Porter Robinson’s Smile! 😀 World Tour? More like Smile! :O because I was wowed, to say the least. So let me set the stage for you – pun intended.
A couple of nights ago, I found myself at Porter Robinson’s Smile! 😀 show in Singapore. First, let me confess. My knowledge of Porter Robinson’s music was about as limited as my patience when someone told me I was “missing out” for not loving EDM (read: not much). A big reason is that I get easily overwhelmed by chaotic beats and sounds without direction. I knew Porter’s 2014 hit Goodbye To A World – which, yes, he performed that night – but otherwise, I was walking into this basically blind.
Call me picky, but here’s my thing about EDM. When it’s good, I feel almost euphoric. But when it’s subpar? Well, I’m either left feeling empty or heavily overstimulated. Still, I’m not one to write off a genre completely, and the stakes felt higher since I had a few friends who were really gassed for the show. So I went in cautiously hopeful – and who knew that it would be Porter Robinson who changed my mind?
My Smile! 😀 Experience
The first thing I noticed was a giant inflatable pink cat on stage, and I was sold! Just kidding – but hey, it did score major bonus points even before the show began. Soon enough, Porter Robinson walked out with – get ready for it – a live band. Yes, a live band at an EDM concert. Porter himself was swapping between guitars, rocking out on the frets like a pro. As someone who is no stranger to concerts and playing instruments, I’ll always have a soft spot for live music. Backing tracks are nice and all, but the energy of a live band? Come on, it’s unbeatable.
And boy, Porter sure had a charismatic stage presence. This man had the crowd in the palm of his hand like it was second nature. Early in his set, he told us to put our phones away for just one song, and I kid you not, not a single screen around me lit up. He’d say, “Get low!” and we were practically crawling. “Hands up!” and we were reaching for the stars. The concert was super hype from the get-go, and I felt like I had gone back to a time when concerts were all about living in the moment. I hadn’t felt that free in ages!
I have to give props to the production quality as well; it definitely helped to amplify the atmosphere. Of all the concerts I’ve been to, the vibrant, flashing lights at this one were by far the most intense. Though I’ll be honest, paired with the bass thumping in my chest, I had to close my eyes at times—particularly during the beat drops—because it was a bit of a sensory overload.
I was practically seeing stars when I walked out during the intermission! Gosh, how do ravers do it? Anyhoo, if you’re sensitive to lights, consider this a fair warning – it might be a bit much. But if you’re up for it, they can make the whole experience feel larger than life!
Okay, enough chit-chat. Back to Porter! His voice was crystal-clear live, oozing with a 2000s charm that was, quite literally, music to my ears. While I was bracing for some heavy rave-ish energy – and sure, there was a bit of that which I didn’t mind too much – I wasn’t prepared for Porter’s soul to be bared on stage. His vocals shone, and the concert started off super hyped up, but he also had moments where he got vulnerable with the audience, discussing his dreams and forms of self-expression.
That said, I do wish there had been a proper talk set. Yes, Porter did sprinkle in his heartfelt lines between songs, but one thing I look forward to during concerts is the feeling of having a conversation with the artist(s). And Porter intrigued me – the cheeky banter with his band and passing comments proved that he had quite the personality – so I wanted to feel more of that genuine interaction!
Of course, it’s not a Porter Robinson show if there aren’t any playful touches! Video game sound effects – a signature sound of his – were recurring elements in many songs, namely Knock Yourself Out XD. With classic, feel-good chord progressions, I could tell this was a crowd-pleaser; it had everyone bouncing!
Oh, and did I mention Porter covered Kids by MGMT? What a throwback! He had the crowd cheesing hardcore, and I was hit with a wave of déjà vu. Easily one of my highlights for the night.
And it wasn’t just about the music! This show was so wholesome. Porter said he didn’t care how “cool” anyone thought they were – he just wanted everyone to let loose and have fun. And we sure did. Shoutout to the girl in front of me who did not stop waving her colour-changing lights once, I got excited for her when Porter called out to her!
Then there was this moment during Russian Roulette – quite a touching song – when Porter sang something along the lines of “I want to see my mom one more time.” The sweetest grandpa near me, dancing like there was no tomorrow, belted out that lyric with everything he had in him – I simply melted. These are the kinds of moments that make concerts so special. I love seeing how happy they make people. And there I was, struggling to push down the lump in my throat – a subtle foreshadowing.
Because when Porter sat down at the piano, phew, I was done for. I couldn’t stop my tears when I heard the melody flowing as his fingers swam across the piano. This instrument, it has this way of delicately evoking emotion with every note. So incredibly beautiful. Porter played Mirror, Mother, and Something Comforting on the keys – with so much grace, at that! I’d never heard these songs prior, but this segment stole my heart.
But when I got home and gave those three songs another listen, their studio versions just didn’t hit the same. That’s another thing I adore about concerts – there’s an intangible magic to hearing music live, especially when it’s acoustic. And yes, I’m biased – so it’s no surprise that this was hands-down my favourite part of the show. I could go on and on – so let’s just say nothing will ever beat piano performances for me, I love them dearly!
The bittersweet wait for the encore came too soon, but when Porter returned, the atmosphere was electric once again. We jumped harder than ever to Shelter and Cheerleader (this one was such a vibe), and my heart was full. If you told me a week ago that an EDM concert would have me grinning, jumping, and crying, I’d have stared at you in disbelief. But here we are, the adrenaline’s worn off, and now I’ve got a bad case of Post-Concert Depression. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Porter Robinson’s show proved how being present makes all the difference. Everyone around me was jamming like nobody was watching, and it was contagious! And Porter’s little moves and grooves were so endearing – it was as if the music was in sync with his body, pulling his limbs like a puppet. If there’s anything to learn from him, it’s that audiences feed off the artist’s energy. Nothing else matters when you’re truly present – we’re all just there to have a great time!
If you’re someone who’s iffy about EDM, I get it – I was that person. But Porter Robinson’s spin on the genre gave it new meaning. It was passionate, emotional, and ridiculously fun. I’ve definitely softened toward the genre and have zero regrets about giving it a shot. So why not do yourself a favour and see how it feels – maybe even catch a live show if you can? If you’re curious about where to start, Porter Robinson is a no-brainer – take it from me. So give his Smile! 😀 album a listen!
Be sure to follow Porter Robinson’s socials on Instagram and TikTok! And if you’re on the lookout for other artists coming to Singapore, check out our list of upcoming concerts featuring acts you can expect to see soon. Enjoy the show!
Photos by Leo Chia of the DANAMIC Team.
