Imagine Britney Spears and Marilyn Manson having a baby. Imagine that kid making an album. That’s how up-and-coming pop/rocker, Porcelain Black, describes her sound. Listening to her debut single, the electrifying “This is What Rock ‘n’ Roll Looks Like,” you’ll realize this description couldn’t be more apt in capturing the essence of who Porcelain, born Alaina Beaton, is as an artist. After releasing a couple of songs online, Porcelain, who was then known as Porcelain and the Tramps, caught the attention of mega producer, RedOne (Lady Gaga, Nicole Scherzinger,) who then signed her to his new record label, 2101 Records. Hard at work on her still untitled debut album, due out this Summer, Porcelain Black has already been on tour with Lil’ Wayne, has collaborated with Rick Ross, and has written songs for Ashley Tisdale, among others. Check out my interview with Porcelain, in which she talks about the inspiration behind her upcoming album, as well as going on tour with Lil’ Wayne and Nicki Minaj, and the story behind her stage name.
Free-Wired: So you’re on the I Am Music II tour with Lil’ Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Travis Barker and Rick Ross. How’s that experience been like for you?
Porcelain Black: It’s been great! It’s really amazing! Everybody’s cool, everybody’s friends, so it’s a great experience. I’m just thankful and very grateful to be out on tour. I’ve also gotten a good reaction, with the audience and everything, so I’m enjoying it and I’m having fun.
Free-Wired: There’s been an absolutely overwhelming reception regarding your performances, actually. What inspires you to do what you do?
Porcelain: Having a passion for music and just being able to express yourself. For me, music is a way to express yourself. There are also so many artists that inspire me, but I think my two favorites are Marilyn Manson and Britney Spears. They’re definitely my tops, as far as musical inspirations go, but I’m also influenced by Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails, all that kind of stuff. I’m really into industrial music, so… I think those are my biggest inspirations, for sure. I also really love dancing and performing and all that, but I think it’s really cool making a rock show with dance and stuff. I don’t really think it’s been done before. I like it! So, yeah!
Free-Wired: You first stepped onto the scene as Porcelain and the Tramps, literally a one-woman band, as they say. Why’d you make the change to Porcelain Black?
Porcelain: Because people thought Porcelain and the Tramps was a band, and it wasn’t. It was just me and I didn’t want to confuse people. (laughs)
Free-Wired: So I know this, but a lot of people still aren’t aware. Where’d you get your stage name from?
Porcelain: Well, when I was little, my aunt used to buy me all these porcelain dolls ‘cause I had, like, strawberry blonde hair and super pale skin. She was always like “I got another doll that looks like you!” So I had all these creepy porcelain dolls in my room and then people just kept on calling me ‘Porcelain’ so that’s how I got that name. I just liked ‘Black’ because, you know, porcelain is, like, really fragile, it can break easily, and then black is more dominant and opposite, you know? I just like mixing things that really shouldn’t go together, so that’s where the name came from.
Free-Wired: I’ve been a fan for awhile now. I remember, back in 2007, I was 13 years old and I used to blast your old songs in my room. “Fuck Like a Star” came on, and my mom heard, and I got grounded for 2 weeks!
Porcelain: (laughs) No way! Well, I’m known for getting people in trouble. That’s what happens when you hang out with me. I bring out the best in everybody! (laughs) Just kidding! Well, I’m sorry that you got grounded!
Free-Wired: Actually, that batch of songs are really special to me. They helped me get through rough times.
Porcelain: Aw, I’m happy to hear that! I just want people to be happy, and be inspired. I want them to feel empowered when they hear my music. Like when they’re feeling down, they can listen to it, and it can cheer ‘em up, so that’s good! I’m glad my music helped you.
Free-Wired: So a lot of the old fans say you’ve sold out, you’ve mellowed out. Whatever. What would you say in response?
Porcelain: I don’t think I have, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, so if that’s what they think, then whatever. But I know I haven’t sold out, so that’s all that matters.
