” she says, “like nothing is missing.”
Her sound has evolved significantly over the years. What began as covers and a simple love for singing has grown into a distinct artistic identity. “Lyrics and telling a story are very important, and I don’t think I thought about that as much in the beginning,” she says. This evolution has been embraced by her audience. While much of her earlier work centred around heartbreak, Salort has been pushing herself creatively. “I challenged myself to write about something other than love,” she says.
Salort’s growth can be seen in tracks like “I’ve Never Met Her,” a song she describes as “freeing”, both in sound and message. The track explores identity, growth and letting go of past versions of herself. This is also the track that she recommends to newcomers to her music to begin with. “It talks about letting go of a past self that includes all my songs before, I feel like it sums up a lot,” she says.
She isn’t afraid to lean into more complicated emotions either. Her song, “Any Way I Can,” captures a raw and uncomfortable truth: the feeling of wanting someone in your life no matter what the circumstances. “It’s not a healthy thought,” she admits, “but it’s a real one.” That honesty is what sets Salort apart. She doesn’t try to simplify emotions but instead allows them to exist as they are. It is this quality that connects her audience to her songs.
As for her inspiration, it doesn’t always come from her own life. “You can’t always rely on your own personal life to inspire you,” Salort says, “sometimes it’s very dull.” Instead, she looks outwards, drawing inspiration from other forms of art – movies, books and poetry. It is this openness that allows her to create songs that feel both deeply personal and widely relatable. It’s also part of her commitment to growth, constantly pushing herself to evolve not just as a musician, but as a storyteller. “I’m always trying to just be better and improve.”
Like many artists, Salort has had to navigate the challenges of turning passion into a career. “There are times where you kind of lose sight of why you started,” she says. But those doubts are often outweighed by moments of connection. Seeing fans sing her lyrics back to her at her shows is a reminder of why she does it. “You forget these are real people who are really impacted by you,” she says, a realization that continues to humble her.
In our conversation Salort revealed her track, “Finish Line,” is part of something bigger to come. What that ‘something’ is, she isn’t ready to reveal just yet, but no doubt it will reflect the same sense of growth she’s been working towards.
As she steps onto stages across North America, Salort remains grounded in what matters most to her: connection. For her, success isn’t defined by numbers or milestones, but by something far more personal. “I hope people just feel seen, comforted,” she says, “I hope they feel something.” And as she takes in this next chapter, it’s clear that she isn’t just making music; she’s creating something people can truly connect with and hold onto.
