Gregory Porter is an American singer-songwriter, songwriter and actor. His first album, Water, was published eleven years ago. He returns with a new album: Still rising, a compilation that includes two CDs, 34 tracks, a clever mix of old must-have tracks, new songs and duets with big names from the past and the present.
franceinfo: Does Still rising is a response to your previous album All rise ?
Gregory Porter: Yes, it’s connected anyway. It’s a continuation, in a way. And I feel that for all of my albums, in a way. I believe that Still rising talks about the consistency of my message.
You grew up in a home with an absent father, your mother was a pastor. She has always believed in you, in your talent. She died of cancer when you were only 21 years old. Finally, isn’t this album a wink that you give it?
Each of my albums, in one way or another, is a tribute to my mother. I can’t tear myself away from her and I won’t. With the death of my brother during covid, what made me feel better, to come out of my depression, was my music. I remembered him, bringing coffees and donuts to the band, and on every album he was there with coffee! I realized the power of music. I needed something to help me with my broken heart, which I still do. I realized that the music carried me.
During the pandemic, I started to self-medicate with my own music, my own messages that I wrote to help others. I needed it to help me.
Gregory Porterto franceinfo
This is your greatest strength, moreover, that of not forgetting where you come from ?
I always go back to my roots, to my mother. It was really something important to her. We are a big family, there are eight, five boys and three girls, and the family allows you to keep your head on your shoulders. When you feel like you are becoming more important than you are, they tell you: “Come down a little bit, you know who you are, you know who your mother is“. And at the same time, they help you, they carry you, lift you up, give you confidence and strength. That’s what my song is about. Concorde, being too high in the air. When you are too high, you have to go back down.
Do you like your voice? What place does it occupy in your life?
I love my voice and it makes me feel good, first of all. It’s something a little selfish. My mom used to tell me that when I was a baby, I sang to myself to fall asleep.
In the darkest moments of my life, I sing music to myself all the time.
Gregory Porterto franceinfo
The absence of your father, you managed to “compensate” it thanks to Nat King Cole. It is true that his texts are a bit of the recommendations of the father. Did you experience it like that?
I will not be able to tell you how much. In Nat King Cole’s music there is so much advice: “Smile even if your heart hurts. Smile even if your heart breaks. Pretend to be happy when you’re unhappy“. I look at his picture on the albums and imagine him as my father. And it has come true to me. His words have become real fatherly advice.
What’s next ?
Go ahead, I believe. With the title of this album Still rising (Always get up), I always feel young, naive, always gentle in my approach to music. I hope that I will continue to grow as a writer, as a performer and a singer. This is what I hope for. This is the sequel.