Uproxx says of “Lightro…” and Watercolor, “Over a wafting cloud of synthy production Ray tackles the grimness of death and the fleeting nature of life, before the track bleeds into Stas’ starlit harmonies....When he starts spitting, you know it’s him immediately. He runs through various cadences and countless rhythms like it’s nothing to change up, but never loses a sense of cohesion in his rapping…In many ways, Watercolor is a distillation of Northwest rap told through the region’s most promising newcomer (see premiere February 21st).”
Porter Ray’s current live dates include a hometown release show on March 8th at Barboza (with guests Jarv Dee, Cam the Mac, and Bruce Leroy), multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. More live dates coming soon.
Tour Dates + Ticket Links Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA – Crocodile (w/ Pickwick for ACLU Benefit) Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA – Barboza (Watercolor Release Party) Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
“Lightro…,” and the forthcoming Watercolor, find Ray blending thoughtful portraits of Seattle streets with cathartic biographical accounts of an eventful adolescence and early adulthood, during which his father passed away, his brother was shot and killed, he became a father, and saw his son’s mother go to jail. Possessing insight beyond his years, Ray’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.
Watercolor is available for preorder in all your favorite formats. LP pre-orders through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on translucent vinyl with magenta swirl in North America & Translucent vinyl in Europe, while supplies last.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. Guest appearances include Cashtro, Stas Thee Boss, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
What are “The People” saying about Porter Ray? Well, since you asked:
“A star in the making.” [Watercolor] - Uncut
“A natural storyteller, Ray unleashed a series of vivid mixtape portraits of his locale’s druggy highs and lows that painted him as a new school Nas with the lyrical slickness of Roc Marciano. The street-wise intellect certainly lets his slightly off-pitched voice do most of the heavy lifting over the stuttering spacey synthetics, phased keys and warped Rhodes of B-Roc’s atmospheric production.” [Watercolor, 4/5] -MOJO
“As a rapper, Porter’s storytelling skills drive his lyrical content. He tries to paint pictures, never sounding over excited or too energetic, opting for beats which create unique moods….with his effortlessly smooth tone and considered lyricism, Porter carries himself with striking presence and wisdom.” [Watercolor] - Crack Magazine
“Ray is Seattle to the bone, continuing the tradition of Sea-Town rappers with malleable flows and unorthodox sounds that bend along with them....The first taste of his album is a posse cut of sorts featuring Shabazz Palaces,Palaceer, and Castro. They all spit complicated rhyme schemes over a hollowed-out soundscape with dry 808 drums and shimmering, space-age synths reminiscent of THEESatisfaction.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - Stereogum
“Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his debut…“Arithmetic” showcases Porter’s golden voice and effortlessly vivid flow over a dreamy, immersively narcotic beat, elevated by spectral siren calls from the great Stas Thee Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction) and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.” [“Arithmetic”] - Gorilla vs Bear
“On the first track from the Seattle native’s forthcoming Watercolor, Porter leads the song with melodic cadences and descriptive verses. Here, he and his collaborators all highlight the narratives that make up this holy equation.” [“Sacred Geometry”] - The FADER
Sub Pop Records in Seattle, WA is offering a grand total of $15,000 worth of college scholarship money to three eligible high school seniors. There are three scholarships—one for $7,000, one for $5,000 and one for $3,000. As longtime and proud losers ourselves, we’re exceedingly happy to be able, in some small way, to help further the education of art-enthused misfits from the NW.
Applicants must be a resident of Washington or Oregon, and a graduating senior on your way to full-time enrollment at an accredited university or college. We are looking for applicants who are involved and/or interested in music and/or the creative arts in some way. However, you do not need to be pursuing an education in the arts.
To apply you must submit an essay, one page or less, using any combination of the following questions as a guide (or write something completely your own, be inspired and creative!). Please list the school you are graduating from and the school you plan to attend in the fall at the top of your essay along with your contact information.
- What are you doing in the arts/music field in your community?
- What does being a Sub Pop ‘Loser’ mean to you?
