Performer Page

Nothing about Porij is set in stone. The Manchester band surge from show to show, their creative energy moving from rave-infused highs through to delicate songwriting that finds them exposed and open. Patching together club tropes and indie pop elements, each song seems to exist in its own world, bound together by the gravitational pull of their mutual creativity. The 4-piece, who have carved a niche at the forefront of Queer-led dance-pop, had a massive 2022; releasing the outlines EP; selling out London's iconic Heaven; performing a much-hyped Glastonbury set; and cementing themselves as burgeoning darlings at both press, radio and streaming. Earlier this year they supported Coldplay on a run of stadium shows including Manchester's Etihad Arena. Porij's new material is co-produced by the legendary David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Young Fathers). Their first release of 2023, the dancefloor-ready groove 'You Should Know Me', is a tantalizing taste of what to expect from the new Porij. Formed almost as a dare by four students at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music, the origin of the band inaugurated a journey of evolution. “The start of the band was the most haphazard thing,” explains Eggy (vocals/keys). “I feel like that’s the literal essence of Porij. We do everything last minute – but it’s so beautiful, and amazing.” One of the band’s strengths is accepting the differences in each other’s voices. Guitarist Jacob Maguire thrives on producing electronic beats, while James Middleton (bass/keys) is entranced by club culture, absorbing the lingering impact of UKG and jungle. Drummer Nathan Carroll, meanwhile, was recruited for a 6Music Festival set – and never left. “Porij feels like a big creative melting pot, where you can put your hat in the ring and suggest an idea,” he says. “It’s a beautiful space to exist in.” “It doesn't feel defined by a single genre,” adds Jacob. “It's about the music-making ethos, as opposed to lack of genre. If it sounds good, and it makes me want to dance, then that's fine. Box ticked!” At its core, Porij is a vivid pop experience – immediate, direct, and pulsating, they’re driven by an urge to connect. “What we think is pop is still pretty alternative,” laughs Eggy. “There is a real stigma around pop. But if something's popular, it's popular for a reason. It's connecting with a bunch of people. And I don't think you can dismiss that lightly.” Distilling their myriad of influences down to a fine essence, Porij are slowly bringing their vision into focus. Pure, undimmed, and utterly fantastic, their rave-pop soliloquies are unlike anything else in British music today.