Ally Salort
There’s a calm assurance in the way singer-songwriter Ally Salort approaches her music—an intuitive sense of when to let emotion breathe and when to follow a story through to its end. This sensibility saturates her latest EP, Change of Plans, a collection that captures a profound period of transition. Each track is emotionally layered, subtly expressive, and filled with the in-between moments that often leave the deepest imprints. The project also organically demands attention with every song marking a deliberate step toward comprehension—not just about her experiences, but how she’s learning to shape them into something meaningful.
This introspective quality has defined Ally’s journey from the start. Growing up in Maplewood, New Jersey, she was drawn to music early on, partly inspired by her older brother’s recitals and a natural inclination toward performance. By age seven, she was already asking for vocal lessons. At 14, a national talent search led her to Los Angeles, where she recorded and first engaged with industry executives. It was a pivotal experience, bringing the idea of a music career into sharp focus.
Soon after, Ally began posting covers on YouTube, gradually building an audience through emotionally resonant performances and a distinct vocal presence. Her connection with listeners deepened further on TikTok, where she started sharing original songs alongside covers. This created a more personal, ongoing dialogue with fans, rooted in vulnerability, growth, and emotional precision.
That emotional depth is carefully woven into every corner of her new EP, shaped by the concept of shapeshifting—a theme Ally describes as the project’s emotional backbone. It threads through the tracks in various forms: evolving identities, shifting relationships, and subtle changes in one’s inner world. Yet, this isn't reinvention for its own sake; it’s a study in adaptation, a guide to staying grounded when everything around you is in motion.
“I think I’m just continuing to try on different versions of myself and seeing what fits; whether that’s musically or just in life. Not having it all figured out yet and being okay with that,” she admits. “That mindset shows up subconsciously in songs of mine like ‘Swiss Army Knife’ where I talk about someone who prompts me to want to be ‘any type of girl.’ I also think sonically, I give myself a bit of room to explore and ‘shape-shift’ by even just working with different producers and collaborators.”
The songs on the EP feel intimate but never over-polished, more like candid snapshots than posed portraits. As the collection progresses, there’s a sense of actively working through challenges rather than simply working around them. The lyrics don't always offer neat resolutions, but they are firmly rooted in the power of achieving emotional understanding. Reflecting on her mindset during much of this creative process, Ally notes:
“It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster writing this EP which actually inspired the title Change of Plans. It takes you through excitement, confusion, heartbreak, and eventually, clarity and closure, which reflects the emotional landscape I was in. There are songs like ‘Any Way I Can’ that almost feel like a confession, so I hope people feel comforted and understood in even their messiest emotions. There are also songs that I hope people can just have fun getting ready to or scream in their car.”
This candid approach echoes her songwriting process. Rather than starting with a rigid blueprint, many songs gradually take shape. Whether she begins with a lyric, a phrase, or a loose feeling, the songs unfold in a way that mirrors how memories and meanings often surface over time. “I love starting with a lyric/concept, so typically I know where the song is going,” she shares. “It’s harder for me to write without a plan because there are usually too many different things I could say about a situation, especially if it’s involving closure or reflection.”
However, writing from reflection can come with its own complexities. Even after time has passed, revisiting certain moments can stir up what was difficult or unresolved. For artists who delve into personal narratives, there’s always the question of how deeply to re-enter those spaces—and what it truly costs. “It’s definitely something I think about before writing about a topic I’ve healed from, like ‘will this re-open the wound’ type of thing, but it typically doesn’t,” Ally explains. “Most of the time, I’m able to access how I felt while still maintaining a clear head about it.”
As Ally has comfortably settled into her artistry, her creative rhythm has also shifted. While emotional honesty remains at the core of her process, this chapter introduces a more adaptable, experimental approach. Discussing some of the changes that led to this point, she reveals:
“It’s a little contradicting to what I previously said about knowing where a song is going before writing, but I’ve recently started putting less pressure on myself to know exactly what I want to say every time. It’s obviously nice when I do and definitely makes it easier, but I also have learned over the last year that sometimes you just have to sit down and write and find it along the way as opposed to waiting for inspiration to strike.”
This evolution has given rise to a collection of songs that feel raw yet refined—personal without being over-explained. Sonically, it marks a significant step forward: more stripped back in some places, more dynamic in others. Visually, there’s a clearer cohesion. Through photography, cover art, and overall tone, the EP’s aesthetic seamlessly aligns with the music’s emotional palette.
“It’s felt more rewarding than ever before,” she shares. “I’ve been able to put what I’m feeling into words more easily and grow as a songwriter. Also, we’ve done a lot of visualizers instead of music videos for this EP, which has been a cool and easy way to set a world and aesthetic for the song. It brings more context and life to the cover art while still letting the song sort of speak for itself.”
For Ally, visual storytelling is clearly a vital part of her work. The way the songs are packaged and presented naturally adds dimension to the listening experience, suggesting that aesthetics is an extension of the emotional world she's building. Yet, it’s never the driving force. “I honestly don’t think of the visuals consciously while writing; it comes more so after the song is written,” she shares. “When I listen back, most of the time that’s when I can see the aesthetic, colors, and overall visual of the song.”
For an artist with a growing online presence, sharing so much of that emotional landscape isn’t always straightforward. However, Ally has forged a strong connection with her fans precisely because of her candor. As her platform expands, it’s essential to balance sharing with preserving, and vulnerability with privacy. “It helps a lot,” she tells us about being open on social media. “It rips off the bandage in so many ways and serves as somewhat of a bridge where I can test things out to ease into being vulnerable in the songs I release. It also gives me a sense of comfort knowing that I can shape and package a song online that otherwise would have no other context.”
This complexity also trickles down into how her work is received. There’s often a gap between how an artist presents themselves and how others interpret it. For someone like Ally—whose music leans into emotional nuance—these assumptions can blur the line between what’s offered and what’s projected.
On the topic of potential misconceptions stemming from her vulnerability, she admits, “I think if you just listened to my first couple of singles out of this EP, you could get a sense that I’m confident and empowered most of the time. But if you only listened to the second half of the EP, you might get a sense that I’m always longing for someone who doesn’t see or appreciate me. I think not being able to control what people listen to could always lead to an assumption that might not line up with who I am, which is why things like EPs or albums—that give a bit more context and insight—are so important for artists.”
While each moment on the EP offers something crucial, one song has burrowed its way into her heart more deeply than the others. “I would keep ‘Any Way I Can’ as a time capsule,” the singer-songwriter divulges, “probably because I get the most visceral feeling out of all of them when I listen to it. I think it’ll take me back to this era no matter how much time passes.”
Ultimately, this multi-faceted project doesn’t offer easy conclusions, but it does provide much-needed insight. For Ally, the process of writing, releasing, and living with these songs seems to have surfaced new truths—about herself, her work, and even the ways we all continue to shift. “It’s taught me how empowered I can feel from owning even my messiest most honest feelings,” she shares. “If I knew a couple years ago I would be releasing songs this open and personal, I wouldn’t have believed it. But I’ve learned that when I take the times I’ve felt the most powerless and write and release a song about it, it’s my way of taking the power back.”
What's clear, even without tying this era into a tidy narrative, is that Ally Salort is building an expansive career with care, intention, and an evolving sense of voice. She’s not finished—not with the songs, and certainly not with the story. And that’s precisely what makes this riveting chapter so profoundly honest.
Change of Plans is out now on all major streaming platforms via RCA Records.
