Chris Portka

In the artist’s words: Describe one of your earliest musical memories in detail. I danced on couches in giant pillow forts to the Rolling Stones when I was 5 years old with my parents. The casette tape I ever had was Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" and the first CD I ever bought was Anthrax's "Persistence of Time" What are your top 3 all-time favorite albums on Apple Music, and why? Why did you choose these three albums in particular? 18 Carat Affair, Spent Passions 2 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, The Mirror Man Sessions Gillian Welch, Time (The Revelator) I adore warm, jammy, yet biting music. Gillian's simple yet expertly crafted songs are incredible. Pair that with The Magic Band's avante garde rock and 18 Carat Affair's ineffable ambient modernism is a delight and covers a lot of musical ground. Find a song of yours on Apple Music that you love and tell us what makes it special. Tell us why you chose this song. “A Candle Is a Raging Fire!” A Candle is a Raging Fire!" reflects my multi-decade struggle with overcoming a fear of singing. The song is my hope, dream, and wish for a life in music, & also reflects the secret desires we hold in our hearts for what we truly want in this life. What’s one of the most memorable moments in your career so far? Probably when I secluded myself off the grid for weeks in the redwood forests of Cazadero, California, to write music with no one but my dog. It was a cathartic experience, pouring my soul into music to try to find clarity in the chaos of the world. Is there anything left on your bucket list as an artist or band? I dream of reaching new heights in my career. Playing SNL or Stephen Colbert would be incredible. My bucket list as an artist is to inspire people with my music and play to bigger audiences and do some songwriter for big names.