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In our latest ‘Fast Five’ interview, alternative artist Ali Slater explains how her day job helped prepare her for music promotion.

Ali Slater did not plan on becoming a musician. When the coronavirus pandemic began, she hadn’t as much as started a demo. Two years and several vaccine shots later, however, Slater is riding high on a wave of positive press from the release of her first EP. She’s become one of the most sought-after new stars of alternative music, and she’s done so largely from the comfort of her home.

Sitting in the center of a Venn diagram consisting of rock, pop, and alternative music, Slater draws influence from every corner of pop culture. She would probably tell you her home lies in the hearts of anyone who dreams of Vans Warped Tour returning, but I’d argue she’s not that easy to classify. Slater may sell herself as alt, but she’s a storyteller above all else, and her knack for engaging songwriting is making her a household name.

But getting to this point was never easy. Many artists launched projects during the pandemic. Most of those efforts came and went without much fuss if they ever got released at all. Consumers were overwhelmed by the amount of content promoted to them, not to mention their worries over the global pandemic, and most couldn’t find the time or mental space to care about music discovery.

But Ali Slater made people care. By utilizing skills she gained through working in the beauty field, Slater could easily maneuver social media, which was helpful when everyone was stuck at home on their phones. The world is opening up now, and Slater is preparing to meet her fans face-to-face, many for the first time.

In our latest ‘Fast Five’ interview, Music Biz host James Shotwell chats with Ali Slater about her quick rise through the alternative ranks. Slater explains her approach to marketing, how paid advertising helped her gain fans early on, and how she’s pivoting her promotional efforts as the world reopens.