Meet Story Slaughter | Singer & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Story Slaughter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Story, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose to pursue a career in the arts because it was encouraged and fostered in me early on. My parents are both super creative and cultivated a passion for film, novels, music, etc. in our home. So I have grown up prioritizing creativity – not just as some hobby – but as a way in which to live, to perceive the world, to cope, to empathize, and to discover who I am. And I have never understood business or money – so that naivety, together with a delusional amount of hope, and a foundation of artistic curiosity has led me here.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
So I sing songs! Songs that I’ve written and co-written with artists far superior in talent than myself, thank God. And I’m proud of simply doing the damn thing. Proud of myself for putting art out there despite all the bumps in the road along the way. Proud of doing it with no money, or whatever money I had in my bank account from working multiple jobs at the time. Proud of being vulnerable!

My songs are pop songs, but the iconography, production, and themes of the songs are all inspired by my Texan upbringing. So I call them “Texas Pop” songs instead of country songs because I am not about to fake an accent. I think that genre-blending is what sets my music apart from others – it’s not quite pop, it’s not quite country, it’s not quite Americana. It’s unique. They are also really honest to my life and my experience. I am not seasoned enough as a songwriter to draw externally – I am still in the deeply early stages of figuring myself out – and songwriting has become a valuable tool in excavating how I feel. And also! I love to perform. I am a theatre girl born and raised. So, I strive to make my shows fun, I tell a lot of stories. Even if an audience member doesn’t love my music – my hope is they leave saying my show was a good time.

How I landed here was by putting out my first song, “Ranch Water” at the tail-end of 2020. I was emboldened by the pandemic, as were a lot of artists, to just try at something without fear of failure. So I wrote that song with my friend Susie just for fun, and then recorded it with her friend Matias Mora just for fun, and then put it out on streaming services just for fun, etc. And that little step into bravery (and fun) has been lightning in a bottle for me. A total miracle. And since then, I have been attempting to figure out who I am as an artist and write more and sing more and perform more. It’s been 4 years now but in some ways it feels like I am just getting started.

So the initial launch into becoming a musician (I was trying and struggling to be an actor before the world shut down) – was easy. I put out one song and bam, it did well. It garnered attention. It landed me a booking agent and later management. But since then it has been so hard. It’s been deceiving having success because it seems like I now have more access and help – which I do – but it is all on me to finance. And so its been a very start and stop process of – working elsewhere and making money – then spending it all on music. And the cycle is unsustainable. And this issue is not special. Anybody who is trying to make it on their own as an artist experiences this. The industry is not set up to help artists at all.

So a huge lesson I’ve learned is – to get back to doing this for the fun of the game, like I did originally with Ranch Water. The minute it became about making money, booking tours, TikTok etc. I shut down. I became riddled with fear and anxiety. So it’s been a year since I have put out music, but that is about to change with my next single. And I am fighting to keep the joy alive! As long as I can keep creating out of a love for sharing instead of a need for validation – I will keep going.

Otherwise I am just so thankful to get to collaborate with my friends. That has been the ultimate pourboire. For instance on my first music video (coming soon) – every person who helped me on that shoot, from pre-production to post-production, is a friend of mine that I love dearly. How lucky am I? To get to say that is what I do for a living? Work with friends I am obsessed with? Find good people and then work with those good people. That is how we get to experience heaven on earth.

I hope the world knows that I am just a thespian with a cool name who loves to sing and be around people who make me a better person and therefore, artist. I just want to pay my rent doing what I love haha.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Okay! Well I love LA. And I love LA in a fierce way. Hailing from Texas, I am constantly having to defend my decision to live here because after 13 years, people still ask me, “So, when are you moving back to Dallas?” So if I was showing off my city (and yes I think LA is my city now) I would:

– have whoever was coming to see me fly into Burbank over LAX. Already everything is easier.
– I am an east side gal through and through so we would explore Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Highland Park. We could allot for one beach day to Malibu, but mostly, we are hangin east of Hollywood.
– Breakfast: Bub & Grandma’s, Courage Bagels, Canyon Coffee, and breakfast tacos from Homestate (as a Texan I go at least twice a week)
– Lunch: The Yuzu Kosho Chicken Sandwich from Jeff’s Table, Villas Tacos, or Backyard Bowls on a hot day
– Dinner: Donna’s, All Time, Quarter Sheets, or Musso & Frank’s
– Favorite Happy Hour: L & E Oyster and Cheesecake Factory at the Americana
– Favorite spot to Dance: Club Tee Gee IF the DJ is playing hits, otherwise Tenants of the Trees or Blind Barber (HP location)
– Favorite bars: Walt’s, Capri Club, Cafe Triste, Bar Stella, and of course, my second home, Hermosillo
– Activities: Walk the Huntington Gardens, picnic at Silver Lake Meadow, feel nostalgic at Moonlight Rollerway, Improv show at UCB Franklin, watch a movie at Vidiots, and go to Wi Spa (IYKYK)

Overall, we would eat, we would walk outside a lot (no hikes, that’s not my brand), and we would hang out with my friends because they are my favorite thing in LA to show off.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
my shoutout goes to the current love of my life: my female friendships – without which I would be lost. they bring me out of my insecurity, fear, and doubt, and into their lights of encouragement, confidence, and power.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyslaughter/?hl=en

Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC4pm6VldfatqMT5EO0A0K5g

Other: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xAkUnkKTboVog0nTDtGZY?si=TwfG7doXQGqzyzy1K97ofw

Image Credits
Primary Image: Aika Lau
Image with Band: Aika Lau
Image at Troubadour: Macks Films
Ranch Water: Macks Films
Others: Personal Use