Indulgent in a “bubblegum horror punk daydream” aesthetic, but never confining herself to it, Erin Porter or Your Best Nightmare as the music world knows her is tackling relevant topics, and societal shortcomings with her signature girly-goth style. Her new album Presents: A Simple Solution For Toxic Masculinity, releasing in late March fuses a myriad of genre conventions in an unconventional and eccentric format. Featuring 11 chronicling themes of gender nonconformity, feminism, romance, and rage, Presents: emulates a range of styles that pays homage to horror, classical, punk, and unabashed femininity. Porter’s ability to interweave multiple musical influences to create a fresh, riveting sound shows untamed passion and a clear intention to use music as a means of expression and as a vehement call to action to dismantle the attitudes and mindsets that limits such invigorating art.
Q. It seems there has been a resurgence of love for goth, punk, and emo sub-styles in both music and fashion. Do you agree? How do these styles influence your artistry?
A. I definitely agree! The resurgence is definitely a double edged sword. On one hand, as an “elder emo” and lifelong little punk, I’m delighted to see people embracing it. On the other hand, I’ve noticed people just adopting it as an “aesthetic” and they don’t necessarily conform to the ideals of the scene. You can wear the clothes, but the clothes aren’t what make you punk or goth, or emo. There’s an ethos to the scene that I think some people aren’t adopting when they adopt the aesthetic.
I think one listen to any song on Presents: A Simple Solution For Toxic Masculinity gives away how much goth, punk, and emo have influenced my artistry. The sonic landscape of goth music is something I love to infuse in my work. I’m definitely in love with the punk ethos of telling someone to f*ck off; I’ve got a bit of an attitude for the right reasons. I’m forever a middle schooler with side bangs, the whole “I love you and let’s run away at the end of this horror story” feels so emo. It could be a myspace status.
Q. Your new album Presents: A Simple Solution for Toxic Masculinity is all about smashing conventional norms and what’s expected. That idea is expressed beautifully in the lyrics of many of these songs. How did you keep this intention in mind while writing?
A. I started the album with “Really Cute” and “Eyeliner,” so I ended up starting smack dab in the middle of what ended up being the album! My mind is super visual, I think it’s a kind of synesthesia, and it started constructing a story. Once I had the story planned out in my mind the songs started falling into place. For me, each song is a vignette that supports the intention I started off with.
Q. Some songs on the album are reminiscent of films and other mediums, specifically “Promising Young Woman” emulating the film of the same name and “Vampire Lover” emulating Twilight. Were these films inspirations for this album?
A. Honestly, I’m so bad at watching movies, I can hardly sit still sometimes! I’ve never seen Promising Young Woman, but I feel like I should since I wrote a song with the same title. I totally grew up as a “Twi-hard,” but I was intrigued by vampires and classic horror themes long before that. I loved the horror marathons they used to have on Syfy when I was a kid, and I read a lot of horror novels now. My penchant for the spooky definitely influenced my album!
Q. You’ve said that this album is “deeply inspired by a profound love for horror.” What aspects of horror were integral to the crafting of this album?
A. When I wrote “Vampire Lover” I really wanted it to have this old horror feel. I remember talking about Vincent Price when I was recording it. I love the humor infused into campy horror, whether it’s intentional or unintentional, and I felt that some listeners would probably need a bit of humor to diffuse the horror of the story I presented. The quintessential slasher theme prevalent in many horror movies was also integral in this album. The protagonist is fed up and has a vampire lover to feed; the lengths they’ll go to take care of their lover end up being a bit Michael Myers in nature.
Q. Your music is far from constrained but derives influences from folk, alternative, rock, and pop. How do you combine and experiment with these genres?
A. I listen to and love a whiplash-inducing range of styles (you should see my personal playlist). I think that keeping a broad collection of music in my ears, and always trying to expand my listening range, helps to keep my music fresh. I want to make art that is authentically me while putting something out in the world that people haven’t heard yet. In my life, some of the best music I have listened to defies the conventions of a singular and traditional genre.
Q. Why is it so important to release an album like Presents: A Simple Solution for Toxic Masculinity now? Were there certain events that made an impact on you and led to the creation of this album?
Toxic masculinity still exists, and is still problematic for everyone in our society. I remember getting cat-called at thirteen by grown men, I get honked at when I run, I’ve had men talk down to me or focus on my appearance instead of my work. Those are just some of my own experiences that infuriate me, but I see and empathize with the experiences of those around me. It’s sickening, and quite frankly, really annoying. It’s important to me to release this album because I want toxic masculinity to go away so we can all thrive.
Q. Talk about being from New Jersey, a place where so many iconic rock and alternative bands emerged.
A. New Jersey is sick as hell, I love this state. I grew up here and I have no plans of leaving it permanently. I live close to the NJ portion of the AT, but I’m still so close to everything. Living in NJ means you’re never far from live music, the beach, the mountains, museums, and a tremendous number of incredible experiences. Our state is incredibly dense and diverse, and it makes for a wonderful bounty of opportunities to expand your worldview. I’m sure it inspired other artists living here.
I definitely don’t think this is the place to come to in order to “make it big,” but the amount of artists that have come from our state is mind blowing when you consider how small our state is. I never thought about it too hard growing up. There’s a certain tenacious energy that comes with being from New Jersey that is probably instilled in us at birth. When the whole country calls us the “armpit of New York,” or thinks we’re all like members of any given show about NJ, we’ve got to have a bit of resilience in our bones.
Q. What are you most excited about for this album? Is there a specific song you’re dying for fans and the world to hear?
A. It’s just so exciting to share this album with the universe! I wrote all of this material about a year and a half ago, and I’ve been chomping at the bits to share it. I’m really excited for people to hear “Don’t Mess With Me.” I’ve needed a song like it for a long time, and it was therapeutic to write. I’m sure other people will claim it as their unhinged anthem and I’m all here for it.
