Authentic R&B is making its way back to the forefront of the genre. Porcelan’s smash single “Lois Lane” places her among those acts making well-conceived songs that express honest emotions that you not only enjoy, but you can feel.
Porcelan is such a unique name, how did it come to be your stage name?
Well, Porcelan is my actual name. My parents chose it for me. They were in a band long before I was born. Porcelan was actually my mom’s stage name so that’s how it came about.
Besides your parents, who has been the influential artist in your career?
As far as who I look up to? I am definitely an oldies fan for sure. I enjoy listening to Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin. When you grow up in Memphis, listening to oldies is pretty much the standard. As far as influences right now, I am definitely a Beyoncé fan. I admire her work ethic and that she always performs her music on stage like it’s the first time no matter how many times she’s done it. I am influenced by Rihanna especially when it comes to her brand and her overall appeal in the industry. I am influenced by both of them for very different reasons.
They are both great influences to have. From your video to social media, unlike a lot of your peers, you display sex appeal without exploiting yourself. Is that so as to not distract from music?
I try to give people just enough to want more. If you give them too much, it spoils it. You want to know what it’s like to be with someone without seeing all the goods. Not to say that it’s a bad thing for those who do it, but they can focus on the media and all that stuff. Music and actual talent are what I am bringing to the table. I can be a little sexy, but I tread a line. This is how I am in general, but that what makes everybody different. One thing I’ll say about Cardi B, Nicki, and everyone else, we do us and I think that’s what it’s all about. I am definitely building a career on my talent.
Your personality shines through everything you do, how did you develop your look?
I love Rihanna’s style along with Jhene Aiko’s. Justene Skye’s style is really awesome. I just pull individual things that spark my interest. I am a “piece” person. I am all about pieces and unique things because you really don’t have to do too much or be over-the-top to show your individuality. Most of it comes from my originality, what I choose to do with my look. I try to implement myself in everything I do.
It’s my personality, the things that characterize porcelain in my opinion. It really helps me out, my name being Porcelan (laughing). Porcelan, that’s very clean. Sometimes, I play off my name depending on how I want to look. If it’s the porcelain doll thing I’m going for, I try to make it a very clean fleek, sometimes regal. It depends on how I feel, there are definitely different sides to me. I am a balance of sexy and classiness. I want to keep a good balance because I want to be a fashion icon. I am more about the looks and less about the getting naked part.
Would you agree that true R&B is making it way back to the forefront of the genre?
It feels really good to be able to create music without having to worry about whether it’s going to go anywhere. There is definitely a way being paved for female R&B singers. I think that people are at a point where they want to hear something new, they want to hear something else. I am truly happy that it is coming back into the game strong. Ella Mai is a perfect example of that with her new record and how well it’s doing. I think it’s really great.
I look forward to hearing more female R&B singer doing their thing.
Everything has been very hip-hop driven, sometimes you want to listen to heartfelt stuff. I am happy that the industry is going back to that for women.
You definitely don’t want to be out here proposing to a hip-hop song.
Yes, what happened to that stuff? When I used to go through a bad relationship or anything like that, I am putting on “We Can’t Be Friend” by Deborah Cox and R.L. I’m putting on some Case, “Happily Ever After” or some Tank. It hasn’t been any new female R&B artist to capitalize from the vacuum in a while. I feel like the doors are flying open for me because it’s a great time to come out and reintroduce it to the industry. Being a younger female, I think it’s great because I will be introducing the genre to my generation.
It’s refreshing that you make real R&B, not hip-hop with singing. During the creative process of writing your songs, how do you select your beats?
Actually, the way it’s pretty much done is that we write first, the music is created off the song. We do it all from scratch, no beats. When we write, we sit down and come up with our concept, then when we put it all together, the track is made around it. We have other people who select the music as well. Our producer and head of A&R Hamilton Harden does a lot of the tracks. We are working with four or five other producers. We go through them. That’s pretty much how it’s done.
Do you have plans of expanding your brand into other aspects of the entertainment industry?
Absolutely! I am so excited, even shooting “Lois Lane” video was interesting because I had the chance to work with some other actors in L.A. It was really nice getting a feel for that because the director Erik White has directed movies and some of his video catalog features actors in it. It was a nice intro to acting and made me want to further it as well as modeling and doing commercials. I definitely want to branch off into other things.
