Everything seems to be falling into place for local starlet Ali Brustofski, who burst onto the music scene five years ago and whose stock has been on the uptick ever since.
The 18-year-old pop princess, whose fan base is swelling by the thousands — more than 71,000 people subscribe to her YouTube channel and almost 5,000 follow her on Twitter — was dubbed "Hometown Hero" last month in a contest sponsored by Z100.
The contest pitted about 400 up-and-coming musicians from throughout the tri-state region whose performance videos were posted online. Fans narrowed the field to 25, and a panel of judges selected the top five, whose video demands were counted for about a month until Dec. 1.
Ali, a senior at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, won the competition with 4,160 demands on Dec. 5. The second-place contestant tallied 3,417 demands.
Ali said she received a call from Mo’ Bounce, one of the radio station’s disc jockeys, that night to inform her of the contest results.
"I literally started crying," Ali said in an interview last week. "And he’s like, ‘Well, you can’t say anything for a half-hour because we’re going to air this in a half-hour.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh my God — I’m crying!’ And he’s like, ‘Oh my God — she’s crying!’ "
Though her list of achievements is extensive, Ali said winning the contest was her greatest triumph to date.
She began dancing in competitions at age 3, and by 10, she was performing off-Broadway alongside Nick Jonas, of the now-eminent Jonas Brothers. She caught her first big break at about the same time when she was picked to be the voice of Piper O’Possum, a character who hosts Nick Jr.’s daytime programs.
Ali’s teenage years have been devoted to song-writing and singing.
She said she has recorded eight original songs, including "Up, Up, Up" and "Rewind," a tune that earned her a songwriting award two years ago from the New York Songwriters Circle. She was a semi-finalist last year in a talent show sponsored by MSG Varsity, a 24/7 TV network that covers high school activities and sports.
Meanwhile, Ali’s celebrity has taken on a life of its own.
"This is not real life," Ali said. "I can’t believe this is happening."
That was her reaction to the treatment she received at the Z100 Jingle Ball pre-show in New York City. Her prize for winning the "Hometown Hero" contest was a chance to perform at the pre-show, which was on Dec. 9.
"It was, by far, the most people I have ever performed for," Ali said, adding that she walked the red carpet at the event. "I could see everyone’s face — every single person’s face. I saw everyone looking at me."
Ali said she also autographed a guitar that had been signed by some of the industry’s most familiar names, including Lady Gaga and her idol, Demi Lovato.
"The only empty space on the guitar was right by Demi Lovato’s name," Ali said. "I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is the most incredible thing in my life.’ And I just knew when I saw her name, I was like, ‘I can do this. I can do this.’ And I signed it right next to her name."
She said she still takes voice lessons from time to time, but not as often as she used to. She said she is now concentrating on honing her guitar and sight-reading skills and shooting music videos or performing live shows on a near-weekly basis.
Ali said she has applied to Berklee College of Music and Northeastern University and that she plans to study the music business.
She has inspiring words for her supporters.
"I really do feel like if you have a dream, and you pursue it, and you work hard at it, you can achieve it," she said.
Ali will perform live at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at Architekt Music, 1 Boonton Ave., Boonton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10.
Many of her original songs and covers, including her cover of Katy Perry’s "E.T.," which she performed at the Z100 Jingle Ball pre-show, are for sale on iTunes.
Devencentis@northjersey.com
