Peter Block of Porter Block speaks with us about latest single, ‘Groove Goin’ On‘, and what’s ahead for the rock band from New York City.
How did Porter Block come to be?
Caleb and I both grew up and lived in New York City. We were both writing songs and getting into production right after 9/11. I had a studio on Canal Street and we spent like a year just writing songs and making demos. Many of the songs are long gone but that’s how we built enough material to make our first record, ‘Suburban Sprawl’.
What was it like writing with Andy Paley?
Andy is a prince of a guy, and I’ve followed his collaborations with Brian Wilson, particularly all the great unreleased material they wrote together in the 90s. I’m a huge Brian and Beach Boys fan so of course when I got the opportunity to write with him I jumped out of my shoes. He’s got some hilarious anecdotes let’s leave it at that. His experience and confidence in the writing process were beyond impressive.
What inspired you to write ‘Groove Goin On’?
That basic idea was Andy’s. He liked the old-time quality of “groove goin on” as a baby boomer description of an attraction between a possible couple. We just took that idea and ran with it. The spoken word verses describe a sort of turbulent world surrounding the possible love birds, and the chorus uses a mid-60s sonic template to pay off the “groove going on”.
What was the vision or concept for the music, and how did it come to be?
Another favorite songwriter of mine and Brian Wilson’s is Randy Newman. We thought honoring the “I love LA” video with a Nashville-themed car ride would be cool.
Do you have any stories about the making of ‘Groove Going On’?
The video was fun but chaotic trying to shoot on Broadway at midday in Nashville. It was a hot day, so just driving around singing took plenty of energy and skill to avoid any possible accident or damage to the rented Bentley I was driving. It was a little anxiety-inducing but we got the shots we needed.
What advice would you give aspiring musicians?
Keep your day job….no just kidding. Anyone who pursues Music on a serious level doesn’t have to answer to anyone but themselves. You don’t need any excuse to make music. If you do something to be creative and explore your own capacity for creating …just do it.
What will fans take away from ‘Groove Goin On’?
We chose it as the album’s first single because of its up-tempo motion and momentum. It’s not meant to have a complicated meaning. It’s about getting up and moving around a little. That kind of energy should be rewarded.
What can your fans expect next from Porter Block?
We’ve got 4 singles from this record, ‘Sometimes Sunshine’, and we’re already working on the next.
You can watch the music video for ‘Groove Goin’ On’ below, and find out more about Porter Block and their music online on their official website, YouTube, and Instagram.
