Music Q&A with Bryan Porter of In A Daydream
Photo by Kris Herrmann
Detroit’s emo rockers, In A Daydream, released their debut album, This Side of Purgatory via Here Goes Nothing Records this past Friday! In this Q&A, the band’s very own Bryan Porter talks about the album, Radiohead, Manchester Orchestra, and more! This Side of Purgatory is out now!
Congratulations on the release of This Side of Purgatory! What does the album mean to you?
Thanks. To me this album first and foremost means I finally have legitimate music out in the world. Thematically, it’s about coping with a loss and learning to forgive yourself for the destructive things we sometimes do to try and get some relief from the horrible feelings that come with grief. It’s dedicated to the memory of my best friend who died when he was 22, so a lot of this album is pretty autobiographical. It just feels good overall to put something out into the world that feels like the best I was capable of doing musically at the time it was written.
What is your favorite song off the album?
It changes. I think most people will like “The Romantic Egotist” because it’s the catchiest, and I love the tempo change. I also think that is lyrically the best song on the album. Musically, I think “Narcissus Off Duty,” the second single, is the song that sounds the most like just ME rather than songs that are more obviously a product of musical influences. But yeah, they are all my babies and I love them all for different reasons.
With Covid coming into our lives last year, how did it affect the making and creative process of the album?
Honestly, it didn’t affect the process at all. I was recording everything in one on one settings with just myself and a sound engineer anyway, and the songs were all written pre-Covid, so I was fortunate in not having the virus really affect me with this album at all. If anything, it gave me more time to work on getting a band together to play it live and work on things like album art and merch designs.
What is your earliest musical memory?
Listening to “Mother” by Danzig over and over in my dad’s Ford Ranger, lol
Who has been your favorite artist or band to see live?
It’s close between Radiohead and Manchester Orchestra. I think Radiohead puts on the best all around show and really fills an arena, and I think Manchester Orchestra just fucking ROCKS and sounds better than they do on the records even. Seeing either one just makes me want to play live.
What is your favorite album of all time?
Oh gosh. I mean I don’t have one that I really love way more than any other, but if I absolutely had to pick one, I’d probably go with my 1A as OK Computer by Radiohead and 1B as In Rainbows by Radiohead. I think they are both masterpieces and I have a playlist that contains both of those records called 0110 that I won’t bore you with the details on, but if you are a Radiohead nerd, go look up that playlist and thank me later.
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
Honestly, I just think about what I’m grateful for, like my family, my life, and the fact that I’m even in a position to pursue a passion like music. So many people never even figure out what they’re passionate about, let alone have the talent and luck to be able to actually pursue it. So in that way I feel extremely lucky. I also like to take baths and just chill the fuck out with my cats, and I LOVE to read novels.
Thank you for taking the time for this Q&A. Any last words or final message for the readers?
Thank you for listening to the record, please DM me on the band Instagram @inadaydreamusa and tell me what you think, and please share it or come to our shows! Our record release show is at the Loving Touch in Ferndale, MI on 2/12/22, the day before my birthday, so come hang!