PORTER RAY (Seattle WA)

PORTER RAYBy society’s account, Porter Ray Sullivan should be elsewhere. If the statistics were correct, a coffin, or prison would seem to be his most likely destination. A high school dropout, who watched his hoop dreams evaporate after enduring a series of well-documented tragedies. His coping mechanisms temporarily diverted his attention, leading him down a seemingly never-ending path of overindulgence. But perception isn’t always reality, and time heals some of the most painful wounds. Avoiding complete self-destruction, Sullivan chose to reinvent himself through penmanship. The results? Porter Ray, a gifted young scribe from Seattle’s Central District, who has effectively turned his poetry into beautiful music. Ray’s perspective on life in the Emerald City’s famed neighborhood is vividly described through intricate tales of everyday street-life. By articulating the thoughts and feelings of his generation, Porter Ray effortlessly paints realistic images of what growing up in Seattle as man of African-American decent actually means. Porter Ray’s future is bright. With a 5-project catalogue in his portfolio, Porter recently signed with Seattle’s legendary Sub Pop Records through Ishmael Butler [Shabazz Palaces] to tell his story on a broader platform. With his official album debuting mid 2016, a series of interesting show dates and projects scheduled previous to its release, Ray seems destined to take his rightful place in music’s international conversation.