How the Beauty of Nature Inspired Chet Porter's Debut Album and the Music In Its Wake
Have you seen everything you’ve wanted to see before you die?
That’s the question Chet Porter posed on his debut album, EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN. Today he continues the story behind the LP with what was originally set to be its final track, “Things I Wish I Could Forge,” a dreamlike collaboration with Vancouver Sleep Clinic.
“Things I Wish I Could Forget” is one of Porter’s more subtle entries. Forgoing the bright, vivid production we heard throughout most of the album, he masterfully enthralls us with a swelling, deeply emotive soundscape.
Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s signature falsetto beautifully matches his production, gently guiding us with mesmerizing lyrics that voice his regrets. “I should have loved you more,” he quavers repeatedly.
“This song is actually really old, probably the oldest one on the album,” Porter tells EDM.com. “Tim [Vancouver Sleep Clinic] had sent me a bunch of ideas to collaborate on and when I heard this one, I just knew it was going to end whatever record I was making. I want to say it’s at least seven years old… It’s so easy to fall out of love with a song after a few months or a year, let alone seven, but I’ve loved this song the entire time, it’s so special to me.”
But Porter’s love for the track isn’t the only thing to make it special in his world. It was left off the album due to sample clearance issues.
“There was a bridge section that featured this synth part from an old Sony video game that I was absolutely in love with, I felt like it took the song to this extra, magical place,” he added. “Like when that part hits, I’d turn into the floating Spongebob wearing headphones meme.”
Not only did the clearance issue force him to remove the song from EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN, but the project was also delayed to ensure the track would work out. It was always meant to be the final song on the album, Porter said.
“The label didn’t want the album to come out without this closing track, because they loved it so much,” he explained. “It was supposed to be the focus track when the album dropped, but the sample still hadn’t been cleared, so they pushed the album for more time to figure it out.”
While the final version may be missing the sample, he still makes sure to play it out live.
"things i wish i could forget (feat. vancouver sleep clinic)" is out now
added to the end of the album, where it was supposed to be all along. it's one of my favourite songs ever, i hope you enjoy it pic.twitter.com/4u5ILgtzG8
— chet porter (@chetporter) May 24, 2024
Although the situation was frustrating, it allowed him to carry out the vision for EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN in a deeper capacity.
“The delay meant that I got to finish and add ‘Deep Water’ with EVAN GIIA to the tracklist, and spend a little more time mixing and changing a bunch of things that no one is ever going to notice except for me,” Porter adds.
With those added changes, his message behind the album is showcased masterfully. The LP is a proposed self-reflection, asking listeners to embark on a journey that takes them to new places—some they’ve never seen nor heard before and some they may rethink after experiencing a new outlook.
It’s a message that serves as an opportunity to gain a perspective on the world around us as well as enhance the the one cultivated by his music.
“EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN as a title, is very literal,” Porter explains. “What have you seen? Have you seen everything you want to see before you die? No? Okay, go see more.”
“Volcanoes, dolphins deep in the ocean, lush green jungles… it’s insane that we have that shit,” he gushes. “Like, think about what a volcano is for a second. A giant, hollow mountain with a hole in the top, filled with lava? And on very rare occasions it will just shoot all of it into the sky? Like what the fuck, that’s insane. When I’m older and retired, I promise you all I’m going to do is travel and see everything I possibly can.”
Each track on the album carries out his vision, showcasing cohesiveness without any repetition. Meanwhile, its many soundscapes portray different aspects of nature.
“I wanted you to listen to a song, imagine a place, and then when the next one starts, you’re in a completely new place. But still in the same world,” he continues. “Obviously you can decide these things for yourself, but when I was doing all of the visuals/artwork, ‘222† ∂∆ §§§’ is the jungle, ‘Today Tomorrow Forever’ is the volcano, ‘EYES’ is the ocean, ‘Aura’ is a sunset, et cetera. ‘Things I Wish I Could Forget’ is a really misty, foggy beach with big rocks everywhere.”
Porter’s live set takes the message from his album yet another step further. While self-doubt may make him question his own music, he never worries about his live performances. They’re something unlike he’s ever done before, curating a display of his imagination infused with unshakable confidence.
“I don’t have heaps of confidence, I often worry that people may think my music sucks, or that I suck, or that I don’t know how to socialize properly or whatever,” he shares. “What I don’t worry about is the show. I’m so confident in the live show, I think I’m punching way above my weight.”
TOUR CONTINUES THIS WEEK
SAN DIEGO 05/15 (TOMORROW)
DENVER 05/16 (THURSDAY)limited tickets left: https://t.co/LbFFotTcGk pic.twitter.com/P5BeGic4kS
— chet porter (@chetporter) May 14, 2024
After such a personal debut and phenomenal tour, what could possibly be next for Porter? “That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” he says.
You can find “Things I Wish I Could Forget” on streaming platforms here.
Follow Chet Porter:
X: x.com/chetporter
Instagram: instagram.com/chetporter
Facebook: facebook.com/chtprtr
Spotify: spoti.fi/3e8oP80
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