Speaking with Porcelan, you can’t help but be drawn to her light alluring quality.
Porcelan, is a Memphis-made recording artist and songwriter on the rise who slowly but surely started make a mark in the industry with her debut single, a beautiful piano ballad, “The Real Thing Don’t Change” co-written by producer and Hall of Fame songwriter David Porter and multi-instrumentalist Hamilton Hardin. But, before that, Porcelan sang before an audience for the first time at the age of ten, and with abundant school choir solos to sharpen her natural desire for perfection, she would soon find her voice as a songwriter, performer, and first-time recording artist by the age of sixteen. Listeners most often make comparisons to some of the great female voices of our time, but with great humility lurking just beneath a fierce vocal range, Porcelan delivers her own version…every time. It’s no wonder fans of her are so in awe with her music, especially when she has such an exuberant personality to match her unique artistry.
The Knockturnal: So recently you’ve been named Apple Music’s Independent Artist of the Month, how has this recognition impacted your career so far?
Porcelan: It’s been great. I think that it’s really the stepping stone to get into the next level. I’m really excited and I’m getting a lot of good compliments and stuff, which is always great. And support, and people seem to be really positive about it, so it’s definitely moving everything in a really great direction.
The Knockturnal: You have a hit song out right now, Lois Lane, what does that song mean to you?
Porcelan: To me, it’s really about being a woman feeling secure, feeling like there’s somebody she can depend on, and make her feel safe. And it’s like not being considered desperate like “Please! Please! Come Save me!” type of thing, it’s really just women are strongly independent, but every now and then we want somebody; we always want to feel protected and safe, regardless of how strong we are. And, Lois Lane and Superman’s relationship is a perfect dynamic for that because he’s like the poster child for a good, perfect guy.
The Knockturnal: Music has always been a huge part of your life, some earliest performances dating back to when you were ten years old, so when do you realize that music was your calling and something you needed to pursue?
Porcelan: I grew up in a musical family, and it’s pretty much- I think a given when you grow up around it. You kind of just fall in line with everything else and start singing. I’ve always truly enjoyed watching my mom and my dad do their thing. And, my father tells me stories of when he toured and things like that because they had a band many, many, many years ago before me, before I was born. And, just to get the opportunity to hear about that as well as so many singers, and musicians, and gospel groups in my family, so it definitely has had a major impact on me. I think that I’ve always known that this is something that I would do, just because when you grow up in that type of family, you just sing. They say, “You go get up and sing that song” and you just find out that you can sing and that’s just normally how it goes! *laughs*
The Knockturnal: You have a very unique sound and also look, how did your style come all together?
Porcelan: Well, with that, it just what I feel. It’s what I felt I wanted to do, what I liked. And, you know, some people were like “Oh, no. We don’t know. That might be a little—the light hair, I don’t know if that’s going to look good.” And, I’m like, well let me just experiment, and just try some things. I wanted to do something different and I think it came out really, really well and as far as my style and inspirations, I love Jhené Aiko’s style, I love Justine Skye, and I kind of pull from certain pieces that they’ve worn because it’s still cute but it definitely has that edge to it. And, I like that fresh kind of look. So, yeah, that’s where it came from. I was like “Oh! I like those pants! Let me see if I can pull something like that off.” And, it just stuck with me and I feel like as I kind of grow into myself, it kind of turns and changes and transforms into something else.
The Knockturnal: You’re currently on your national promotional tour and will be performing at the Essence Music Festival in July, but so far what has been some of the best and worst things about being on the road?
Porcelan: I’m going to start with the worst, *laughs* start with the bad first. The worst, is having to eat as good as you can find I think. When you try to stick to a certain diet and things like that, or you’re back home and you’re more disciplined and you get on the road and you just kind of have to go and eat what’s close to get to the next place, so that’s really the only thing. You just have to be on the road and still manage to stay disciplined and I’m learning because I like to eat. So, I’m like “OOO! I wanna try that!” *laughs* And then, I have to start all over again, and start back cutting out all the breads and stuff. But, the best thing is meeting the people and the experiences and just being apart of such an amazing journey and it being my journey, so I’ve been very fortunate to have met so many great personalities, and it’s been nothing but love since I’ve been on the road and touring and doing different things, and everybody’s very supportive. So, it’s been really nice. It’s been the best part about it; the interviews have been great, the people that interview me are great, and I just enjoy it because I’m able to be comfortable and the crowds are receiving me very well. So, those are the best parts about being on the road.
The Knockturnal: That must be an amazing, surreal experience to see the people that you’ve impacted with your music.
Porcelan: Yeah, yeah, very, very true. Because you don’t expect—you know, people don’t have to like you and so if they like you, you’re kind of like “Well, this is going to go real well.” And, I’m always shocked introducing yourself to a new crowd. I did a show last night at ATL in the park and I’ve never performed in Atlanta before, so it was just really nice because I was told they’re a very serious crowd and I was like “If I can get through the New York and Memphis crowds, I can get through anything! So, I’m going for it!” And, it went really great.
The Knockturnal: What can fans of yours expect to look forward to in the future?
Porcelan: They can look forward to just more music, an album, another video; I’m speaking this into fruition because I’m working on this new song that I really, really am rooting for. But a new project that’s set for September, around New York Fashion Week, and things like that. They can just be looking out for me and they can catch up and find out about tours and all my extra stuff that I have going on on my website, www.porcelanmusic.com!
Be sure to check out Porcelan’s Lois Lane official music video and be sure to follow her on all social media (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) @PorcelanMusic!
