Interview with Robin Porter

Robin Porter

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Immigrant

11th-Hour What is your label vision?

Robin Porter Initially my vision was to create an avenue to release my own music and to help with djing. The vision remains the same, although living in California has influenced the direction of the label and the artists I have worked with. I have sort of mutated with the lifestyle and the industry here in the U.S. When in Rome and all that.

11th-Hour How did the label come about and why did you start it?

Robin Porter I arrived in the States from Manchester, U.K. in the mid '90's and spent a year or so getting 'acclimatized' to an alien Californian culture in L.A. Landing with not much cash and only my design portfolio, I started to feel out the design and music industry and found work freelancing for Sony, and A&M records initially. Clothing design followed and soon I had a healthy design income. The whole idea was to accumulate enough money to start the label concept I had. Equipment came first, decks obviously, then studio gear. A couple of years later I had a baby with an English lassie and all the best reasons to push the label concept and stay in California.

11th-Hour Why Immigrant Records? Where did the name come from?

Robin Porter Quite simple really. I am no different from the average Mexican bloke washing car windscreens for $10 per day. It's a real common occurence here in California. Immigration is a huge situation and is out of hand. I have spent the last few years up to now, living and working just like an American but totally illegally. That means, no driving license, no bank accounts, squat really. You have to be sharp and really want to stay here to survive under these circumstances, never mind starting a business. Anyway, that's who I am here, just another Immigrant and always will be, green card or not.

11th-Hour Who plays your records?

Robin Porter Mexican blokes! Just kidding. The Californian scene is really exciting right now and people are feeling a combination of House and Techno here. I have both styles of DJ play Immigrant, from both the U.S. and the U.K. It's still early days for the whole new school Techno scene here, but the U.S. scene has some promise. the West Coast is awash with new talent and it seems it is becoming the new home for many a Techno pioneer. Finally, some respect for the Detroit and Chicago era is being seen. Hopefully, the media won't saturate the market with it all become a fashionable farce, recognizing these originators because of press and not their musical merits.

11th-Hour Who will be your principle artists over the coming year or so?

Robin Porter I'm really trying to be strict with the number of artist I work with right now. It's hard to be like that when there are so many talents, but I'm pushing my own production more. The label is getting pretty stable and seems to be accepted now. I have the time to get my own material together. That's the plan. But I will continue to work with Kenneth Graham, Alexi Delano, Casey Hogan, Jes, John Tejada, and EBE with the addition of Jamie Anderson from Artform in the U.K in the near future.

11th-Hour What is your music policy if you really have one?

Robin Porter The only policy is that there isn't one. My djing style adopts House and Techno. Techno at it's core, some deeper house and harder percussional Techno. I am keen on offering a domestic label that contains both genres. it suits my djing style and I want to offer an equal balance of both genres. I don't feel like being categorized and held ransom in one market. It'a good way to sell records but I feel limiting in the long run.

11th-Hour Where do you see the future of the music you put out?

Robin Porter I definitely want to keep the label floor related. If I feel the need to go deeper and more minimal, I will probably come up with a new label concept. I am enjoying finding the equilibrium I mentioned earlier regarding genres and styles. Each release may vary greatly but it with carry the Immigrant theme along with it at all times; Travel.....it's life changing experiences and the knowledge it gives.

11th-Hour Where do you go to hear good music?

Robin Porter The record store.

11th-Hour What is your favorite Immigrant release so far, released or unreleased?

Robin Porter The release scheduled for September this year produced by EBE (Lucas Rodenbush) does a great job in expressing the label's mood.

11th-Hour What are your plans for the future?

Robin Porter To be consistent and continue to provide creative product to those who care to hear. The beginning of the year should bring some ideas of an Immigrant mix CD, and many new collaborations and sampler EP's. finally and most importantly to be a good Dad. You could add on having a vacation but I doubt that will happen.

11th-Hour Where do you want Immigrant records to be in ten years time?

Robin Porter Since I create the label's artwork and photography, I have great deal of interest in the visual aspects of each project, including the web side of things and the multimedia aspects of our industry. I will take it as it comes but, I do have plans to release and Immigrant clothing brand and accessories along with video and multimedia ventures. It's all the same for me, whether it's audio, visual or a combination of both. They are all vehicles for me to expose my inner-sides.