Porter Robinson: I've tried to do away with typical EDM tropes

Image: Alexander Frederick

We catch up with the darling of EDM - Porter Robinson ahead of his appearance alongside Eddie Halliwell at Goodgreef on 25th August to find out what the young producer has been up to, what its like playing to the british crowd and what to expect from his hotly anticipated new material.

What music did you listen to growing up? What made you want to start producing?

 The first music I ever really listened to and cared about was music from the Japanese rhythm "dance dance revolution". I guess electronic music was a subversive thing for me - coming from North Carolina, I didn't know anyone else who was really listening to electronic music.

Your touring schedule is pretty hectic this year. How do you cope with life on the road?

 This year has actually been less hectic for me! Last year i was touring pretty much every single day. I wanted to finish my album this year, so for the most part, I only took weekend dates, except for this European tour I'm on now and the tours of Asia and Australia that I'll be doing. The truth is that I'm a bit of a homebody! I'm happiest when I'm at home and writing music.

Where are you particularly looking forward to playing this summer?

Japan, Japan, Japan, oh my god, Japan! I'm looking forward to the European festivals as well, but i'm in Japan now for the first time and i've been wanting to go for ten years. These have been the best four days of my life!

Porter Robinson Live @ Beatport

 With you also playing with Eddie Halliwell at Goodgreef on Sunday 25th August. How do you find playing to the British crowd?

I think the British crowd sort of has a reputation for being tough - same thing with the Dutch crowd. I don't really have that experience. I've found the crowds to be generally supportive and cool. The taste is slightly different - I think the British have a penchant for deeper cuts - i just try to be true to my own taste.

Having achieved so much at a relatively young age, what advice would you give to other young people getting into producing?

Have faith in your own taste - don't make music you don't like because you think you need to!

What forthcoming productions can we look forward to from yourself?

I've written an album this year. It's a bit of a departure for me - it's not strictly a dance floor record. There's a higher focus on it being emotional, beautiful, heartfelt. It has a kind of vintage-inspired lo-fi twist. I've tried to do away with typical dumb contemporary EDM tropes, all the stuff that's seemingly 'required' to get a reaction from a dance floor in favor of writing stuff that's really meant to be listened to. It's less 'functional', i guess. It's my favorite music i've ever made!

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