- What are your influences and/or who inspired you to become involved in the arts?
- Describe your biggest failure and explain how it has brought you closer to your goal(s).
- Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart.
- How has your family or community background affected the way you see the world?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to send digital links and/or provide hard copies of their artwork along with their essay (we have never had a winner who submitted only an essay). However, please be aware that Sub Pop will not return any of this material, so please don’t send originals. Sub Pop will give equal opportunity to all applicants who fit the criteria outlined above. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 22nd.
Please send all submissions and attachments to scholarship@subpop.com by Wednesday, March 22nd. We will announce the scholarship winners on April 3rd.
Soundgarden’s “Flower” is the opening track and (original) lead single from Ultramega OK, the newly remixed and expanded reissue (out March 10) and long-planned “correction” of the legendary band’s GRAMMY®-nominated debut full-length.
Ultramega OK was originally recorded and released in 1988 on SST Records. While the band enjoyed working with the original producer, Drew Canulette, they soon realized they weren’t quite happy with the final mix.Thus, shortly after the album’s release, the band decided to remix the album for subsequent pressings. However, success intervened: the band rapidly scored a deal with A&M and began work on their major-label debut, Louder Than Love, and the Ultramega OK remix project fell by the wayside as Soundgarden climbed their way to (ultra)mega-stardom (read more about it –> here).
Ultramega OK is available for preorder available now on CD / 2xLP / DL / CS from SubPop and soundgardenworld.com. The album comes packaged in a foil-stamped gatefold sleeve, features liner notes from Kim Thayil and Jack Endino, AND includes a previously unseen photo from renowned photographer Charles Peterson. Preorders of the LP from megamart.subpop.com, the band’s webstore and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on marbled blue and maroon vinyl (while supplies last).
This one’s not for the faint of heart, people. Masters of making you squirm, Clipping have teamed up with director Anna Zlokovic for the disturbing new “Back Up” video [feat. Antwon and Signor Benedick the Moor], a highlight from the group’s Wriggle EP.
Zlokovic says of the visual, “Through the perspective of an unnamed filmmaker, we stumble upon an accidental and horrifying discovery. What begins as a curious exploration of an abandoned warehouse quickly devolves into the uncovering and filming of an underground, cult-like society—one where adults have baby faces and milk is the drug of choice.”
The “Back Up” video marks another collaboration between Anna, Aporkalypse and Clipping’s members (most specifically, Jonathan Snipes recently contributed sound design for the film, Shorty). Additionally, Zlokovic’s films (based in the psychological sci-fi, psychological horror, body horror genre) and music videos have screened internationally at festivals including SXSW, Santa Barbara Int’l Film Festival, and Fantasia Int’l Film Festival. Her perspective often finds itself joining the cerebral and humanistic, hanging out in a realm where a more fantastical reality meets the mundane.
“Back Up” was also filmed at The Smell––an all-ages DIY music venue in Los Angeles. The Smell has remained a pillar of the LA underground music scene since its founding in the 90’s and is now set for demolition––which has incited a bevy of support for the venue amongst LA musicians/fans. Clipping has played at the The Smell many times & has a long-standing relationship with co-founder Jim Smith. It seemed like a particularly apt place to film––both for aesthetic and sentimental purposes, and in service of the current #savethesmell campaign.
[Please find a full list of production credits below.]
Clipping’s previously announced 2017 North American headline and support dates begin February 17th in Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory runs through April 4th in St. Petersburg, FL at Jannus Live. Highlights for the tour include headline shows (February 17th-24th; March 10th, March 16th, April 3rd), appearances at the Noise Pop Festival (February 24th-25th) and a direct support run opening for the Flaming Lips (March 3rd-14th; March 29th-April 4th). Tour dates are below.
Splendor & Misery is available on CD/LP/DL/CASS worldwide from Sub Pop right over here and Deathbomb Arc here. The album features the highlights “Baby Don’t Sleep,” “A Better Place,” and “Air ‘Em Out,” was produced by the band, and mixed by Steve Kaplan in Los Angeles. The Wriggle EP is also available from Sub Pop, here.
