Laura Rosierse
Laura is a creative writer and events producer based in the north east with a love for most genres including but not limited to punk, alt rock, folk and indie!
Following the release of their debut EP ‘Motion Without Direction,’ we chatted with PØRTERS about the release and the formation of the band
Fast-rising North East-based alternative rock outfit PØRTERS just released their debut EP ‘Motion Without Direction’, and are hosting a hometown showcase event at Little Buildings with a bunch of local talent. I talked to the band’s powerhouse vocalist Maria Winter about their inspirations, writing style, and the band’s future plans!
Their debut EP ‘Motion Without Direction’ is a searing and genre-hopping introduction to their bold fusion of alternative rock energy and four-part harmonies. Expect razor-sharp hooks, raw lyricism, and stunning vocals on this striking debut!
Laura: Hi! Who are PØRTERS, and what inspired the founding of the band?
Maria: We’re PØRTERS – a new female-fronted alt-rock outfit based in Newcastle upon Tyne. We actually met at the Colonel Porters open mic night run by our guitarist Kieran Taylor every Tuesday (hence the band name)! We found that we all had similar music tastes and just started jamming during each session. Everyone had a passion to write more original music, so we thought, ‘why not?’.
Laura: What are some of your musical as well as professional influences?
Maria: Musically, we’re into everything from Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, and Steely Dan to local acts we’ve grown up around. We’ve all previously been in various bands too, so we know the North East music scene pretty well, and it’s nice to see all of those individual influences connect. Professionally, we take inspiration from bands who’ve stuck to their sound and built something lasting without chasing trends.
Laura: Where do you get inspiration for your songs and how do you write them? Is it a joint effort, does it start with a riff or a lyric?
Maria: It really varies. The great thing is that everyone in the band is a songwriter, so the ideas flow pretty easily. I’d say the riff usually comes first, which inspires the lyrics, but usually it’s just one big jam until something sticks.
Laura: What do you get out of your music and what do you hope to achieve by releasing music?
Maria: We get a sense of release from our music – it’s where all the chaos gets turned into something that makes sense to us. We put it out there hoping it resonates with people, but mostly we’re just glad if anyone connects with it at all.
Laura: What do you hope your listeners, fans old and new, get out of your music?
Maria: Hopefully they find something in it that they can relate to, whether it’s the lyrics, the mood, or just the energy. If it helps someone through a rough patch or just makes their day a bit better, that’s more than enough.
Laura: What are some of the achievements that you’re most proud of?
Maria: I mean, we’ve got things up and running with the band pretty quickly since the initial idea formed, which is an achievement in itself these days! It’s been so easy to write music together, so seeing that PØRTERS vision come to life and develop over the past few months has been pretty cool. But, releasing our debut EP ‘Motion Without Direction’ has to be up there. We’ve had cracking feedback so far, which we’re so grateful for.
Laura: What’s next on the planning for PØRTERS?
Maria: Keep writing more songs! Sharing our music with as many people as possible. We’re also playing the mainstage at Lindisfarne Festival in August, which we’re chuffed about – it’s probably our favourite festival in the North East.
Laura: What are some of your dreams for PØRTERS?
Maria: Headlining some big festivals, like Download. And touring! We’d love to go on the road.
Listen to ‘Motion Without Direction’ here: