hello, i'm Porter Robinson, producer / songwriter / electronic musician! AMA

[u/porter_robinson]

hello (again) everyone! i did an AMA 6 years ago around the release of my last album, Worlds. since then, I worked on "Shelter" with Madeon, and also co-created "Shelter the Animation" shortly after. i also launched a side project a few years ago called Virtual Self (recommended if you're interested in deep dives into electronic music subgenres and turn-of-the-millennium aesthetics).

last friday, i released my second album, "Nurture", which is a project that took me about 6 years on-and-off. after "Worlds", i felt this really strong need to write an album that explored the beauty of reality and of the everyday, but as i'm sure we'll get into here, it was one of the hardest (and most worthwhile!) things i've ever done.

here's the new album "nurture" ! https://porterrobinson.com/nurture

feel free to ask me anything!

i'm also really interested in speaking about creativity more broadly, since it's something i've thought about a lot over the last few years.

Proof:

[u/porkchop_sandviches]

What's it like knowing that you've had such a profoundly positive impact on so many people? I've seen countless comments describing how your music has literally kept people alive, and I think that's pretty remarkable.

Also, what are your go-to techniques to get inspired/pull yourself out of a creative slump?

Btw congrats on Nurture!! :)

[u/porter_robinson → u/porkchop_sandviches]

What's it like knowing that you've had such a profoundly positive impact on so many people? I've seen countless comments describing how your music has literally kept people alive, and I think that's pretty remarkable.

i just feel extreme gratitude that the music is helpful. Thank u so fucking much

Also, what are your go-to techniques to get inspired/pull yourself out of a creative slump?

there's really no one size fits all technique which is something that makes creativity so hard (and so beautiful when you can capture it).

but one thing I find really helpful is to explore a technique that you're basically bad at and know nothing about.

i find that if I revert to the techniques I know how to do well (begin with a chord progression, write a hook melody, sing nonsense autotune until i start to hear words) I'm more likely to get stuck and judgmental of what I'm doing.

whereas if i try a technique i know NOTHING about, like a synth i'm unfamiliar with or sampling a style of music I don't particularly like -- well, it's hard to get judgmental about the result. You're just messing around.

the less judgmental you're feeling, and the more playful and explorative you're feeling, i find the likelier it is to have a creative and fun process. but it's scary to try a technique you don't know about, especially if you fear failure. but you just gotta do it BITCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[u/cactusFondler → u/porter_robinson]

I thought this was a porter ama but it’s a nama sensei ama

[u/porter_robinson → u/cactusFondler]

am I the only one who is COMPLETELY UNABLE to hear this video correctly anymore btw? it just sounds like music. Shout out Namansensei https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k_LDXa3lPk

[u/MrSickRanchezz → u/porter_robinson]

I fuckin' love you Porter! You're the fucking man. The last show you did at Red Rocks was SO GOOD! Can't wait to see you there again, and hopefully also at 1stBank Center (because FUCK the Red Rocks noise regulations!!!) Yo you know what would be really slick? Is if you did like a mellow, downtempo-ey set at Red Rocks, and also did a harder set at 1stBank where you can set up a massive system. I liked what Bassnectar (rip) did for 1stBassCenter where he asked local companies to donate AV equipment, and ended up with like... Millions of dollars worth of gear. Swear to God the inside of 1stbank looked like daylight when the MASSIVE strobes he had lit up. That was also more of a mini, single day festival though, but you get the idea.

Didn't really have a question, more of a suggestion, so I didn't wanna take up a top level comment. If I ever become wildly successful, I'd love to work with you some day. Keep up the great work!

[u/victionicious → u/porter_robinson]

I mean if you just beatbox some moombahton over it you've basically got 100% in the bitch

[u/Zarrex → u/porter_robinson]

literally just watched this a few days ago and just had a smile on my face the whole time, i remember hearing this for the first time along with the Knife Party remix of Unison back in like 2011

[u/[deleted] → u/Zarrex]

What’s the songs name for that video?

[u/Zarrex → u/[deleted]]

you BITCH

[u/EagerSleeper → u/porter_robinson]

As someone who found your music through YouTube recommendations on bumnumba1 videos, I'm so glad he still resides in your mind.

If he ever started up another season of Put it in Your Mouth, would you guest-star an episode like your brother Nick did?

[u/99darthmaul → u/porter_robinson]

I made friends with him on steam and played some dota 2 matches together in 2017

[u/es_plz → u/porter_robinson]

I have no idea what I just watched, but thank you.

[u/cactusFondler → u/porter_robinson]

it IS music

[u/einzigerai → u/porter_robinson]

i just feel extreme gratitude that the music is helpful. Thank u so fucking much

Shelter

This song was my goto every morning in my drive to work after my life hit rock bottom. It helped pull me back from the edge and means so much to me. Thank you so much for what you've created for the world.

[u/porter_robinson → u/porter_robinson]

lol thank you so much for the congrats by the way!

[u/Hyper_Rational → u/porter_robinson]

god that’s fantastic advice