Tour Dates Feb. 17 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory^ [Sold Out] Feb. 18 - Los Angeles, CA - The Broad^ [Sold Out] Feb. 20 - Portland, OR - Holocene^ [Sold Out] Feb. 21 - The, Seattle, WA - The Crocodile^ [Sold Out] Feb. 22 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret^ Feb. 24 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club (Noise Pop!)^ [Sold Out] Feb. 25 - San Francisco, CA - Brick & Mortar Club (Noise Pop!) ^ [Sold Out] Mar. 03 - Boston, MA - House of Blues * Mar. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore * Mar. 05 - Washington, DC - 930 Club * Mar. 06 - Washington, DC - 930 Club * Mar. 09 - New York City, NY - Terminal 5 * Mar. 10 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC ^^ Mar. 11 - Westbury, NY - The Space at Westbury * Mar. 13 - Toronto, ON - Rebel * Mar. 14 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Theater * Mar. 16 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean Mar. 29 - Nashville, TN - War Memorial Auditorium * Mar. 30 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore * Mar. 31 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz * Apr. 02 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle * Apr. 03 - Orlando, FL - The Social ** Apr. 04 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live * * w/ The Flaming Lips ^ w/Baseck
** w/ They Hate Change
^^ w/ Jason Forrest
*“Back Up” credits: Directed by Anna Zlokovic Produced by Simona Kessler, Alex Familian & Anna Zlokovic AD: Rene Gannon-O’Gara Cinematography by Powell Robinson VFX by Alex Familian Production Designed by Devin Cheney Set Decorator: Sydney Marquez Costuming and HMU by Nadine Sondej-Robinson Editing by Anna Zlokovic & Powell Robinson Sound Design by Jonathan Snipes Additional Casting by Luka Fisher 1st AC: Carter Ross Colorist: Powell Robinson Production Manager: Alex Lark Production Coordinator: Chase Niesner PAs and Costuming Assistants: Andy Riviera & Jordan Vazcones
Starring the bodies of: Daveed Diggs, Antwon, Signor Benedick the Moor, Andrew Varenhorst, Dani Goffstein, Evita Castine, Patrick Robert Young, Evanne Friedmann, Yazmin Watkins, Nadine L. Robinson, Daniel Crook, Jared Michael Degado, Ivo Buhles, Genevieve Munroe, Peter Kalisch, Devin Cheney, & Carter Ross.
Special thanks to all the baby parents & chaperones: Jill Fogel, Karla Garcia, Amyre Rachal-Carter, Adriana Benvenuto, Emily Rubio, Natasha Oiye, Dorian Gray, Ena Fleming, Afton Adams, & Leslie Adams.
A very special thanks to: Jim Smith & Michael Fierstein of The Smell, Jack Kovacs and Ember the cat, Theo Pappas at Santa Monica Video, Youth Talent Connection, Sasha Venn, Jules Bruff, Sage Lewis, Spitz, The Blue Cube, Co-Opportunity Market + Deli, & Jeremy McLennan.
Please to feast your eyes on “Memories Are Now,” Official Video for the title track off Jesca Hoop’s critically acclaimed new album which is available February 10th, throughout the known universe. This mesmeric visual was directed by multi-talented animator / illustrator AnnlinChao.
Memories Are Now is Hoop’s best reviewed album to date:
Drowned in Sound gave the album a 10 out 10 rating, and said, “Past, present, and future rest patiently before Hoop, and she’s weaved them all into her most endearing album yet.” The Skinny also gave the album a perfect score (5/5), calling it a “gorgeously delivered elegy to heartbreak and loss; powerful, perfectly executed songs to bring comfort and strength to the weary, broken and scorned.”
