Slayyyter is someone who I feel like I was initially early to the party with, but now feel like I am a bit late. I first came across her at the beginning of her career. I know that I downloaded some of her first official singles when she started releasing music about 9 years ago. Slayyyter emerged from the underground Hyperpop scene that was popping off around that time. Her sound and following were in the same vein as Charli Xcx and Kim Petras. I felt like she was an exciting emerging artist with a ton of potential. Unfortunately, over the years I kind of stopped following her for a while. She didn’t pop off in the way I thought she could, and I kind of just looked past her music. Over the years, Slayyyter was never truly able to break through the way she should have. She has been thought of as an artist on the rise for several years, but how long can you stay as a potential “Best New Artist.” Late last year, Slayyyter started to gain a ton of traction online due to the release of a few very exciting singles. These singles led up to her new album WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA which came out back on March 27. Due to the viral success of this album and her iconic Coachella performance, Slayyyter is absolutely blowing up right now. After listening to WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA myself, I can say that this hype is 100% warranted. This album is wild sonically and emotionally, and shows that Slayyyter is in her own lane right now. Below, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite songs from the record then give some overall thoughts to close things out. Please let me know in the comments what you think of Slayyyter and WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA.
DANCE
I absolutely love when an album commands your attention right from the jump. Slayyyter certainly does that with ‘DANCE.’ This track feels every bit as inspired by Electronic artists like Justice as it does by Pop icons like Lady Gaga. The synths that drive this song are so deep and distorted. The bassline is so dirty that it will definitely give you the stank face. The beat has a bit of an ElectroHouse tempo. It is very aptly named, as it is the kind of song that will make you dance. It is totally an anthem made for the club. Slayyyter’s vocals are super nice on this song. Her tone and range are what really give it that early 2010’s ElectroPop feeling that is addictive. On ‘Dance,’ Slayyyter sings about just wanting to be left alone by creatives in the industry trying to “help” her, as she knows the direction she needs to go.
BEAT UP CHANEL$
‘BEAT UP CHANEL$’ was one of the aforementioned singles that popped off at the end of last year. Slayyyter herself stated that this is the best single she has released. Although I may like others a bit more, I can understand where that feeling came from. ‘BEAT UP CHANEL$’ has such a cool sound that changes back and forth as the song moves on. At times, it feels like Industrial House music; at others, it feels like 2000s raunchy Pop. A lot of the instrumental definitely feels inspired by Britney Spears, and it really hits hard. This is a song where Slayyyter shows off her rapping and singing chops. She brings the upscale energy in her raps on this song, and her singing brings some bright moments to the track. On ‘BEAT UP CHANEL$,’ Slayyyter sings about her love for the finer and sleazier aspects of life(a sentiment many people can relate to).
CRANK
‘CRANK’ was another single that was released last year in anticipation of this album. Even if Slayyyter thinks ‘BEAT UP CHANEL$’ may be her best single ever, I would argue that status could go to ‘CRANK.’ This song feels like it was born out of the early 2010s. It has such a high-key sound that is reminiscent of some of the wildest artists of that era. I can totally hear the influence of artists like Kesha or 3Oh!3 with the wild ElectroPop sound of this one. Listening to ‘CRANK’ feels like a huge rush as the song progresses. The further you get into the track, the more brazen it gets. There is even a Skrillex-style dubstep breakdown during the hook that goes so damn hard. Slayyyter’s vocal performance more than matches the energy of the instrumental. The way she screams-raps on this track takes the song to another level. On ‘CRANK,’ Slayyyter talks about wanting to succumb to her sleaziest urges and party every night away.
GAS STATION
A lot of this record is very big and tough, but there are a few songs that have a more melodic and softer tone. Out of all the songs in this vein, ‘GAS STATION’ is my favorite. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one becomes a hit later on, because it has such a retro ElectroPop flair that is great. Like elements of other tracks, this one feels like it is inspired by Lady Gaga(specifically, the ARTPOP album). ‘GAS STATION’ is easily one of the calmest and softest songs on the record. The synths that drive this track are very melancholy. There is something about the tone that is honestly haunting; this adds to the captivating nature of the track. Slayyyter really shows off her singing talent on ‘GAS STATION.’ Her range adds life to the song, and her pitch really adds to the sadness of the energy. On ‘GAS STATION,’ Slayyyter sings about fighting with her ex-boyfriend and the trauma that her dad caused her as a child.
