Jared Porter, a modern country music singer-songwriter, musician and former Visalia resident performed at the Country Music Festival’s World GlobaLive! concert on June 2 in Nashville. CMA World GlobaLive! is a concert featuring some of the best up-and-coming international country artists from the Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and the U.K.
“I am super-pumped to play at the Country Music Festival!,” said Porter before the event. “Even though I grew up in California, this will actually be my first official concert as Jared Porter in the states. I never would have imagined that my first U.S. concert as a country music artist would be in downtown Nashville. It is such a privilege to be a part of it.”
Porter moved with his family to Australia at the age of 15 and shortly thereafter started pursuing his musical talent. He released his first country single, “Under the Sun,” in February 2013. This January, he entered and won the 35th annual Toyota Star Maker Talent Competition, Australia’s most prestigious country music competition. This is the same talent competition that launched Keith Urban’s career when he won the award in 1990.
In addition to the title of 2014 Toyota Star Maker, Porter was awarded a recording contract, a Toyota car and fuel card for 12 months, a trip to Nashville, a guitar, a professional video clip, and exposure in Australia’s country music magazine Capital News.
“I decided to enter the competition because unlike a lot of singing competitions, Toyota Star Maker doesn’t try and change you or your sound as an artist,” Porter explained.
“When I was announced as the Star Maker winner, I was a little shocked at first, because there were so many great artists in the line-up. Then a rush of a sense of honor and excitement hit me, when I realized the amount of successful artists that have come through this competition, like Keith Urban.”
Released earlier this month, Porter’s new single, “Deep End,” is the first taste of his soon-to-be released debut album – his major prize as the reigning Star Maker.
“From the moment I first heard it, the feel, the storyline and melody just had me written all over it,” said Porter. “It is so catchy. I was hooked on it straight away. This song is all about that first stage of love and wanting to take that next big leap, but at the same time it is just a fun outdoors song. I grew up jumping off big rocks into lakes and rivers from a young age, so I guess this song hit me right at home. I knew I had to release it as my first single.”
For more information, visit www.jaredportermusic.com, or find him on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.