Meanwhile, Loud & Quiet named Memories Are Now it’s “Album of the Week,” and raved, “One of the most engagingly idiosyncratic and refreshingly broad collections of solo singer songwriting in recent memory.” And NPR Music added, “In both content and construction, Jesca Hoop’s songs practically burst with ideas: They’re as strange and smart and heartfelt as they are gorgeous, and that’s saying something.”
Jesca Hoop appeared on Lauren Laverne’s BB6 show earlier today to discuss the album and delivered stellar performances of “The Lost Sky” and “Songs of Old” [listen here]. Additionally, Hoop has scheduled radio US sessions including Prairie Home Companion (February 18th, 5-7pm CT), KUTX in Austin (February 16th) along with WXPN’s World Cafe in Philadelphia, WERS in Boston, and WFUV in New York (air dates TBD).
Coming to a town near you…
Jesca Hoop’s forthcoming international tour dates in support of Memories Are Now span January 28th through April 6th, 2017. The U.S. shows begin February 26th in Austin, TX and include stops in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The EU shows begin March 28th and include stops in London [Sold Out], Leeds, Bristol, Leicester, Norwich, Manchester, Brighton, Cambridge, Liverpool, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Berlin, Hamburg and Thirsk (Deer Shed Festival).
Hoop has also just confirmed her largest London show to date at the Union Chapel on December 1st. Tickets on sale tomorrow, Friday, February 10th. (find tour dates + ticket links below).
Memories Are Now, featuring highlights “The Lost Sky” [hear here], “Pegasi” and the title track. The album will be released on CD / LP / DL and is available for pre-order now over here. LP pre-orders through megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited Loser Edition on Robin’s Egg Blue Swirl colored vinyl (while supplies last). The Loser Edition will also be available in finer independent record stores around the globe, and directly from the artist on tour (also in a ‘while supplies last’ situation).
What people are saying about Memories Are Now:
“Hoop has been a free spirit, but with Memories Are Now, she understands exactly when to use the bridle and bit on these wild, wise songs.” [4/5] - Mojo
“Memories Are Now is built on stacked voices, sparse rhythm and twisted folk shapes, but the execution varies pleasingly, from the Native American blues of “Cut Connection” to the autumnal bucolia of “Songs Of Old.” [8/10] - Uncut
“One of her best albums to date. Stunning.” - The Sunday Times
“An admirably sharp and focused collection of songs.” [4/5] - Record Collector
“This project has an air of rebirth to it. Hoop and her producer, Blake Mills, have worked to minimize her trademark lush arrangements to make Memories more reminiscent of a live setting. The spare “Animal Kingdom Chaotic” is built around fingerpicked string-work and typewriter clicks. Its Americana-leaning follow-up, “Simon Says,” relies only on a lightly distorted six-string, an upright bass and Hoop’s layered harmonies.” - PASTE
Tour Dates
Feb. 26 - Austin, TX - 3TEN @ Austin City Limits Live Feb. 28 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West Mar. 02 - Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java Mar. 05 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle Mar. 06 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Mar. 08 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge Mar. 12 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen Mar. 13 - Mineral Point, WI - Mineral Point Opera House Mar. 14 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center Mar. 17 - Seattle, WA - Fremont Abbey Arts Center Mar. 18 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater Mar. 20 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall Mar. 21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Mar. 28 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Mar. 29 - London, UK - The Lexington [Sold Out] Mar. 30 - Bristol, UK - Exchange Mar. 31- Leicester, UK- The Musician Apr. 01 - Brighton, UK - Patterns Apr. 02 - Norwich, UK - Epic Studios Apr. 03 - Cambridge, UK - Portland Arms Apr. 05 - Liverpool, UK - The Magnet Apr. 06 - Manchester, UK - Gorilla May 13 - Amsterdam – Bitterzoet May 14 - Hamburg, DE - Nochtwache May 16 - Aarhus, DK - Atlas May 17 - Copenagen, DK - Vega Jnr May 18 - Berlin, DE - Gruener Salon Jul. 21 - Thirsk, UK - Deer Shed Festival Dec. 01 - London, UK - Union Chapel
