Slayyyter has revealed the unexpected inspiration behind her stage name, tracing it back to the character Ron Slater from the 1993 coming-of-age film Dazed and Confused.
The pop singer, whose real name is Catherine Grace Garner, discussed the origin of her artist name during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Oct. 5. During the interview, Meyers showed her a photo of Rory Cochrane, who played the laid-back, marijuana-smoking character Ron Slater in the Richard Linklater-directed movie.
Slayyyter explained that Dazed and Confused has long been one of her favorite films and that she became particularly interested in Slater while she was in high school. She said she thought the character was “so cool” and admitted that she had a crush on him, which ultimately influenced her decision to turn his surname into her stage name.
The singer has previously explained that “Slayyyter” is a variation of Slater rather than a reference to the heavy metal band Slayer. She also chose to spell the name with three Y’s. In an earlier interview with M·A·C, she explained that the spelling was partly because versions with fewer Y’s had already been taken and that she liked the look of three Y’s.
Her connection to Dazed and Confused has also appeared in her music. Her song “Crank” includes references connected to the film and its director, while her recent work has continued to incorporate elements of the movies and pop-culture influences that shaped her as a teenager.
The revelation comes as Slayyyter enters a new phase of her career following the release of her major-label debut album, WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, in March. The project became her first album to appear on the Billboard 200, debuting at No. 22.
Slayyyter has since announced a follow-up album, wor$t man in america, which is scheduled for release Dec. 4 through Columbia Records’ RECORDS imprint. The project follows the same thematic world as her previous album and includes the previously released songs “brand new chanel$” and “crank 2.”
The singer recently completed the North American leg of her Wor$t Girl in the World Tour with sold-out performances at New York’s Terminal 5 and Brooklyn Paramount on Oct. 3 and 4. She also celebrated the announcement of her new album with a Spotify event in Brooklyn, where she performed several songs and previewed unreleased material.
With her new album scheduled for December, Slayyyter is continuing to build on the momentum surrounding WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA while bringing the film and pop-culture references that have influenced her artistic identity into her latest era.
