At a Chick-fil-A in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2005, 13-year-old Porter Robinson spotted two local college basketball players. He approached them with paper and pen, hoping for autographs. One of the players played make-believe on the phone, while the other signed everything for him. Robinson never forgot that moment and knew he would never treat someone like that in the future.
Now 32 years old, Robinson has released his third studio album “SMILE! :D,” which explores the contours of his career in EDM music and his relationship with his fans. Robinson has a fiercely loyal fanbase, even though he hates being called “wholesome.” He sees the word as unrealistic because he knows his flaws and has many ugly moments.
In 2014, Robinson was playing one of the first shows after his debut album “Worlds.” He felt miserable and ended up berating the crowd, storming off stage, and telling his crew that he was done. He cringed at his own behavior, but it was a turning point for him. Robinson realized he was done playing the game of being a manic EDM DJ and turned to making music that meant something to him.
“SMILE! :D” represents that shift for Robinson, who shares his depression, writer’s block, and need to be creative to his fans. It was written in one and a half years compared to “Nurture’s” seven and reflects everything Robinson felt during that time period. He gave himself permission to say every stupid thought that entered his mind and attempted to develop a “rock star bravado” with his guitar.
Robinson believes that his fans have a huge influence on him, that he can never outsmart the addictive nature of fame, and that it’s important to give people as much of himself as possible when he meets them. For Robinson, it’s a double-edged sword, but he wouldn’t be where he is today without his fans
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