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Who is Peytan Porter? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music (2023)

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Who is Peytan Porter? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

who-is-peytan-porter

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Peytan Porter
Birthdate – 1/14/1998
Hometown – Dawnsonville, Georgia
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Linda Rondstat, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton
Current Single – “Speaking of Georgia” (as of date of article 10/16/23)

The Beginning:

A little over a year ago, we introduced you to singer-songwriter, Peytan Porter. In just that short amount of time, that once pop-country artist has reinvented her sound and come into a style of music that feels more true to who she is right now. While part of her story has stayed the same, much of it has also evolved, and her new music is even better than ever.

Porter grew up in North Georgia with a family who loved basketball, a sport that she also played. “I’m the only person in even my extended family that ever picked up an instrument. I am definitely the weird, artsy one of the sports family,” she shared. “I started playing guitar and getting really into music probably in middle school.”

As the middle child of her family, she found herself often yearning to express herself, using music as an outlet for that self-expression. “I started writing songs when I was twelve-ish, and I tribute that to seeing Taylor Swift opening up for Rascal Flatts at my first concert, and her talking about how she wrote songs about the boys in her school,” she began. Adding, “Once I started singing, my parents moved me to the basement bedroom because there was plenty of noise on the main floor, and me learning to sing was not a needed addition to the sounds that were happening in the house […] I spent a lot of time by myself trying to communicate my feelings and find a way to present them to people where I could really articulate them and get their attention. For me, that was songwriting.”

Despite loving music, Porter found herself not loving the ‘bro country’ music that was popular in mainstream country music at the time. Instead, she dove into female musicians like Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn, Kacey Musgraves, and Dolly Parton. “I really dug into female artists and what they were saying and what they weren’t saying, and tried to figure out the parts that I could take with me and where the holes were.”

The Turning Point:

In 2016, Porter made the move to Nashville, Tennessee to attend Lipscomb University. Empowered by records like Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park  and Maren Morris’ HERO, the singer knew that her voice was important, despite thinking she was going to become a worship leader at first.

While many artists paved the way for Porter, those two albums helped to define her path.“It was a big permission slip for me to question the norm of the world I was growing up in and poke holes in the reality of the small town that I was growing up in. Also to be able to just think differently and it be okay. It was a concept I didn’t really know was an option,” she shared. Adding, “It changed the soundscape of the format, and I always knew that I wanted to do something that would do that to country music, because I’m such a fan of the history and the family that is country music that I think my worst fear is not doing something to push it forward in some ways. To change things you have to disrupt things, and I was working my way into to understanding that I can’t do what everyone else is doing.”

The summer after her Sophomore year at college, the singer-songwriter interned at a publishing company which continued to broaden her love and passion for country music. “I started writing and co-writing, the summer after my sophomore year of college. That’s also when I started an internship at a publishing company, and that’s when I really got to learn what songwriting is. I got to dig into catalogs of people like Chris Stapleton, and Lee Thomas Miller, and Chris DuBois, and all of these amazing people. I really learned what the bar was for what songs needed to be.”

Eventually, Porter graduated college in 2020, with one goal in mind: to be a country music artist. After turning down one publishing deal, in December of 2020, she finally found a home with with Jody Williams Songs, in partnership with Warner Chappell Music and signed her publishing deal.

Today:

Flash forward to present day, Porter is creating music that speaks to where she is at in her life currently. Heavily influenced by the females of her past, as well as, Laurel Canyon country music from the likes of artists like The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, Porter’s sound has evolved into a more folk-inspired country sound. “Part of my journey over the last year and a half was accepting that, and being honest about that in my music, and not continuing to do pop-country music.”

Her latest single, “Speaking of Georgia” is one of her best to date. The song was inspired by the bittersweet moments of the past that have a way of coming back up. “Around the same time my high school sweetheart had just gotten engaged, and it was definitely a nod of agreement that we were both where we needed to be and that was not together. It was kind of bittersweet, as it is when anyone’s first love moves on officially like that,” she shared about the writing experience. “I think that the win of writing “Speaking Of Georgia,” was keeping it as an open thought of ‘you’ve been on my mind, but I’m not going to do anything about it, and I don’t want to change anything about my life.’”

