Porter Robinson Signs Worldwide Deal With Astralwerks Records And Virgin EMI U.K.

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternative-electronic artist Porter Robinson has signed a worldwide deal with Astralwerks Records and Virgin EMI U.K. Scheduled for 2014 release, his as-yet-untitled debut artist album is an eclectic collection of original, transformative, and immersive songs. It sees the 21-year-old production wunderkind moving beyond traditional dance music to explore themes of beauty, vastness, and goosebump-inducing emotion.

"This record I've been working on for the last couple of years focuses mostly on being beautiful, emotional, and vast-sounding," Porter explains. "It's got a sort of vintage-inspired, lo-fi, nostalgic vibe to it. The album is definitely not a mainstage EDM album at all. I've grown so tired of the formulaic, buildup-drop EDM formula. This record is listening music, not party music. I think fans of songs like 'Language' will like the album – it's meant to be emotional and pretty in the same way – but on a different set of sounds. I feel really strongly about this. It's my favorite music I've ever made."

Twice featured in Billboard's 21-Under-21 and selected as one of Rolling Stone's "25 DJs That Rule The Earth," the Chapel Hill, North Carolina native is one of the world's most ground-breaking musical talents. His first EP, "Spitfire," the initial release on Skrillex's OWSLA label, crashed Beatport's servers upon its release and headed straight for #1 in the charts. Porter's follow-up effort, "Language," secured top-10 chart positions around the world, selling over 250,000 copies, and his most recent single with Mat Zo, "Easy," quickly became every DJ's go-to anthem of the 2013 global festival circuit. He has toured internationally with Skrillex and Tiesto, headlined festival stages at Coachella, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza, Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival and Electric Zoo, and been featured on the cover of DJ Mag.

Porter began producing at age 13 having caught the electronic music bug from video games, specifically Dance Dance Revolution.  At a time where all aspects of music – from production to discovery to consumption – are rooted squarely in technology, Porter represents a generation of fans who came first to the genre as listeners before ever experiencing it on the dance floor.

"Porter is ushering in a new generation of electronic music that will evolve the genre into uncharted places," says Astralwerks General Manager Glenn Mendlinger. "He crafts songs with exquisite precision, creating music that is both intimate and infinite. Further, his ideas for integration of music, artwork, visuals and live representation illuminate the breadth of his artistic vision."

"There's no denying the trajectory of electronic music in America right now," continues Astralwerks Sr. Manager of A&R Jeremy Vuernick. "Having come of age alongside the genre, Porter – a homegrown talent – is an artist and producer of unprecedented caliber. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Astralwerks family."

"In its 40 year history Virgin has had a long association with seminal electronic artists," says Virgin EMI U.K. A&R Director Jason Ellis.  "We're proud to continue that tradition with the signing of Porter, without a doubt one of the most talented producers of his generation. We look forward to helping him realize the many diverse creative concepts he has in store; his debut album will both surprise and inspire."

About Astralwerks Astralwerks Records is one of America's pre-eminent homes for unique and forward-thinking artists. Founded in 1993 in New York City the label helped ignite two explosive waves of musical creativity: first with Electronica in the '90s, and more recently with EDM in the new millennium, while also nurturing artists beyond the realm of dance music. Astralwerks' roster includes The Chemical Brothers, Kraftwerk, deadmau5, Pet Shop Boys, Fatboy Slim, Air, Hot Chip, Phoenix, Kings of Convenience, The Kooks, Doves, The Beta Band, Eric Prydz, and Mat Zo among many more.

About Virgin EMI U.K. Virgin Records is the revolutionary British label started by Richard Branson, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. The label has always supported the maverick, creative drive of its artists and has achieved global success in breaking some of the biggest and most influential acts of the past four decades. The label's diverse roster in the UK includes Swedish House Mafia, Laura Marling, Emeli Sande, Bastille, Katy Perry, Lorde, Banks, Avicii, Chvrches, deadmau5, Tiesto, Naughty Boy and Eric Prydz to name a few.

SOURCE Universal Music Group