Porter Robinson's new single, "Cheerleader," sparks a new era for the renowned artist and sets message boards on fire, speculating about the future.
"Cheerleader" premiered on Wednesday to incredible fanfare, celebrating a fresh take on the indie-rock style of the early 2010s. Immediately, fans pointed to the shocking differences between the new single, Nurture (2021), and Worlds (2014), noting this switch-up is just as unexpected and thrilling as the releases of "Language" (2012) and "Get Your Wish" (2020), which kicked off their own eras of Porter Robinson's career respectively.
Leading to the release of the "Cheerleader" music video, cryptic online messages, countdowns, and teasers built up an enormous hype train of dedicated fans excited to come together and celebrate the start of another new era. With a booming reception, international success, and wide-spread recognition of the track, "Cheerleader" has certainly done its job of introducing the fan base to the new, refreshing, natural, and forthcoming direction Porter is heading in with this new project. Touching lyricism mixed with euphoric beats rattle emotions and leave behind a tingle of anticipation, eager to see and hear more from this dazzling artist. Fan theories of rumored and hinted-at collaborations are flying around message boards alongside immense discourse about the meaning behind the leading track.
Mixed opinions on the health of fandom for artists have always been a topic of discussion around Porter Robinson. After an initial departure from his original sound, many OG fans had mixed opinions on Worlds's directions, shifting from hard-club-focused tracks to deeply emotional digital fantasies and electronic escapism. Fans shared a similar discourse after Porter openly discussed his struggles returning to music writing after the massive success of Worlds, declaring his doubt that he could ever make something 'good' again, especially on such a unique level.
However, we all know how this story ends - Nurture was a massive success and a fulfilling chapter in Porter Robinson's life. As a rock through the latter half of the COVID-19 fallout, Nurture brought a refreshing take on simplicity in music and united fans around a positive message of gratitude for all of life's simple pleasures, from nature to family and friends. The Nurture tour paid great homage to veteran fans who had enjoyed years of the Worlds-era live shows, incorporating an eerily accurate recreation of discovering the "Sad Machine" (2014) lyric video on YouTube to diving into live sets, fan-made movies, message boards, art groups and more...a series of experiences many fans shared over the late 2010s alongside each other. The Nurture tour even incorporated many songs from Worlds with reinvented visuals and edits to seamlessly fit alongside Nurture's vibrant presence. Above all, Porter even took a moment at every stop on the tour to bring his custom-built handheld MiDI controller down to the crowd for someone to play Sad Machine for him - creating lifelong memories in the blink of an eye through a simple and humble gesture.
In any event, whether you love the new direction Porter is moving in or you are craving a taste of Nostalgia, Porter Robinson has shown time and time again his appreciation for those who have supported him through his career and will surely pack in a little something for everyone over the next year. I, for one, am so excited to see him happy and back to releasing music; I expected a hiatus as the Nurture tour had just wrapped up this past year, "Cheerleader" was an epic surprise, and the rapidly growing anticipation for the new project is something to celebrate.
Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to check out all these amazing artists on social media and tune in to see where they play next. Keep an eye out for an official announcement from Jimbotron regarding Somerville, MA Porch Fest, and clear your calendar for Saturday, May 11th - you'll be partying with us!
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