Porch Light are moving fast. What started in Minneapolis in 2024 has already taken the five-piece well beyond their hometown, building a sizable audience, selling out headline shows, landing them on major festival stages, and signing with Mom+Pop.
Now comes Hush, their first full-length album, recorded at Pachyderm Studios with producer Caleb Wright (Samia, Hippo Campus) after a stretch of touring that brought the band even closer together.
We caught up with Porch Light to talk about how the five of them found each other, coming up in Minneapolis, making their debut album, learning to live on the road, and what happens when things start taking off much faster than you expected.
To start, where are each of you from originally, and where is Porch Light based these days?
We’re all from various suburbs outside of Minneapolis. For a time, 3 of us were living in the city, only a few houses apart from each other. Growing up near farmland, I prefer being surrounded by more nature so I moved out of the city, but Minneapolis is a wonderful place to be. We’re all a bit spread out now, but our home base and practice space is still Minneapolis.
You’ve had a pretty solid rise in a short amount of time. What’s been the biggest adjustment from being a new band to suddenly having a real audience waiting for what you do next?
Staying grounded in what matters has proven to be somewhat difficult. Getting accustomed to being in front of a camera and having videos of me all over the internet was hard to get used to. I’ve never sought fame or been used to all that comes with chasing what we are. We’ve been so fortunate to make it to where we have now, and being prideful would only hold us back from what we want to achieve. Caring about the integrity of the music and the connection within the band will always prove to keep us centered.
You’ve said you want to be the biggest band in the world, which is a pretty great mindset going into any project. With so many bands across so many different genres selling out arenas now, do you think that goal has become easier or harder to accomplish?
It could go either way, truthfully. With how inclusive music is these days, you really have to go the extra mile to set yourself apart and work very hard. The industry isn’t label-manufactured anymore, and there’s something really wonderful and freeing about that. It takes a lot of sacrifice, time, energy, and honestly in my case, putting some ego and pride aside to market yourself. We are in a time where if you want to be known and heard, all you have to do is put yourself out there and never stop. Don’t hope people give a shit about your art, show them why they should.
Five people writing together sounds like it could either be amazing or complete chaos, but it seems to be working pretty well for you. How do you make that work without anyone losing their individual voice?
Being really fluid and open at all times. We don’t step on each other’s toes when it comes to our individual parts and instruments, but are very receptive to each other’s ideas and suggestions. At the end of the day, Porch Light is the culmination of all our different inspirations, ideas, and voices. It wouldn’t be what it is if anyone took a larger share in the work, and we find comfort in that. We’re in it together, and we love that about being in a band.
Now that Hush is finished, is there anything about the album that surprised you — something you didn’t realize you were making until you heard the whole thing together?
How different each song is and how well they all fit together as a project. We had a rough idea that the range across the album was going to be fairly vast, but to hear it and see it as a full body was really cool. We love that we don’t have to fit into one box of sound, and that Porch Light can exist in multiple spaces. We like to think we have a song for everyone.
Is there a song on Hush you think might get overlooked at first but you’re secretly hoping becomes a fan favorite?
Personally, I think ‘Mary’s Got a Gun,’ and I’m pretty sure the guys would agree. It’s definitely different from anything we have done, but it was really cool to see it built out into what it is now. I wrote the verses and chorus on my own, so I feel very strongly about the lyrics, and the guys really gave it the love and juice it needed to make it on the album. It’s also in a really sweet spot in my vocal range so singing it is so fun.
The cover for Hush is great! We were going back and forth on this — is that a real dog?
It is a real dog! His name is Biscuit, and his owner Henriette so graciously drove down to Minneapolis from Duluth for the shoot. We put an ISO on our story for a wolf-looking dog and her friend sent it to her. He looks so violent and angry in the picture, but he was having a blast eating bananas the whole time. Henriette was so kind to come and be involved, we wanted her hand in the shot since she’s his owner. We knew what we wanted, but definitely had to make sure we achieved it without harming any dogs in the process! Biscuit is a legend!
What’s a lyric from Hush that best sums up your state of mind right now?
“This living room is freezing,” because I’m in my living room and it’s freezing. I think AC units make me sick, I’m trying to figure that out. They’ve been fucking with me in all the hotel rooms we stay in. I’m also always cold, my feet turn purple and white, so winter coming soon is not fun for me.
What’s the biggest challenge you’re navigating as a band right now — and what’s helping you push through it?
Honestly, not much right now. We’re very blessed and grateful for everything we have going on. Maybe trying to figure out if we should put one of our slower songs in our setlist for this fall headline tour. It’s so hard to gauge if it’s the right move. A lot of set planning is trying to arrange vibes, not just sounds. Once you get a crowd into a certain mind space, you kind of want to ride off of it. We just keep saying we’ll call audibles and see how it goes!
“If you want to be known and heard, all you have to do is put yourself out there and never stop.”
With so much happening in the world right now, how much of that finds its way into your music? Is music a way of engaging with what’s happening around you, or escaping from it?
Most of our songwriting is very personal, and mostly centered around things that are happening within my daily life bubble. I write about a lot of heartbreak and emotional turmoil. The world is in a very lost place right now, and I think my writing is more of an escape from it all than an engagement. Truthfully, the songs kind of just come out of us, and we follow the direction it pulls us in.
In a world that can feel increasingly artificial, what’s feeling real to you right now?
Us, our music, team, friends, and family; all that is tangible.
What’s a hill you’ll die on?
If you can’t be alone, you shouldn’t be dating. Figure out how to be alone, and you’ll be significantly more secure in your relationships. There’s bliss in solitude, but it can be scary and lonely. Most things in life your partner can’t fix, so know yourself well enough before you have another person depending on you. A partner is someone to lean on, not carry you. Go try things you would be nervous to do alone. I love going out to eat or going to a bar by myself. You can’t expect new things in your life if you don’t do new things.
Are there any artists — musical or otherwise — that you’d love to collaborate with?
Hayley Williams — I think my heart and head would physically explode if I ever meet her. Honestly, any of our musical inspirations and favorite artists. Wunderhorse, Oasis, The Smashing Pumpkins. I love what beabadoobee has been releasing lately, she’s cool as fuck.
What’s your Good Call right now? It can be a band, song, movie, book, restaurant, politics, anything — what should we know about?
Superhero the band is about to release an insane batch of music that you should definitely keep your ears peeled for; they have 2 singles out already and they are incredible — plus they’re coming on tour with us. Bo Staloch as well, he’s a friend and his upcoming project has been on loop for me. He is a gifted songwriter.
If you’re a coffee drinker but don’t want to go all in on an espresso machine, AeroPress has stolen my heart. I need my coffee to be super rich and strong, and this thing is so convenient.
I haven’t read it yet, but my roommate is adamant that I must start Women Who Run With the Wolves, and after reading a single page, that will definitely be in my bag on the road this fall. I struggled for a long time to be in touch with my femininity and womanhood, and writings like this make me feel wrapped in it.
