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Ali Brustofski

Ali Brustofski
Birth nameAllison Brustofski
Born (1993-10-04) October 4, 1993 (age 31)
United States
GenresPop, alternative, rap
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active2003–present
LabelsIndependent, Atlantic Records & WEA International Inc. for "The Next"
Websitewww.alibrustofski.com

Allison "Ali" Brustofski (born October 4, 1993) is an American singer-songwriter from Oakland, New Jersey.[1] She was a finalist on The CW television network's singing show, The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep in 2012,[2][3] and the 2011 winner of New York's Z100 radio station's "Hometown Hero" competition, in which around 400 up-and-coming musicians participated.[4] As a songwriter, Brustofski won the 2009 NYC Songwriters Circle's "Young Songwriter Award".[5] On television, her original song "Rewind" was featured in two episodes of NBC's The Voice.[citation needed]

Brustofski is a successful YouTuber who performs cover versions of well-known artists like Katy Perry and David Guetta.[1] As of October 2015, her YouTube channel had nearly 100 million total video views and more than a half a million subscribers.[6] She released her first original EP Dream Big independently in 2013.[1]

Music career

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YouTube

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After spending several years performing in musical theater and recording voiceovers, Brustofski uploaded her 1st video to YouTube in December 2008.[7] Up to June 2014, she has uploaded over 180 videos, including over 120 music videos.[8]

Competitions and awards

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NY Songwriters Circle

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In November 2009, Brustofski won the NY Songwriters Circle "Young Songwriter Award" for her original song "Rewind" over 4,000 other entries.[9]

MSG Varsity Talent Show

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In April 2011, Brustofski was chosen to be a contestant on the MSG Varsity Talent Show from hundreds of submissions. The show was broadcast on Cablevision's MSG Varsity Network,[10] and she reached the semi-finals.[11]

Z100/State Farm Hometown Hero

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In December 2011, Brustofski won the Z100/State Farm Hometown Hero Competition. She was voted into the top 25 artists, and selected to be a top 5 finalist by a music industry A-List panel of judges.[12] Brustofski performed at the 2011 Z100 Jingle Ball Coca-Cola All-Access Lounge in the Hammerstein Ballroom on September 12, 2011 along with The Script, Gym Class Heroes, Hot Chelle Rae, and Karmin.[13][14]

The Next: Fame Is At Your Doorstep

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In August 2012, Brustofski was selected to appear on The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep,[15] a nationally broadcast TV singing competition show which aired on The CW Network.[16][17] She was mentored by Gloria Estefan, performed at The Paramount Theater, and won the New York episode of the show.[18] Brustofski then worked with all four of the shows mentors: Gloria Estefan, Joe Jonas, Nelly and John Rich to prepare to perform in the semi-finals and finals[19] episodes, broadcast from The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.[20]

Recordings

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Cover Songs

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Brustofski has recorded over 80 individual cover songs independently, which have been distributed by MudHutDigital.com, Keep Your Soul Records, and more.[21] They include collaborations with Sabrina Carpenter, Katherine Hughes, Peter Hollens and Savannah Outen.[citation needed] Brustofski has also released two full albums of her cover songs: Cover to Cover, Vol. 1 and Cover to Cover, Vol. 2.[22]

The Next: Performance

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Brustofski recorded five studio versions of the cover songs she performed on the television show The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep, all of which were released by Atlantic Records in 2012.[23]

Original Songs

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Singles

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On January 1, 2009, Brustofski released her first original single, "Up, Up, Up!" which reached No. 2 on the Tween Pop Radio Top 40.[citation needed] Her second single, "Rewind" was released on April 4, 2011.[citation needed] Brustofski's recent single "Boys Like U"[24] was made with the band "Like The Movies".

Dream Big EP

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Brustofski's first EP, Dream Big, was realized through a successful Crowdfunding campaign on RocketHub.[1] The EP was released on July 10, 2013.[25] The first single was "Green Light" and the music video for it premiered on Z100.com.[26] "You Are", the second single from the EP received its music video premiere on RyanSeacrest.com on January 17, 2014.[27] "Goodbye To The Rain" is the final single from the Dream Big EP. It also premiered on Z100.com.[28]

Acting career

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Theater

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Brustofski began performing at the age of three, with the first of many competition dance programs.[4] She then acted in several New Jersey musical theater productions,[29] including "Annie" at the Darress Theatre in Boonton, NJ.[30] At 10 years old, Brustofski performed as "Brigitta" in her first professional musical, The Sound of Music, at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse.[31][32]) Brustofski also performed Off-Broadway in the role of Nicki in "Dear Maudie" at the 78th St. Theatre.[33][34]

