Following the 2017 release of Watercolor, Seattle MC Porter Ray has a new collection of songs entitled Eye of the Beholder. This 11-track digital release was mixed by Vitamin D at The Pharmacy studio in Seattle, WA and features guest appearances from Stas Thee Boss, Nate Jack, Astro King Phoenix, JD, DC and Bruce Leroy. You can listen to in its entirety today, Friday, December 14th on your digital platform of choice.
In his own words, “This project is about finding oneself, developing and strengthening one’s own opinions and ideas, freeing oneself from what’s popularly accepted and making one’s own decisions through love, self-awareness, and environmental examination.”
Porter Ray will be performing live in support of this release on January 13th, 2019 at Chop Suey in Seattle.
Eye of the Beholder tracklist;
1.Be Not Afraid [Produced by Dez Anthony] 2. Eye of The Beholder [The Vision] [Produced by Jake One] 3. The Diamond That Cuts Thru Illusion [Produced by MFB] 4. Mask of Control [Produced by MFB] 5. The Gift [Feat. Astro King Phoenix + Stas Thee Boss] [Produced by Dez Anthony] 6. MultiColourSexLoveFrequency [feat. Nate Jack] [Produced by Kmtk] 7. Far Light [Produced by Dez Anthony] 8. Sapphire [Gleam Eyes] [Produced by Kmtk] 9. The Mountain and The Moon [Produced by Kmtk] 10. Prism Within [Feat. DC + Bruce Leroy + JD] [Produced BY BRoc] 11. Beyond The Mirror [Feat. JD + Bruce Leroy] [Produced by B Roc]
Sub Pop recording artists Downtown Boys (Providence, RI), Marika Hackman (London, UK), LVL UP (New York, NY), Porter Ray (Seattle, WA), and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Melbourne, AU) will all make appearances at the 2017 edition of SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Links to artists pages, tunes (video or audio) and daily schedule are below…
MARCH 14 5:45pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Hotel Vegas - Spring Break Boogie! Heaven or Hot Burrito Location: Hotel Vegas (1502 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702) ------------------------------ 9:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: I OH YOU / Transgressive Records Showcase Location: 21st Co-Op (707 W 21st St, Austin, TX 78705) ------------------------------ 9:30pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show:Paradyse x Sportsday Showcase Location: Pearl Street Co-Op (2000 Pearl St, Austin, TX 78705)
MARCH 15 4:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: The FADER Fort Location: Volcom Garden (1209 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 10:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: BBC Radio 2 SXSW Official Showcase. Location: Latitude 30 (512 San Jacinto Boulevard) ----------------------------- 10:00-10:40pm PORTER RAY Show/Location: Swan Dive (615 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 1:15am DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Ground Control Touring Showcase Location: The Sidewinder (715 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701)
MARCH 16 12:00pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Pitchfork Day Party Location: French Legation Museum (802 San Marcos St, Austin, TX 78702) Time: 12:00pm --------------------------- 12:15pm LVL UP Show: Sound on Sound & Brooklyn Vegan’s Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX, 78701) --------------------------- 2:15pm LVL UP Show: The FADER Fort Location: Volcom Garden (1209 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 3:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Another Planet Showcase Location: The Sidewinder - Indoor (715 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ---------------------------- 3:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ---------------------------- 6:35-7:00pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Aussie BBQ Showcase Location: Brush Square Park (409 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701) Time: ----------------------------- 9:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show:Transgressive Records SXSW Showcase Location: The Blackheart (86 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 11pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Paradigm Official Showcase Location: The Parish (214 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701)
MARCH 17 12:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 12:45pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Brooklyn Vegan x Sound on Sound Lost Weekend Location: Cheer Up Charlies (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 1:30pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: SXSW Showcase Location: The Mohawk (912 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) --------------------------- 5:35pm LVL UP Show: Austin Oasis 2017 Location: Hole in the Wall (2538 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705) ----------------------------- 6:00pm DOWNTOWN BOYS Show: South By San Jose Location: Hotel San Jose (1316 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704) ----------------------------- 10:10-10:45pm ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER Show: Panache Bookings Party Location: Hotel Vegas (1502 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702) ----------------------------- 11:00pm LVL UP Show: Ad Hoc Showcase Location: Cheer Up Charlie’s (900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701) ----------------------------- 12:35-12:50am PORTER RAY Show Kosher Dillz Showcase Location: Dozen Street (1808 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702)
MARCH 18 1:00pm MARIKA HACKMAN Show: Space 24 Twenty Location: Urban Outfitters (2406 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705)
On the eve of his debut album release on Sub Pop, rising Seattle rapper Porter Ray drops a dream-like video for previously unheard track, Past Life.
