Turner Porter is a musician I have followed for quite some time, and he was one of the first artists I ever contacted for a spotlight, so getting him on board was exciting for me. Turner is still new to the scene, putting out his first EP in 2023, but he is insanely talented and has an amazing voice mixed with a great sound. But behind the music, who is Turner Porter?
Turner Porter is a musician out of Detroit, Michigan. Turner said he first started playing music in middle school and got drawn to it because of his friends, saying, “All my friends picked an instrument. Ron got drums, Trevor and Jon got guitars, so my dad got me a very blue Squier jazz bass. I took some lessons and learned some Green Day. I just kept going.” Turner said he would describe his music as “Acoustic country grunge.” I would agree with that, and I think many others would too!
What inspired him to start making music? He said, “I just felt like I needed to get some songs out. I played bass through high school. Come college, I wrote a few songs and recorded it in my buddy’s dorm. He sang harmonies. The rest is history.” Some artists that have influenced him the most? He had an interesting answer, saying, “I listen to everything. Def Leppard, Wilco, The Replacements, R.E.M., Future. I just happen to be pretty alright at country folk, and that’s what I write.”
What’s been his favorite show or venue to play so far? He said, “Playing at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown was amazing. I’ve played a few places in the desert, and I miss it.” What’s your dream venue to play at, though? Turner said, “The biggest ones there are. Likely the Garden.” I think that’s a good one! I mean, look who’s played there—who wouldn’t want to play there?
Have there been any major turning points in Turner’s career so far? He said, “Not one directly, because every show comes with a new person to meet, a new idea to make a song better. I don’t really care about turning points, I care about how good my songs are.” I love that answer. I love an artist who is dedicated to doing the best they can at their craft. What’s something about Turner that people might not expect? He gave us the best answer yet, saying, “I like turtles.” So, yeah, badass!
What does he hope people feel when they hear his music? He said, “I just hope they can take something from it and relate. That’s all. Feel better. Maybe feel inspired to do something. It’s all an encapsulation of emotion.” What does success look like in music for Turner? He said, “Writing the best song possible. Playing a great set that gets someone excited to write the best song possible.” Again, I love an artist who is dedicated to mastering their art. How does Turner balance music with the rest of life? He told us, “I’m a father, I barely do, but I also have turned down the heat a lot because I have to take care of my family. A tale as old as time!” I love that answer because I’m a firm believer that family should always come before a career.
What’s one piece of advice Turner would give to someone just starting out in music? He said, “Not every song is great, but you should try to squeeze juice from a lemon regardless. Keep pushing.” Regarding new music, does he have any upcoming releases or projects he’s excited about? He said, “In due time, but I have a long list of songs ready for the studio. Maybe y’all will see a single here this summer.” Which did not happen, so maybe soon? Either way, Turner has a lot of bangers out there. Y’all should go check out, you can follow him on socials @itsturnerporter or check out his website here https://itsturnerporter.com/ .
Thank you for reading this week’s artist spotlight! I hope you enjoyed getting to know who Turner Porter is behind his music. Go check him out, and go catch him at a show. As always, be good to yourself, stay western, and stay tuned.
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