Ally Bakst is a singer, songwriter and producer who independently creates electronic alternative pop music. Her first EP was back in 2020, titled “Past Life,” and she has been self producing music ever since. Over the years, Bakst’s growth in her producing skills shines through her music. Even though she mostly releases singles like “I Want It,” which recently hit over a million streams on Spotify, she has made one other EP titled “In My Head.” On Nov. 14, she released her third EP titled “Out of My Mind” featuring 5 songs.
“Anesthetic” is Bakst’s first song on her EP and is one of my favorites. The beat is catchy, repetitive and relaxed. Bakst’s synths and melodies combine perfectly with her alto voice. “Anesthetic” gives off feelings of nostalgia and freedom, with her lyrics of “Carefree like a little kid with a little extra pain.”
“Loaded Magazine” is Bakst’s second song on her EP. The bassline is fast with an upbeat, energetic tempo, keeping the listener interested and engaged. At the beginning of the chorus, “Loaded Magazine” has a gunshot sample, which helps to create a cool, immersive listening experience, followed by the lyrics “Shoot me once / Shoot me twice / All your love / Like a loaded magazine.” This song has an overall high energy level along with its high production quality.
“Oh no!” is more of a casual sounding electronic song. Bakst’s reverb vocal effects add to the calm, dreamy atmosphere of the song. “Like Damn” is similar, with descriptive lyrics that draw the listener in right away. Bakst sings, “Life is like a ring of dogs fighting for the favor / Ripping each other apart without a second thought.” The song talks about themes of control, the want for attention and the overall response to those desires. The synthesized instruments, especially the melodic video game sample in the chorus’ background, makes “Like Damn” a great listen.
Finally, “Sike” is the last song of Bakst’s EP and has an overall futuristic vibe with amazing electronic instrumentation, smooth vocal delivery from Bakst and catchy lyrics. “I feel it creeping in / Suddenly underneath my skin / Making me lose control / ‘till I go change my mind again.” Bakst ends her EP on a powerful note, bringing a final boost of energy to the listener.
What sets Bakst apart from other artists is that she doesn’t use huge, expensive fancy equipment to produce. She independently creates all of her own music in her room using mainly a mic, computer, a MIDI keyboard, and speakers. Because Bakst self produces, she uses her creative freedom to differentiate herself from other artists by being able to express herself in her music.
Bakst is such a talented, passionate singer and songwriter. Aside from her songs, she is a kind and inspiring person who interacts with her fans on social media through TikTok and Instagram. Bakst currently has 119,603 monthly listeners on Spotify and is becoming very successful as a singer. I am so excited to watch her grow as an artist and I cannot wait to see what she releases next.
