We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erin Porter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Erin, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
When I perform as Your Best Nightmare I’m typically the only one that looks like me on the stage, and I’m definitely the only one with a ukulele. I’ve played a lot of shows that are mostly male attended with male performers, which can be intimidating when most of my songs are about murdering toxic masculinity. At first, I remember feeling fleeting moments of insecurity or fear because I was worried about how I would be perceived. In every performance, however, I remember why I wrote those songs in the first place; if I’m the only one in the room who has had those experiences I can share them and make a difference.
I get a real kick out of being the only angry girl with a ukulele in the room. I’ve been told that my boyfriend must be terrified of me, and my mouth should be washed out with soap numerous times. Some people miss the point, and just give me more fuel for the fire, but these comments make for great stories. In these same shows when I’m the outlier, I’ve had people share how empowering my music feels. It reminds me that even though I might play to a room of people that aren’t like me at all that I am still succeeding in my mission.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m Your Best Nightmare: bubblegum horror punk from New Jersey. I’m a classically trained soprano and multi-instrumentalist with an affinity for horror. I think the most special things about Your Best Nightmare are the ukulele, the sass in the music, and my approach to music. I’ve been told I have a sharp tongue and a rather quirky sense of humor, which both make an appearance in my work. I have, what I believe is, a form of synesthesia. When I hear music, or make music, I see and feel a little movie. Once I start a story I have to finish it, and each song needs to have particular sounds and styles to really complete the motion picture in my head. The final song of my EP, and subsequently my forthcoming album, has jingle bells in it because jingle bells sound bittersweet. The story I was telling needed to end on a sad and sweet note. I’ve had a few listeners and fans tell me they sensed a story, and that my songs felt cinematic, so my brain is doing something right.
Anyways, when you see me perform live, it’s predominantly ukulele and sass.
I’m releasing a new single on December 12th, and will be releasing my debut LP in 2024!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
First, I am a strong advocate for musical knowledge. I think if it were not for the musical experiences I’ve had, growing up and in my training, I would not be where I am in this journey. Experiencing music as an audience member and listener is important; experiencing a diverse array of music is critical for me. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from participating in music as a non-performer, and I’ve found a lot of sounds that speak to me deeply. Participating in music as a learner and performer has been the most impactful. I’ve learned about how punk the musicians before me were; how to use music theory and how to defy it; and how to present myself on a stage (even if I’m sick, sad, or forget the words entirely). As a musician in whatever stage of the journey, never stop learning or listening.
Second, tenacity is so important in the music industry. You will have people talk you up, and then never come to your shows. You will be told no, or just completely ignored, more times than you are told yes. People will try to undermine you, talk circles around you, and make you feel small. Rising above those things and clinging to the why and the who are important. Whenever I lose my grip, if I have a moment of self-doubt, I stop and think about my why and who.
Third, self-sufficiency is an important quality that has helped me tremendously thus far. I have accomplished most things due to my ability to do it myself. I’ve taught myself a lot in this journey, like how to edit videos and design graphic advertisements. I’ve learned how to book shows and send PR inquiries. That’s not to say I don’t have friends in the industry I rely on; I totally do, and I’d be lost without them. My colleagues have taught me a tremendous amount of skills that have helped me to become self-sufficient. Being able to count on yourself is a really important trait to possess not only in music, but in the world at large.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents let me try everything and encouraged me to pursue what interested me. I was exposed to a great deal of music and art as a kid. My mom let my brother and I pick out whatever CDs interested us from the library each week; at some point we got a Macarena CD we both still talk about. My dad would help me make things, birdhouses and pinewood derby cars, and would let me decorate them how I saw fit. I got piano lessons as a kid because I kept playing pianos wherever I found them, and eventually I got an old Kimball that still sits in our living room. I got really lucky having parents that encouraged me to create and perform, even if I drew on the kitchen walls and sang really loudly in the shower.
My parents went to all my concerts, plays, and musicals; you can still catch them at shows.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://linktr.ee/yourbestnightmare
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsactually_erin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourbestnightmarenj
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsactuallyerin
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yourbestnightmarenj
Image Credits
First image: Maddie Keats All other images: Jeff Crespi
