A Chat with Your Best Nightmare (16.08.23)
Crafted from the “great frustrations of life and passion for horrifying fiction”, singer-songwriter Erin Porter takes on the world as Your Best Nightmare. With her bubbly ukelele and bold vocals, Your Best Nightmare finds that point where cheery sounds meet dark lyricism in her intoxicating melodies. We speak with Porter about her new self-titled EP, what music means to her, future plans and more!
OSR: A bit cliched, but what drew you to music and how did you decide on the stage name Your Best Nightmare?
Porter: Even more cliched, but I’ve been drawn to music my whole life. I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember. Whether it was dancing, singing, or playing instruments. I really got into writing music in the past few years. I decided on becoming Your Best Nightmare after I wrote and performed my first few songs because of the reaction they got. I felt like I was probably someone’s nightmare, but one with a good point.
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Porter: I am really inspired by other storytellers. A lot of the artists I admire are excellent storytellers. I’m also inspired by things I personally experience or things I see.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Porter: Music means you’re alive. It’s such a natural art form and it’s part of the human experience. For me, music means I have a voice and a chance to give life to stories that connect with and entertain people.
OSR: What can you tell us about your self-titled debut EP?
Porter: It’s a story, but it’s not the whole story! I’m hoping I can start sharing the rest of the story soon.
OSR: Did you face any challenges when recording the EP?
Porter: I feel like my recording experience was really easy, but I had a bit of a challenge getting exactly what I heard in my head into the final product. I came into recording with a clear image of the story I was telling, but finding the tones and colours I saw was hard in the few days I recorded.
OSR: What is your creative process?
Porter: I typically end up writing lyrics, or lyrical ideas, first. Sometimes I’ve had snippets of melodies come first, but usually, it’s the lyrics. Once I have something written I grab my ukulele and pick a key and start playing progressions; the melodies usually just come out by themselves. I’ll work with the ukulele and melody for a while before I start adding anything else to my rough recordings.
OSR: If you had to recommend only one song from Your Best Nightmare to a listener, which song would it be and why?
Porter: ‘Really Cute’. If you’ve been there, I hope the song makes you feel a bit more empowered when faced with absolute garbage people. If you just think it’s funny, and don’t see the point, you should probably stop and think.
OSR: What do you think makes you unique as an artist?
Porter: I think the content and style of my music make me stand out. I fit in better on bills with darker themes and sounds. I absolutely love punk music, but I know that how my music sonically presents doesn’t align with traditional punk. I don’t think people expect me to start singing about murder and misogyny when I show up with the ukulele looking like I do.
OSR: If you had one day to live, what would you do?
Porter: I’d really hope I don’t have a panic attack 😄. But I’d plan it really well, and make sure I invite all the people I wanted to meet and have a party.
OSR: Do you have future plans as a musician?
Porter: I am really hoping to go on a larger tour; I love travelling. I’m planning on releasing a full album of the songs I wrote as part of this story.
OSR: Do you have any final message for our readers?
Porter: You’re really rad and you have the power to be the change you want to see in the world! Keep being kind and know that people care about you.
Many thanks to Erin Porter for speaking with us! Find out more about Your Best Nightmare on her official website, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