Free-Wired: I don’t think you did. Listening to your early music, there was this hint of a pop feel to it. I think the new music is still very you, the style is still very you.
Porcelain: Yeah, but I mean, I definitely can see maybe where they’re coming from, because I wanted to bring a more pop/dance element to it, and I wanted to make it more universal, so not just rock people could like it. Everybody could like it. So it’s just, like… I have different kinds of projects, too, with my friend. Every project is gonna have its sound and its own different thing. But whatever. People can be entitled to their own opinion.
Free-Wired: Will we still see some industrial alternative rock styled songs on the album?
Porcelain: Absolutely! There are definitely raw, industrial, alternative-rock songs on the album for sure.
Free-Wired: Speaking of the album, did you decide on a title yet?
Porcelain: We’re still deciding. I’m not sure. I don’t know if I wanna have it named after a song, or if I wanna come up with a different name. Still working on it, and as soon as I know, you’ll find out.
Free-Wired: How’d you get signed to 2101 Records?
Porcelain: I had met RedOne through a mutual friend, an A&R. He was telling Red about me, like ‘You have to meet this girl!’ He then called me and he’s like ‘RedOne wants to meet you! You have to come into the studio!’ I was like ‘No way!’ I was freaking out ‘cause I love RedOne and I really respect him and look up to him as a songwriter, as a producer, and as an overall human being ‘cause he’s humble. He’s just a great person. So I went into the studio and I met him and it was on! We talked about the vision, he totally got me, and we just clicked instantly. Then the next day, we went into the studio and we wrote “This is What Rock ‘n’ Roll Looks Like.”
Free-Wired: So that’s how the song came about. That’s cool. So describe your working relationship with RedOne.
Porcelain: Definitely, definitely like family. I mean, there’s a whole team who are just the most amazing, down to earth family ever. It’s like I have a bunch of big brothers, and it’s amazing. Everybody respects one other, everybody’s humble, chill. That’s probably my favorite thing about them because, in this industry, there’s people with lots of egos. They aren’t humble at all. The bullshit gets to their head, you know? So I really just respect all of them. It’s like one big happy family at the end of the day.
Free-Wired: Is RedOne the sole producer on the record or have you collaborated with anyone else?
Porcelain: We wrote everything together except for one song called “How Do You Love Someone,” but he’s the producer of the whole record. He’s doing the whole thing.
Free-Wired: Wasn’t “How Do You Love Someone” originally recorded by Ashley Tisdale, though? You wrote it and it was then given to her?
Porcelain: Yeah. Me and Billy Steinberg wrote it. I really didn’t wanna give that song up but she ended up doing it, but I got it back, so that’s good. But that was an interesting situation. But I got to meet her and she was really cool. She’s a nice girl.
Free-Wired: Is it gonna sound like her version, or are you gonna change the structure, mix it up a bit?
Porcelain: Well, my vocals are a lot more raspy and raw. Also, the drums on it are more epic, rock, ACDC, like thunderstruck kind of drums but on a ballad, if that makes sense to you? So it’s definitely gonna have a different vibe. We’ll reproduce it, make it good, so, yeah!
Free-Wired: So aside from Lil’ Wayne, are there any features on the album?
Porcelain: Not as of yet, but I did get asked to do a song – Rick Ross asked me to do a song with him, Lil’ Twist asked me to do a song with him. Pretty much everybody on the tour. Me and Rick started our song already, so we’ll see what happens with that. I don’t know if it would go on my record or his record, but a collaboration is definitely in the works right now.
Free-Wired: I think you should collaborate with Nicki Minaj.
Porcelain: Yeah! I would love to work with Nicki, I think she’s dope. I love her so that would be amazing.
Free-Wired: And you’re pretty close friends with Yelawolf, too, right?
Porcelain: Yeah, that’s the homie! (laughs)
Free-Wired: You should do a song together.
Porcelain: Yeah! That would be cool. Maybe I’ll talk to him about it.