Voiceover Acting

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In 2003, Brustofski was hired by Nickelodeon to be the voice for Piper O'Possum, the mascot of Nick Jr., from 2004 through 2007.[1] She has continued to do voiceover work.[35]

Discography

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Albums and EPs

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Gruger, William (June 27, 2013). "The State of Independence: YouTube Star Ali Brustofski Works to Jump From Covers to Success With Own Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  2. ^ "The Next: Fame Is At Your Doorstep: New York Picks A Winner". The Huffington Post. August 31, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  3. ^ "Z100 Announces Third Annual "Z100's Hometown Hero Competition Presented by State Farm®"". PR Newswire. October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Devencentis, Philip (January 5, 2012). "Limelight shines bright on Oakland's Ali Brustofski". The Record. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  5. ^ Richards, Kevin (December 2, 2009). "New Jersey Teen Wins NYC Songwriters Circle's "Young Songwriter Award"". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  6. ^ "Ali Brustofski – About". YouTube. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  7. ^ Brustofski, Ali (December 13, 2008). "Gimme Gimme – "Thoroughly Modern Millie" – Cover by Ali Brustofski – my 1st video ever". YouTube.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  8. ^ Brustofski, Ali (July 5, 2014). "YouTube – Ali Brustofski – Videos". YouTube.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  9. ^ Beckerman, Jim (December 22, 2009). "Ali Brustofski breaks through as a singer-songwriter at age 16". The Record. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  10. ^ "Ali Brustofski's Got Talent!". TheOaklandJournal.com. April 17, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  11. ^ Abma, Rebecca K. (May 15, 2011). "Ali Brustofski Makes the Semifinals in MSG Varsity Singing Competition". WyckoffPatch.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  12. ^ "Z100's Hometown Hero Competition". Eventful.com. December 5, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  13. ^ "Z100's Jingle Ball 2011". Z100.com. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  14. ^ "Z100 & Coca-Cola All Access Lounge At 2011 Jingle Ball". Zimbio.com. December 9, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  15. ^ Toribio, Elyse (August 27, 2012). "Oakland singer Ali Brustofski, 18, to perform on CW show 'The Next'". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  16. ^ "Watch Hometown Hero Ali Brustofski compete to be The Next!". Eventful.com. August 30, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  17. ^ "VIDEO: Ali Brustofski In-Studio". Z100.com. August 29, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  18. ^ "'The Next: Fame Is At Your Doorstep': Nelly And John Rich Perform, New York Picks A Winner". HuffingtonPost.com. August 31, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  19. ^ "CW's "The Next" Taping – Los Angeles, California (Ali Brustofski)". Zimbio.com. October 4, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  20. ^ "Breaking News – The CW's "The Next" Announces Its Six Semi-Finalists". TheFutonCritic.com. September 24, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  21. ^ "iTunes – Music – Ali Brustofski". iTunes.Apple.com. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  22. ^ "iTunes Preview – Ali Brustofski – Cover to Cover, Vol 2". itunes.apple.com. November 20, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  23. ^ "Ali Brustofski – Discography – All Music". AllMusic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  24. ^ "BOYS LIKE U – LIKE THE MOVIES AND ALI BRUSTOFSKI – VIDEO REVIEW". endlesslymusic.com. May 21, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  25. ^ Veronica (July 10, 2013). "Dream Big EP By Ali Brustofski Drops Today!". SweetyHigh.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  26. ^ "PREMIERE: Ali Brustofski – "Green Light"". Z100. July 2, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  27. ^ Inocencio, Marc (January 17, 2014). "Ali Brustofski Lights Up the Forest in 'You Are' Video". RyanSeacrest.com. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  28. ^ "PREMIERE: Ali Brustofski – 'Goodbye To The Rain'". Z100.com. September 4, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  29. ^ "Allison Brustofski Biography". NJTheater.com. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  30. ^ "Cast & Crew for "Annie" by "Enchanted Players"". NJTheater.com. June 2003. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  31. ^ "The Sound Of Music Original Milburn, NJ (Regional) Cast". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  32. ^ Murray, Matthew (November 3, 2003). "The Sound Of Music". TheaterMania. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  33. ^ Orel, Gwen (November 11, 2005). "New York Theater – "Dear Maudie"". BackStage. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  34. ^ Cea, Adrienne (October 30, 2005). "Friends Forever". OffOffOnline.com. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  35. ^ "Search Reels for "Brustofski"". Voicebank.net. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
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