Filmed in Porter’s hometown of Seattle, the visual is directed by Patrick O’Brien-Smith. The bittersweet PastLife - featuring Cashtro and Black - finds Ray reflecting on his eventful teenage years, lost family and friends, highs, lows, misadventures and more. The rapper’s laid back yet captivating style, vivid lyrical vignettes and powerful storytelling are built around a vulnerability and unflinching honesty.
Porter Ray signed to Sub Pop after catching the attention of Shabazz Palaces founder and label A&R Ishmael Butler, his debut album Watercolor drops tomorrow AND he plays at SXSW next week.
Porter Ray’s current live dates include multiple appearances at SXSW March 15th-19th, and Sasquatch Music Festival on May 26th. Additional live dates will be announced soon.
Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Swan Dive Patio Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Dozen Street - Kosher Dillz Show May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
Watercolor is out tomorrow, March 10th, on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS from Sub Pop right over here and in finer independent record stores the world over. LP 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, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
“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 ShabazzPalaces, 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 StasThee 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
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
Porter Ray’s ”Arithmetic” is the 2nd single off Watercolor, his forthcoming full-length debut, available worldwide March 10th from Sub Pop. The vibe-worthy track features guest performances from Stas THEE Boss (formerly of THEESatisfaction and current host of KEXP’s Street Sounds) and the legendary Infinite (of Narkotik and Tribal Productions).
Gorilla vs. Bear premiered the track today (see here) and said of the track, “Seattle rapper Porter Ray shares another hazy and seductive gem from his forthcoming LP Watercolor…“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 and anchored by a crucial assist from revered Seattle MC Infinite.”
Porter Ray is also the subject of a feature in the new edition of Crack Magazine, of which you can read more here.
Watercolor is now available for preorder on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS. 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, Nate Jack, Jus Moni and Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces.
Feb. 17 - Seattle, WA - Sole Repair* Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile** Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA - Barboza (Watercolor release party) Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW May 26 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival * w/ Sisters ** w/ Pickwick
Watercolor, the long-awaited and eagerly anticipated Sub Pop debut from Seattle’s own Porter Ray, will be available worldwide on March 10th, 2017. Porter is a Seattle based MC who caught the attention of Shabazz Palaces’ Ishmael Butler, who signed him to the label in 2014.
“Sacred Geometry [Constellation Mix]”- Watercolor’s lead single - is an extended album version featuring The Palaceer, Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces, and Ray’s childhood friend and cohort, Cashtro. This alternative album mix is available on the digital & LP versions of the record.
The FADER premiered the track today (see/hear exclusively at The FADER) and had this to say:“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.”
Porter Ray is a natural… he sounds like East Seattle feels. From the same wet blocks that spawned Quincy, Jimi and Ishmael, comes Porter Ray. Having previously penned six projects showcasing dexterous wordplay, unflinching honesty and vulnerability, tempered with equal degrees of braggadocio and charm; Porter is an old soul, a storyteller par excellence, a griot possessing insight beyond his years.
A bit of Context…
Porter Ray has had no choice but to feel deeply. Loss and violence seemed to plague Porter’s adolescence and early adulthood. His father fell gravely ill and his subsequent passing signaled the beginning of a dark time. Leaving high school devoid of any certification was next. Losing his younger brother to a much-publicized case of gun violence four years later only added to the young de facto patriarch’s heavy heart and perceived curse. The year following found some of his closest friends [including his son’s mother] locked up in the penitentiary with lengthy sentences.
Watercolor features original production from B-Roc, Dez Anthony, and Kmtk, and was mixed by Erik Blood. It is vocally flavored by guest appearances from THEE Satisfaction’s Stas THEE Boss,Cashtro, Nate Jack, and Jus Moni. Iconic Central District MC, Infinite, of Narkotik and Tribal Productions, as well as Black Constellation elders Palaceer Lazaro and Fly Guy Dai of Shabazz Palaces also make key contributions.
Watercolor is now available for preorder on CD / 2xLP / DL / CASS from Sub Pop [order here]. 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.
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Tour Dates Feb. 17 - Seattle, WA - Sole Repair* Feb. 26 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile** Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA - Barboza (album release party) Mar. 15-19 - Austin, TX - SXSW * w/ Sisters ** w/ Pickwick
