Sound Revolt: And getting back to present times. Did you make tracks especially for ‘Porterhouse Vol. 2’?
Steve Porter: Yeah, but first I collected all the music I wanted to license for the album and then I went to the studio to complement the music I collected. For instance, I wanted a breakbeat record in a certain section of the album, so I went and did a breakbeat track. I’ve never done it this way, but in 3 weeks, I produced 8 or 9 tunes – brand new to fit into the mix. Actually, it’s kind of cool when you try to produce something to fit in the grand scheme of something.

Sound Revolt: And were there other artists that were asked to make something especially for this release? And how long were the originals? (laughs)
Steve Porter: It’s the second ‘Porterhouse’ compilation and both years I’ve gone to my local friends from Boston and New York and some around the world. Just the kind of people that I’m very close to, that I feel comfortable saying: “hey, I’ve got another ‘Porterhouse’ compilation in the works, would you mind just keeping that in mind? If you have any stuff in the works – please submit it”. The music that comes back is all sorts of stuff, but my friends definitely try to cater to how I play so the tracks are maybe not 10 but 5 minutes long.

Sound Revolt: “Hey, I need a track but I’m probably going to use 1,5 half minute of it so 3 minutes will be enough” (laughs)…
When listening to the first disk of ‘Porterhouse vol. 2’ I was afraid you completely turned to the dark side of the force. CD 1 is happy house mayhem - unbearable for me. Which CD is more you – the first or the second?
Steve Porter: I don’t know what to say really. If I could have mixed those two CDs together, I would have. I would have done one 2,5 hour mix. I’m a ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of guy. I’m much more of a party DJ now, and I’m not so concerned with being too intelligent here and there. Honestly, I was going for a similar product on both disks and had reviews on both sides like “I prefer CD 1…”

Sound Revolt: Yeah, because they represent slightly different kinds of music. They can be similar when it comes to style and how you play, but I come from a darker musical background where old school funky house was evil and CD 1 is not accessible for me.
Steve Porter: Funky house is something I do play usually earlier on in the night, so you can imagine that CD 1 is when the club just opens and there’s not many people there so you’re just keeping it warm.

Sound Revolt: Get the girls dancing.
Steve Porter: Exactly. That’s it. You pretty much nailed it. Because as you get on you can play edgier and edgier and CD 2 is like that.

Sound Revolt: And why did you move from Fade Records to EQ Recordings to release ‘Porterhouse Vol. 2’?
Steve Porter: Chris Fortier (Fade Records owner – editor’s note) has helped me out so much in the last almost ten years but last year he came to the point where he wanted to focus on his own career. So I thought it was also a good time for me to see what other options there are for mixed CDs. EQ has a great distribution, so working with them was a great opportunity.

Sound Revolt: Well, Chris himself releases his artist album on EQ as well.
Steve Porter: Yeah, EQ is a terrific label. Tom (Tom Pandzic, head of Stomp/EQ – editor’s note) and everybody over there are really the middle men between underground and mainstream.

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