YES GODDD
Quite a few tracks on the record deliver cool shock value through their sound and overall energy. ‘YES GODDD’ takes the cake for the strongest song in this regard, which is saying a lot. Right from the start, it is easy to tell this song is menacing and different. The instrumental starts off with a melody less Industrial tempo. As we get closer to the hook, a Heavy Metal guitar riff explodes into the instrumental. As the song moves along, its sound constantly keeps progressing. The beat on the second verse shifts to a huge EDM Trap sound. After Heavy Metal comes back in the second chorus, the song’s outro takes another sharp turn, with the end of the track going with a Justice or Daft Punk-inspired Funky House sound. As cool as the instrumental is, Slayyyter’s vocals make this song especially great. Her attitude in her raps is palpable. And the screaming on the chorus? So awesome. She even growls on the chorus! Her vocal performance is just awesome. On ‘YES GODDD,’ Slayyyter exudes confidence while calling out her haters.
UNKNOWN LOVERZ
Like ‘GAS STATION,’ ‘UNKNOWN LOVERS’ is a song that is lighter and softer than most of the album. This is easily the sweetest and brightest song I picked. It kind of goes against the energy of the songs around it lyrically and sonically, providing a bit of a palate cleanser. When I first heard this one, I immediately thought of Katy Perry. There is something about the whimsical nature of this one that is so reminiscent of her early hits. The melody and overall sound of this song are so bright and bubbly. There is something calming about the nature of the instrumental as well. Slayyyter’s vocals are just as sweet and nice as the instrumental, adding to that feathery feeling of the track. Her tone and range on this one kind of made me think of Taylor Swift for some reason. On ‘UNKNOWN LOVERS,’ Slayyyter sings about a blossoming romance she can’t get enough of. It is a nice break from the content of some of the other tracks.
$T LOSER
There are a couple of tracks with a true Hard Rock tone. One of those is ‘YES GODDD.’ The other song like this I really dig is ‘$T. LOSER.’ Even if this is one of the least sophisticated songs sonically, it is also weirdly one of the most individual. At times, it has the sound of a late 2000s Pop song. Once again, the Lady Gaga influence is totally here. At others, it has a bit of a scratchy and a bit of a Pop-Punk feeling. For most of the song, the melody is driven by low and gritty synths. Towards the end of the song, a scratchy guitar riff comes in. The rhythm is so upbeat, and it gives the track a Dance floor feeling. This song has probably my favorite vocal performance of the record, which is saying a lot. Slayyyter’s raps add to the larger-than-life feeling of the track. Her singing at the end takes the cake, though. The high notes and hits take this song to another level. On ‘$T. LOSER,’ Slayyyter talks about how she uses her haters as motivation to shine.
Because of the reception and hype I was seeing online for WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, my expectations coming into listening to it were pretty high. I have to say, Slayyyter blew it out of the water with this one. This was my favorite Pop record in a while, and it has so much lasting power. It is totally unique in so many ways. It’s honestly a wild record, hitting so many peaks throughout the record. Some songs have a super vivid intensity, while others have a more sentimental tone. This album sounds so familiar yet is so fresh at the same time. In the songs I picked above, I mentioned many artists who feel like inspiration for the record. I feel like in a way it’s a love letter to the music that Slayyyter grew up on in the late 2000s and early 2010s in multiple genres. There are elements of Rock, Screamo, Hip Hop, R&B, EDM, and Pop. Pretty much every style of music that had traction at that time was represented in some way. It is apparent that Slayyyter has a wide range of influences, which is so relatable. The album is super intense much of the time, but also has some more delicate moments. Even though there are so many different sounds on the record, it still feels like everything flows well enough and is supposed to be there. I was very impressed by Slayyyter’s vocals on this album. In many instances, she proved she can be a top-tier vocalist with a sound and style that is completely her own. Slayyyter’s pen game on the record rules as well. The writing on this album is visceral and relatable, and it really stands out. Overall, ‘WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA’ is just a great album. It shows that Pop is still really evolving, and that there are so many places for the genre to go still. I really hope WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA is Slayyyter’s Chappell Roan moment. She deserves to become a megastar, as no one is doing it like her right now. WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA is an album that will stay in my rotation for a while, and I can’t recommend it enough.