Porches isn’t the only moniker under which Maine works. Under the alias Ronald Paris he releases a style of music that is much more experimental than Porches, relishing the freedom that another pseudonym can provide.
“I think it feels good to work on different projects using a name as a clean slate,” says Maine. “When I want something to be set aside from everything else, it helps me to do it under a different name. I called the project Porches five years ago and I don’t remember why. I don’t think there was ever any significance in it, I just liked how it sounded and looked at the time.”
Maine’s musical inspirations aren’t exactly what you’d expect – they differ greatly to the sounds he produces as Porches. “I grew up listening to a lot of The Beatles,” he says. “My mum would listen to Annie Lennox, Steely Dan and a lot of classical music. In my teens I listened to a heap of The Strokes. These artists definitely influenced the direction of my own music, probably more melodically than anything else. I guess we all subconsciously regurgitate these things in a way.”
Only three weeks ago, Pitchfork named Porches’ Be Apart as a Best New Track – a feat that would excite even the most accomplished of artists. The song, which was mixed by Chris Coady in LA, has been described as one of the more upbeat creations from Maine, who tends to dwell in a more sombre environment.
“I do tend to pay attention to reviews, for better or for worse. I was so excited when I read that Pitchfork article. I’m a bit discerning when I read reviews, but with something like that I have a hard time not reading it, and because it was under the title Best New Track, I figured that they would more than likely have something nice to say.”
Be Apart is the latest song to be released from the upcoming album, and is accompanied by a cleverly constructed film clip from director Daniel Brereton. The video pans around a mansion, providing snapshots into the lives of its residents and making even the most everyday actions like vacuum cleaning look eloquent and artistic.
Another notable collaboration is that between Maine and his girlfriend Frankie Cosmos (AKA Greta Simone Kline), whose vocals feature heavily on the latest Porches release. “Frankie Cosmos was in the band while I was making the album, and she’s probably featured more than any other guest. It’s nice that Frankie and I have that two-way collaboration. We live together and are constantly bouncing ideas off each other; the constructive criticism between us is such a good thing. A lot of the time we are so busy, and that can be really stressful, especially when both of us are dealing with the more stressful parts of a career in music, but it’s also really great support.”
BY TEGAN REEVES
