LA-Based Australian Artist PORTAIR Announces Tour With Mystery Skulls ; New EP ‘The Place To Start’ Out 9/22

August 11, 2023 BY Jason Currell

Australian-born, Los Angeles-based artist Portair recently announced he will be supporting American indie pop/electronica act Mystery Skulls on their late summer tour. He will join the group in Miami on August 23rd and be on the road through September 1st in Ann Arbor, MI. Tickets are on-sale now and full list of dates below.

Today, he also shares his new track, “Starring,” along transcendent official video that perfectly captures the long, languid days of August. It is the latest offering from his upcoming EP, The Place To Start, which will be released on September 22nd. When asked about the song, he explains, “It’s a very happy song to me. There’s a really dreamy and ambient passage. The guitar line reminded me of this experience in the forest at a German festival. It was like a movie scene, so we went down the rabbit hole of euphoric and blissful feelings when the chorus hits.”

WATCH + SHARE “STARRING”

The Place To Start EP will include his May single, “Stand In Tall Ovation,” which tackled his own struggles with mental health and gave back to To Write Love On Her Arms and  Beyond Blue. It will also feature the recent release, “Hellbent,” and the title track, which has Josh Keogh of Amber Run adding vocals. “The title references the fact our time on earth is so short,” he observes. “It’s about realizing we’re just a blip. For me, it’s comforting knowing we’re all not going to be here forever, but we’re in this together.” He originally brought the record to life during a creative sojourn to Joshua Tree in the same sessions for his third EP, Learning How To Die, imparting a piece of himself on every element, recording each song, and even playing drums in addition to guitar and synths. The result examines existential questions through an enigmatic and entrancing approach steeped in rich soundscape architecture and arresting melodies.

The alternative singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, graphic designer/artist has had a busy 2023 that included a sold-out Australian tour, a headline Los Angeles show at Hotel Café, dates Begonia, and a 20-date North American run with City Of The Sun that included sold-out shows in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.  In the past, he has supported artists like SYML and Liz Longley.

His 2023 EP, Learning How To Die, features buzzy New York artist Vérité, Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling songwriter, artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist WYNNE, and Los Angeles singer-songwriter Emily James. As a songwriter and a producer, his songs and scores have appeared on networks such as Netflix, NBC, MTV, and CBS. His 2023 viral stand-alone single, “Gloaming Hour,” racked up over 5 million plays on TikTok,

TOUR DATES SUPPORTING MYSTERY SKULLS:

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Miami, FL Gramps
Thursday, August 24, 2023 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
Friday, August 25, 2023 Orlando, FL Level 13 Event Center
Saturday, August 26, 2023 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade (Hell)
Sunday, August 27, 2023 Nashville, TN Exit / In
Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Durham, NC Motorco Music Hall
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 Washington, DC Pearl Street Warehouse
Thursday, August 31, 2023 Pittsburgh, PA Crafthouse
Friday, September 01, 2023 Ann Arbor, MI The Blind Pig