Introducing ... Luke Porter

Whitley Bay’s answer to Bob Dylan has released his fresh single ‘You Don’t See In Me What I See In You’ and with a cool Indie-Folk sound, it’s sure to intrigue more than a few new listeners. Luke Porter spoke to me all about songwriting, recent gigs he’s been to and working with Dave Hull-Denholm of Lindisfarne…

Hi Luke, could you tell us how old you were when you first picked up a guitar and started writing songs, did it come naturally?

I got my first guitar when I was seven and started writing songs when I was around 10. I think the songwriting came natural but I started playing guitar because I was obsessed with The Beatles and just wished I was George Harrison. After I’d had a couple of years learning the ropes of the guitar I then decided I wanted to write songs.

The new single, ‘You Don’t See In Me What I See In You’ spark similarities between Jake Bugg and Bob Dylan. Were these artists your influences growing up?

Bob Dylan was an influence growing up but I didn’t get into him until I was about 13. When I started getting a better understanding of music and learning more about songwriting, Bob Dylan became and still is a huge idol to me. Jake Bugg on the other hand is someone who I appreciate because like me, his heart is in more folky bluesy and singer-songwriter stuff like Donovan and Dylan, and he’s not afraid to do the music he loves. I like Jake Bugg’s music but he’s not an influence on my music.

When songwriting, do you like to work in short bursts or do you need to get it finished whilst the idea is fresh in your mind?

With my songwriting there’s no way of knowing which ways it’s going to go. Sometimes I get little epiphanies for a verse or a title or a phrase. A song could take a week, a few days or a few minutes. That’s the beauty of songwriting, you don’t know which way it’ll turn.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to and why?

I’ve been to a lot of gigs over the years, it’s hard to pick. I’d probably say it’s a post punk band from Manchester called Cabbage. I saw them at think tank Newcastle in 2017 or 18. The atmosphere was class. My heart is in acoustic music but nothing better than a sweaty mosh when you’ve had a few.

Do you think you’ve found your trademark sound already or are you still in the path of discovery?

I’m not sure. I’m still exploring but I know it won’t be screamo.

The keys heard on your new track ‘You Don’t See In Me What I See In You’ were recorded by the acclaimed Dave Hull-Denholm of Lindisfarne. How did you come about working with him and has he been a big influence on you in terms of your career in music?

Dave played on the song because I’m going out with his daughter and have been for a while. I lived at his house for a few months when I was working on 2 of the new EP songs. Dave is a great pianist and I would always hear him playing when I lived at his house. I played him the track I had without the piano and I knew it was missing something. He was really up for playing on it so we recorded it in a few takes. Dave has been a bit like yoda to me and has taught me a bit about the industry and taught me a lot about producing. He co-produced Alan Hull’s “Statues and Liberties” in 1995 and did a great job on it. So yeah I would say he has definitely inspired me and been a big influence on my producing.

Can you remember the first time you played to a live audience and where was it?

I think the first time I played to an audience was in my first school class for show and tell in year 4. The teaching assistant brought her son’s guitar in for me to play. I remember playing twist and shout with the three chords.

You have a 4 track EP coming out called ‘The Truth Lies Behind’, set for release later this year, which you have written, recorded and produced yourself. Do you always like to work alone or do you equally enjoy collaborating?

I’m not keen on writing songs with people. I prefer to do that on my own and think I will always want to do that. I’m still learning a lot about producing as I’ve only started doing it in depth in the past two years. Neil Combstock who co-owns “Rocking Horse Rehearsal Rooms” in Durham he is a great producer and has taught me a lot. He actually co produced “You Don’t See In Me What I See In You” and a song on the EP that’s later out this year called “In Everything There’s You”.

If one of your tracks could be on a soundtrack to a film, what movie would you pick?

I’d say the best song of mine for a film so far is probably the songs “feelings I have for you” off my first EP. It’s a nice slow ballad with strings about me getting my heartbroken. Would fit nice in a rom com where the main character gets rejected.

And finally, tell us something you’re excited about that’s happening in 2020 for Luke Porter?

This year I’m excited about my 2nd EP coming out which I’ve worked hard on recording bits of it and writing bits of it over the past year. Hopefully if venues open soon I’m excited to play the songs live. I’ve only played a few of them live before so will be great to hopefully play them live throughout the year.

Luke Porter has only just dipped his toe into the inspiring world of acoustic Folk songwriting and with a 2nd EP on it’s way to be released, there’s plenty more that Porter has yet to offer. Make sure to check out his new single, it’s not to be missed!

Article By Holly Turner.