We’re looking forward to introducing you to Hunter Porter. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Hunter, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
When I can find a flow state; it comes most often early in the morning, recording music. I get so absorbed in what’s happening the hours will evaporate. It makes me feel most aligned with myself and the ethos I try to inhabit.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi my name’s Hunter Porter, I’m a music artist born and raised in Los Angeles, California. For the past decade I’ve been on and off the road working as a guitarist for various bands and artists, in more recent years I’ve started to pivot into writing music for sync licensing and developing my art.
I think the most interesting thing (for me at least), is the path I find myself on in pursuing my art. I write and record alternative/hard rock music as an “artist” in a time when the predominant methodology for hearing the genre is through bands. I spend a lot of time experimenting with arrangement and structure to try a capture sounds I love that are often reminiscent of bands but through the lens of a singular artist.
I’m currently working on an album and playing shows around LA.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of my brain that is rigid and doesn’t allow for any sort of deviation from expectation or schedule.
It served me well when I began my journey with the guitar, with schooling, with jobs. I’m hyper accountable with myself, even more so with other people. I prided myself on showing up for those who needed it. It served, and does serve its purpose for the areas of life that require it.
However, I have to let it go when I step into the studio. There are so many demos of songs that have been doomed from the beginning by my expecations. So many recording schedules that get completely ignored, or halt the creative process because I felt like needed to move on to a different area.
My brain is at odds with itself a lot, so the more I can do to reduce that friction, the better.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
That failure is something to be feared. I carried that fear with me, so it made me successful at a lot of things, but it didn’t prepare me for how to fail.
Failure is a part of the process and the method to get to the ultimate successes. I became so averse to that feeling of failure that I would avoid the thing that caused it entirely. It really manifested in my guitar playing and practice. I tied my self worth to my ability with the instrument and there came a point where I felt like I wasn’t measuring up to my expectations (there’s that rigid brain again) so I just stopped playing. I literally stopped doing the thing I loved most at times because it hurt too much to fail.
Then you get caught up in the horribly misled belief that the pain is noble and to force yourself back in to experience that hurt through practice over and over again.
Which on the road to learning failure is a benefit, is definitely the scenic route.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
No. Very few people have gotten to see the most realized version of me. Which sounds way more intense than it is, but I think that’s how most people are.
Imagine there’s a projector beaming of all parts of your personality out to the world, I think everyone has a hand on the lens blocking out the parts they want to keep close. That’s why romance and intimacy are such powerful experiences, you’re directly choosing someone you feel safe enough so show all the parts of that lens.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I’ve self-conditioned to operate that way. Praise is appreciated and heard, but there’s something in my psyche that doesn’t like to process it haha. Giving my best or executing something to it’s highest level in itself feels so good to me it far outpaces the positive benefit of receiving praise for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hunterportermusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_hunter_porter/
- Twitter: https://x.com/_hunter_porter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hseporter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hunterporter68
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hunter_portermusic
- Other: https://patreon.com/hunterporter
Image Credits
Not applicable
