Steve Porter has built himself a reputation as one of America’s hottest new dance music producers and DJs, standing at the forefront of the next wave of big names ready to take over from where the aging dinosaurs of yesterday left off. Pushing a sound that he’s cheekily dubbed ‘Porterhouse’, Steve throws breaks, house, techno and trance into the mixing bowl and emerges with a unique blend that has set him ahead of the pack. His latest release, titled ‘Porterhouse Vol 2’, sees him combining 57 tracks over 2 CDs, switching styles faster than Paris Hilton switches boyfriends. Released on Australian label EQ, Porter will be returning to Australia to launch the CD this month. ITM caught up for a chat.
Hailing from Amherst, Massachusetts, the last eight or so years has seen you tour the world extensively. How did it all start though?
I started DJing while I was in high school, I would do school dances and soon after started doing weddings and barmitzvahs. I was getting paid $150 a gig and I lugged around my DJ equipment and speakers everywhere. At the same time I was also completely obsessed with underground dance music so I was always looking for an inroads into DJing dance music full time. When a local underground record store called the Growroom opened in my hometown of Amherst, I was instantly their best customer and soon-to-be intern. The Growroom is where I met most of my crew and where we all developed our sound as underground dance music DJs. Everything else fell into place when I became a full time member of the store and crew.
Where did the inspiration – musical or otherwise – come from as a youngster?
Music experimentation was the first thing I was really passionate for as a kid. I always loved music but didn’t play any instruments per say, you might have caught me screwing around with the tape deck trying to cleanly blend songs together on a blank tape. I was honestly mixing and tweaking music maybe 10 years before I had ever heard of DJing as an art form. When I had the revelation that you could make a career out of mixing and matching music, I was already pre-certified in my head. I instantly knew I could do this, it was one of those light bulb moments. The most inspiring thing for me is the confidence that I can do what I do.
You’re touted as being part of the next generation of electronic music producers that is gaining hold – exciting times indeed – and you’ve been propelled to be labelled America’s future DJ-cum-producer star. How does that sit with you?
I’m just one of many DJ producers from America, just trying to do my part in pushing the music forward. It’s nice to be mentioned, but you’ve always gotta put the proof in the pudding.
You were also the youngest member to sign with ‘The Collective Agency’; which boasts a stable the likes of Sasha and Zabiela – how’d that feel?
It’s great to be accepted at an early age, it gives you a sense of security and destiny I’d say. But you’ve also got the world on your shoulders to keep up the good work. There’s always a lot of pressure that comes when you’re touted as part of the future.
You’ve also played alongside Sasha on the Airdrawndagger and Involver North American tours, and Sander Kleinenberg on the EM tours. Give us an insight into what it is like working with those guys.
Playing with Sander and Sasha were the greatest experiences I had coming up a few years ago. Just to be around those guys and see how they handle the touring and the complexity of their lives… it’s incredibly inspiring. To see masters at work is an invaluable experience. Beyond professionally though, they are outstanding friends and that’s when it gets surreal. You have to pinch yourself when you get to eat a hamburger with somebody you’ve looked up to for years.
We’ve recently seen the release of ‘Porterhouse Vol 2’, containing a staggering 57 tracks. It’s been critically acclaimed, and has included many of your close production friends in the mix – it had the hallmarks of being a labor of love. Was it?
Most definitely. If it’s not a labor of love for me, it’s just a labor… and I can’t do anything well unless I’m passionate about it. It’s an awesome feeling to involve so many friends on the project too, I consider every such project as a step forward and I just prefer to step forward with as many of my comrades as possible. It’d be a lonely journey without people to move forward with. I put as much heart, soul, and effort into ‘Porterhouse Vol 2’ as I possibly could. I’m just glad that some people saw that.
Labeled a DJ, producer and remixer at various stages, ‘Porterhouse’ if anything blurred those lines even further… Are you keeping a finger in every pie, or just keeping things interesting?
It’s an ironic time for me I feel. Though my DJing is really leading the way now, I feel my true talent and strength lies in the studio. The key is keeping the two elements of my career balanced, I’m probably not going to be DJing when I’m 50 years old, but it’s likely you’ll find me producing music.
The album is like a one-stop-shop for all your dance needs; breaks, house, techno and trance. How’d that come about?
The more colours I have to work with the better regarding my sound right now. For me dance music is very much about the journey and the various zones you fly through while listening to a mix. The crazier the mix up of sounds the crazier the journey. I label breaks, house, techno, and trance as the ‘four food groups of dance music’. It’s the best way I can describe the formula form my sound at the moment.
What were you expecting from us Aussies when you tour in May and June?
I was very much aware of Australia’s presence on the dance music map well before I had ever had the chance to travel there. Every expectation was met and then some, I’ve always had such a warm welcoming whenever I’ve visited and the people I’ve met at my shows have all been on the same page as me musically. It’s still an amazing thing for me to be able to connect musically with people on the other side of the planet. And what a host to find but Australia.
What lies ahead for Steve Porter?
After I’m done touring for ‘Porterhouse Vol 2’ I’ll be finishing up my next artist album. My DJ schedule has been honestly insane, but I’m really looking forward to tapering my schedule off a bit and getting busy with some quality time in the studio.
Steve Porter’s latest mix ‘Porterhouse Vol 2’ is available now through EQ/Stomp. If you want to taste the Porterhouse sound live, be sure to check Steve out when he tours Australia over the coming weeks:
26 May – Famous, Sydney
27 May – Bedroom, Gold Coast
1 Jun – Uber, Brisbane
2 Jun – Famous, Melbourne