More songs like “Speaking of Georgia” are coming sooner rather than later. Porter shared that she has a project in the work titled Grown, which is slated for release in Spring of 2024. “It is all around these themes of coming of age and self-acceptance, and empowerment, and the freedom that comes along with figuring out more of who you are and not apologizing for it. And wanting to be loved authentically and understanding that that means that you have to give people the chance to actually know who you are for them to accept you for who you are.”

As we all wait patiently for music, make sure to catch Porter on the road. Head to her website for a full list of shows.

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Peytan Porter releases.

To keep up with Peytan Porter, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Peytan Porter’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Peytan-porter-new-ep

Peytan Porter: ‘In My Head’ – EP Review

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Peytan Porter releases new EP, In My Head, out now, June 24th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project below and check out our full review.

Country music is full of talented female singer-songwriters that deserve the spotlight. Peytan Porter is one of those talented artists. The songstress’ soulful-country sound is uniquely hers, as she crafts songs that fans flock to in droves. Today, Porter released her brand new EP, In My Head.

The seven-song project is all about embracing life and all its intricacies. “Growing up, Nashville was like a real-life Disney World to me and I pulled a lot of creative inspiration from ‘Alice In Wonderland’ for the project. For me, life just isn’t as black and white as we’d like it to be and I finally embraced that,” shared Porter. Adding later, “This project touches on the best and worst of all of those things and I’m so excited for people to go down the rabbit hole and see the wonderland that is IN MY HEAD.” 

The record kicks off with “Why We Broke Up.”A dreamy song that portrays how it feels to get back with the person you lost, Porter introduces the fairytale aspect to the EP right off the bat.

“But seein’ you tonight, all that comes to mind // Is kissin’ under stars on your hood, all the good times // And boy, you make me miss layin’ on your chest // Thinkin’ ’bout forever lookin’ into your blue eyes // I remember late nights and long talks, fallin’ in love // But seein’ you like this, I forget why we ever broke up”

The record continues with “Champagne Problems” and her debut single, “First Stone.” The former features the traditional country sound that Porter is a huge fan of. A true anthem for the every girl, “Champagne Problems” is a standout on the record. Similarly, “First Stone” is another story-telling song. The track conveys how the world would be a better place if we all were just a little nicer.

“If everybody lived in big glass houses // Where everyone could see all the secrets we own // There we’d sweep our own floors // Tidy up our own couches // Do ourselves a favor, leave the neighbor alone // We’d quit tryna be right // We’d be a little more nice // If everybody lived in big glass houses // Babe we’d all think twice ‘fore we threw the first stone”

Porter continues to share her heart on the next song, “You Go Girl.” Written by the songstress with Madison Kozak, and Jason Massey, the song is a melancholy anthem for any girl with a broken heart. It is one of the more tender moments on the riveting new project.

On the next track, “Therapy,” Porter hones in on what it’s really important: self-growth and working on yourself. The honesty she portrays throughout the song is so crucial and important. That honesty is a common thread throughout her entire record.

“Therapy // Takin’ back the time you took away from me // People always told me you were bad for me // Don’t get mad at me // While I take a little time to focus on my // Recovery // Do a little personal discovery // Of who I am now that you got a piece of me // So, baby, let me bе // I gotta get through a little therapy”

The second to last song is one of our favorites off the project, “Someone’s Love Song.” Porter’s stunning vocals are on full display, as she conveys the notion that love is for her. Finally on the last number the title track, fans get a taste of the sassy side to the singer. “In My Head” is the perfect conclusion to the cohesive project. Learn more about Peytan Porter and her journey to country music in our spotlight interview here.

In My Head EP Tracklist:

  1. “Why We Broke Up” (Peytan Porter, Smith Ahnquist, Sam Bergeson)
  2. “Champagne Problems” (Peytan Porter, Kenny Foster)
  3. “First Stone” (Peytan Porter, Billy Montana)
  4. “You Go Girl” (Peytan Porter, Madison Kozak, Jason Massey)
  5. “Therapy” (Peytan Porter, Mackenzie Carpenter, Micah Carpenter, Jonathan Hutcherson)
  6. “Someone’s Love Song” (Peytan Porter, Patrick Murphy, Lydia Vaughn)
  7. “In My Head” (Peytan Porter, Greg Bates, Kat Higgins)
Peytan-porter-new-ep

Peytan Porter’s new EP, ‘In My Head’ out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Peytan Porter releases.

