Chet Porter Bummed Interview

Chet Porter ft. Alison Wonderland release 'Bummed'

'Bummed' is the latest single from Canada's Chet Porter. Currently based in LA, this multi-faceted talent has a distinctively psychedelic sound that cuts through several genres and one that has earned him over 35 million streams. Porter has toured with the likes of ODESZA, Jai Wolf, Louis The Child, San Holo and Whethan and has just announced a nine-date spring tour across North America.

His bittersweet indie cut 'Bummed' features Australian singer/songwriter, DJ and producer Alison Wonderland, who has headlined stages from Coachella to EDC Las Vegas. Having hit Number 1 twice on the Billboard Dance Charts and well over 500 million streams, Wonderland's creativity within her pop-leaning beats has earned enormous acclaim within the scene. 'Bummed' has received over 261K streams since its release and Australia is one of the top three countries to jump on board with triple j spot playing the track in the first week.

Together they have crafted something inherently catchy, with its toe-tapping drum beat and hazy melodies. Porter reflects: "I wanted to make a song that had a cool vibe and it turned out very indie-leaning." Twisting trails of electronica-soaked chords drive Alison Wonderland's forward and her vocals add a saccharine punch to the mix. He adds: I played an older version of it for Alison Wonderland one day and she instantly started humming this chorus melody over it, so she wrote some lyrics and we recorded it all within like 10 minutes."

"Bummed" has a powerful message behind its upbeat exterior, and Porter concludes: "I recorded my vocals months and months later straight into my iPhone after Alison messaged me about these dolphins that were at her hotel. They looked so sad to be in this little pool, they weren't even moving and just looked depressed and like they'd given up. I've read somewhere that dolphins can commit suicide by holding their breath until they die. Anyways, the song's basically about dealing with depression. I wanted to mention different things like how a person can look happy, but it doesn't mean they are. And like, I probably need therapy, but I can't afford it."

Interview with Chet Porter

Question: How would you describe your music?

Chet Porter: It's like if you were in Hawaii on a nice beach, with the ocean and all these beautiful trees and mountains and fresh air surrounding you, and the sun's setting and just everything's perfect, but you still wanted to kill yourself.


Question: Can you tell us about bummed?

Chet Porter: I just wanted to make something a little more indie-sounding, whatever that means, but still mix in electronic elements, I wanted it to feel summery, but sad.


Question: What inspired the collaboration with Alison Wonderland?

Chet Porter: She was just at my house hanging out, we were sharing ideas, so I played her this little 45 second indie-instrumental thing and she just started singing. It just happened; it wasn't really a planned thing. I think inspiration just hit her in that moment. She wrote her vocal in a matter of minutes, we recorded it, hit save, and then went on with the rest of our day. It wasn't until almost a year later when I really figured out what I wanted to do with it.

Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Chet Porter: No, not really, it's mostly just me being sad and expressing my emotions or whatever. But I do want them to take something from the actual music, it's super DIY. Like, everything's written, recorded, mixed and mastered by me and my friends in my bedroom. I don't even record my vocals with an actual microphone, I just sing right into my laptop and maybe that's a bad thing, I don't know. I also don't care, I'm just making stuff. I hope that other people who want to make music hear my stuff and realise they don't need a ton of money, or a fancy studio or expensive gear. All you need is a computer and your brain.


Question: How has mental health influenced your music?

Chet Porter: I guess I sort of unintentionally write about mental health/depression a lot, obviously because I deal with my own things surrounding it, so it always creeps into my music. I don't want that to be the only thing I write about though. I've tried to write about different things, but I find my best songs come out when I'm not really thinking. The lyrics in "The Longest Day Ever" were like 90% freestyle; I just hit record and started singing. I'm sure when there are other things on my mind or sitting in my subconscious, I'll write about those (laughs). My life is just quite boring, I suppose. I wish I could write about other things, and I'm sure I will at some point but until then, I do hope the lyrics help people or that listeners find comfort in someone expressing something that they might be able to relate to.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Chet Porter: They're extremely different beasts, I always think I hate performing live, even right now as I'm answering this but then when I'm actually doing it I love it so much (laughs). It's probably just because it makes me super anxious, I have a love/hate relationship with recording as well. I'd say 9.9 times out of 10 whatever I've made or written doesn't satisfy my personal taste or standards, so it can get quite discouraging and exhausting but when you finally get a good idea it's the greatest most validating feeling.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Chet Porter: I haven't had a chance to play any of the new music, released or unreleased, yet. I was going to this Spring, but now with the current state of the world, everyone staying healthy and at home is much more important, so we're rescheduling the tour to be in the Fall. I'll have to get back to you on this one (laughs) if I had to guess, my favourite thing to perform is probably something that nobody's heard yet.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?
Chet Porter: Other art and media and stuff motivates me of course, but honestly I just have to hope I'm feeling creative. I've never really found anything that gets me there, I either feel it or I don't.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Chet Porter: I don't listen to that much music lately, I'm not sure why. That being said; Tame Impala, Flume, Future Islands, Girl In Red.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Chet Porter: I have no idea (laughs) I've been playing in bands and stuff since I was in high school. I've always just been interested in music and creating things, no one in my family is a musician or anything. Maybe my cousin Jared, he got a guitar when I was like 11 or something and he ended up getting really good really fast; I think that probably sparked an interest in me because i ended up getting a guitar too!


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Chet Porter: No idea, it feels a bit foolish to list off a bunch of seemingly unreachable people, but there are plenty of people I'd love to work with. I'm also open to working with anyone! I've been enjoying singing on my own stuff though as well, it feels new to me and I don't have to hunt anyone down to finish their parts, (laughs).


Question: What's a typical day like?

Chet Porter: Wake up, shower, walk to get coffee, sit at my desk and have some breakfast, read some news, watch some YouTube videos, work on music, take a break, go for a skate, more music, watch a show or a movie while I eat dinner and then, sleep.

Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Chet Porter: Probably getting to hear what other people are working on before it comes out (laughs). There's a huge sense of community: Jai Wolf, Louis The Child, Alison, etc. we'll all share stuff with each other and give feedback. It's cool and inspiring to see what everyone's up to and give little pieces of advice, that's honestly my favourite part.


Question: What's next for you?

Chet Porter: Releasing more songs.


Question: Can you share your socials?

Chet Porter: twitter
@chetporter/


Interview by Brooke Hunter