A Conversation with DJ Steve Porter – HuffPost 4.26.10

Mike Ragogna: What was it like performing with Perry Farrell at Coachella?

DJ Steve Porter: Performing with Perry was amazing! I had to pinch myself because I have so much respect for him and was into Jane’s Addiction when I was ten years old. We had a blast, I mixed between tracks he was performing live and tracks that I had produced. We’ll be performing again at Lollapalooza in August, and we’ll be debuting some new original material then as well.

MR: Did you get to see any acts play that excited you, maybe you’d want to work with?

SP: It was my first time to Coachella and I was awestruck by the amount of acts you could catch in one day. I was really into Pretty Lights; I had never seen them before, really cool dubby hip hop grooves. It was great to see Faith No More play, and I loved catching Jay-Z perform live. I think I could benefit artistically by working with a lot of the acts I saw at Coachella. I’ve mostly been a solo producer & remixer so working with a band would really add a new dimension to making music for me.

MR: Did the sixteen-year-old kid from Amherst who played electronic music ever imagine becoming one of the great mix engineers?

SP: Not at all, life has always been about baby steps for me. I’ve always just wanted to make a difference with my production and hopefully bring people joy in the process. My father was a world-renowned scientist and he spent his entire life trying to better his field of research. I treat what I do exactly the same as that, hopefully leaving a positive impact for the industry I work in.

MR: Looking back at “Slop Chop Rap,” being in the head you’re in now, what do you think about your 10 million hit YouTube video?

SP: I had a fun time making it and showing it to friends, but I had no idea it would be the phenomenon it would become. Vince is still airing it on TV as a commercial and it doesn’t seem to quit in the viral world. A lot of people were telling me that I had “too much free time” on my hands when I made it, which is probably true because I was in a weird spot in life last year, but I can’t tell you how happy I am that I actually had that “free time” now!

MR: How did you react to coming in second place in DJ Times‘ “America’s Best DJ” slot?

SP: I was honored! There was a huge influx of voters that came from my YouTube following so I have them to thank.

MR: For the uninitiated, so they can pickup on it when they hear or see it, what would you say is your unique “DJ Steve Porter” stamp on recordings or videos?

SP: I don’t know if I know for sure, but I would say probably my rhythmic ability with video clips and being able to fuse them with solid beats, basses, or hooks. If it’s none of those things, then it might be a personality thing, and the fact that I’m open to trying just about any genre of media. I’m definitely not afraid to have fun and do some funny stuff, in production or life.

MR: What equipment do you use, what’s your gear?

SP: My setup is 100% mobile, just my laptop and my editing software. I use Ableton Live to produce music and Final Cut Pro to edit videos. When I get back from trips I just plug my laptop into my studio. I used to have a big bulky home studio, but I much prefer having my studio with me at all times. If I need to write a bass line before bed, I produce it in bed.

MR: What were some of your more challenging mixes and how did you eventually reconcile them?

SP: My remix for VH1’s That Really Happened 2009 was a challenge because they needed a really quick turnaround and there was a lot of content to filter thru. I did the whole project on the road while I was in San Francisco working on the NBA projects as well, so I was jumping thru hoops that week. The mixes are just getting more challenging though, because ultimately you are always trying to do new things you have never done before.

MR: What are some current or more recent songs that you’ve heard that make you go “Man, if only I could have taken a shot at that mix!”

SP: This happens all the time, I have to stay away from YouTube sometimes because it’s painful seeing all of the amazing content to remix. I just don’t have the time to remix everything right now, but I hope to free up some time in the coming months so I can keep my YouTube subscribers happy. Right now you could say they’re a bit disappointed with my release frequency, but I have so many unfinished projects, I’ll be back with a vengeance.

MR: When you create original music, do you build it on samples, or is it a different process, like hearing things in your head and needing to first record it melodically?

SP: It goes both ways for me, sometimes I’ll start tracks with original melodies and beats, but other times the samples will inspire and lead the way. I really use both approaches to assist me when I start a project.

MR: Will your remix of Entourage‘s “Superhero” also be featured on the series, and will there be a physical release one can purchase?

SP: We’re currently working on a release plan for the Entourage “Superhero” remix, I don’t have any details yet but the release will be in full effect by the time Lollapalooza comes around.

MR: What’s the mission behind Porterhouse Media? How will it utilize downloading, creating new of music, and internet marketing?

SP: Porterhouse Media operates within a few different industries, we’re doing work for video game companies, film, tv, and of course producing ads. We have projects that are produced to live online only, and also projects that are only found on TV. Understanding all of these mediums is how we channel our creative ideas towards a project. Come visit us atwww.porterhousemedia.com

MR: Tell us about your series of “Where Amazing Happens” videos for the NBA? How did it come about, and what inspired you to mold the pieces the way you did?

SP: The NBA project came about after I produced a fairly notorious video called “Press Hop” last year. The NBA saw potential for me to do exactly the same type of stuff with their content, and it’s been a beautiful journey ever since. I’ve been working closely with their ad agency Goodby Silverstein in San Francisco to produce the ads. We’re trying to make each individual spot as unique as possible and I’ve already gone places musically and production wise that I never imagined I would during the campaign. It’s an honor to work for a sport that I love and especially the NBA who has always had great marketing campaigns.

MR: If you could help guide up-and-coming mixers on a career path or give them some good advice on how to be successful or competitive with their talent, what would it be?

SP: Practice increases skill, hard work leads to opportunity, and being a good person keeps you in the game. Always set high goals, even if they seem unattainable, one step at a time you may surprise yourself.