To keep up with Peytan Porter, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

In My Head EP is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Peytan-porter

Who Is Peytan Porter? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

/in , , /by

Who is Peytan Porter? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

Peytan-porter

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Peytan Porter

Birthday – January 14th, 1998

Hometown – Dawsonville, Georgia

Musical influences – Taylor Swift, Brandi Carlile, Beyonce, Maggie Rogers

 

The Beginning:

In a special spotlight feature, we are introducing you to an incredible new singer-songwriter, Peytan Porter. The songstress is the type of artist who has a vocal range for days, but also creates songs with substance. We chatted with Porter all about her journey to where she is now and of course about her brand new EP, ‘In My Head’ out today.

Porter grew up in North Georgia with a family who loved basketball, a sport that she also played. “I’m the only person in even my extended family that ever picked up an instrument. I am definitely the weird, artsy one of the sports family,” shared the singer “When I started writing songs, it became a thing like, I want to skip practice and audition for The Voice. And my mom who was a coach, would make me ask my teammates if that was okay.”

Despite her family’s interest in sports rather than music, she recalls her family and her small town always encouraging her to pursue her passions. At the early age of eleven years old, Porter even started to write her own lyrics and music.

“I started writing songs when I was probably eleven or twelve,” began the singer. “My first concert was Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift was opening for them. It was the first time I saw someone close to my age being a country singer and she talked about how she wrote her own songs about her experiences.”

Despite secretly loving Swift, Porter still did not see a path for herself in country music. “There’s a lot of songs about loving your hometown and wanting to live there forever and that just wasn’t something that represented how I felt, so I wasn’t sure that I was going to be great at writing a country song, because I felt differently than them.”

Eventually Kacey Musgraves came out with her record Same Trailer Different Park, and Porter felt seen. “It was the first time I saw a different perspective of like “I love it here and I can care for the people and where I came from, but it doesn’t mean I fit in here.” That was the first time I really felt like I could have a voice in country music that didn’t have to be the same narrative that I kind of grew up around.”

The Turning Point:

Shortly there after, Porter knew her path was to head to Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating high school, she started college at Lipscomb University in music city. While in college, the singer honed in on her songwriting talent, writing music in her dorm room, and eventually beginning to co-write during her sophomore year at college.

Porter continued her education by landing herself an internship at a publishing company. “I just tried to be invisible and listen to all the songs that were being turned in and at the time the songs that were getting turned in were like HARDY’s “One Beer” and all of these songs before they came out,” shared the artist, adding later, “We had all of Chris Stapleton’s catalog there and I just got to study great songs.”

This led to her receiving her own publishing deal offers, just before her senior year of college. Despite wanting to pull the trigger, something kept Porter from signing. As fate would have it, then the pandemic hit, which sent the singer right back to Georgia.

“Spring semester senior year I had almost gotten a degree for something I didn’t want to do and said no to the job that I wanted, so my mom was like ‘you need to figure this out,'” shard Porter, “So I kept writing, kept taking meetings, and then by the fall of 2020, I had an offer from the company I am with now, Jody Williams Songs and Warner Chappell Music”

Today:

Now with a publishing deal, Porter’s focus was completely on writing music. However, after a viral TikTok moment occurred for her in February of 2021, it was evident that the singer needed to start releasing her own music to her growing fanbase. “I just tried to collect as many fans as I could. And started giving them unreleased music,” shared the singer. This led to her team helping her create her EP, In My Head, out today. Check out the brand new music and our full review of the project here.

“I never wanted my music to be red dirt, Georgia. I always wanted it to be more mountainy, Georgia. Those sound and feel very different, so I always wanted to be able to grab the breezy, mountain air feel from where I came from in my music.”

In My Head is certainly that! The record is filled with songs that speak to Porter’s experience so far. “This first one covers a lot of ground,” began the songstress. “I think it’s a big kind of introductory to all the different sides of my personality and kind if my perspective one the world. It covers the gamut of emotions. It’s got me at my worst and me at my probably better.”

Fans can certainly expect even more honesty, authenticity, and music from Porter very soon. According to the singer herself, “The only reason I want to be an artist is so that I can meet people and connect people and hopefully make a little girl in her bedroom feel seen in her small town who is not finding music that says exactly what she, or he, feels.” We think it’s safe to say, she has accomplished that!

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about future Peytan Porter releases.

To keep up with Peytan Porter, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Peytan Porter’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.