Free-Wired: Do you have a song called “Mannequin,” by the way?
Porcelain: Yes. It’s called “Mannequin Factory.”
Free-Wired: What’s the concept behind the song?
Porcelain: It doesn’t matter what you look like. Everybody’s different in their own way, and, at the end of the day, we’re all mannequins built in a factory, meaning we’re all the same, we’re all human. We all have feelings. The song’s just about embracing who you are, and not being ashamed or fearing what people think of you. In the verses, like, the insecure voice is like, “Yeah, look at me, tell me what you see/Are you impressed/Do you like my dress.” Like in a mannequin voice and then it comes in with the rock ‘n’ roll voice, like “Oh, wait, I don’t care/No etiquette, what you see is what you get.” It’s like take it or leave it. Anybody who’s anybody can grow up the same at the end of the day, you know? And we all just wanna be loved, and have a good time, and have good friends, and live a good life.
Free-Wired: Sounds amazing! So what are the songs you’re performing on tour? There are a lot of videos on YouTube but we can’t figure out all of the titles.
Porcelain: Yes. I do “La Di Da Di,” and then I do “This Is What Rock ‘n’ Roll Looks Like,” and then, I do “Mannequin Factory.”
Free-Wired: Cool! So is “Curiosity” still making the record?
Porcelain: Well, I did that with a songwriter, Bobby Huff. There are just so many songs. Old songs, new songs we really gotta go through and see if this record is just gonna be me and Red’s songs, you know? I think “Curiosity” and all those songs, I might still release under Porcelain and the Tramps, you know? Keep that like a separate project, or… I don’t know. We’re still not sure yet. We’ll have to see. Undecided!
Free-Wired: Us fans are really dying for those songs, especially those sessions in particular.
Porcelain: Yeah. I really want them to hear the songs too, so maybe I’ll just release it online for them. (laughs) We’ll see.
Free-Wired: I remember hearing this a long time ago, but I’m not really sure on the accuracy. Were you trained for Broadway?
Porcelain: Yeah, I was in National Competitive Dancing my entire life, and I was training to go to Broadway or come out to LA and be a backup dancer. I loved dancing, but music was my thing, you know? With being a musician, you can be a dancer too, though, so I decided to just stick with music. I used to train for crazy hours. I used to train 45 hours a week at one point, actually!
Free-Wired: Wow! So you came from a very difficult background. Has that influenced you in any way?
Porcelain: Yeah, it definitely made me have to have tough skin at a young age and be independent. I’m like really, really independent. And growing up in Detroit, you have to have tough skin and you have to stick up for yourself, and just not be afraid. And everything else that happened, too, like my dad passing away and stuff like that. Everything that happens to you when you’re a kid molds who you are as an adult.
Free-Wired: So have you decided on a single after “Rock ‘n’ Roll?”
Porcelain: No, we’re not sure yet. Maybe “Mannequin Factory.” We haven’t decided. I’m not sure, but “Mannequin Factory” is definitely gonna be a single. “How Do You Love Someone” is definitely gonna be one of the singles. I mean, we wrote so many good songs, me and Red, so it’s really hard to choose. It’s definitely gonna be a good record, not one of those records that has a few good songs and the rest are filler songs. It’s gonna be consistently good, so I’m just really happy and thankful for that, you know?
Free-Wired: So you’re on the I Am Music II tour with Lil’ Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Travis Barker and Rick Ross. How’s that experience been like for you?
Porcelain Black: It’s been great! It’s really amazing! Everybody’s cool, everybody’s friends, so it’s a great experience. I’m just thankful and very grateful to be out on tour. I’ve also gotten a good reaction, with the audience and everything, so I’m enjoying it and I’m having fun.
Free-Wired: There’s been an absolutely overwhelming reception regarding your performances, actually. What inspires you to do what you do?
Porcelain: Having a passion for music and just being able to express yourself. For me, music is a way to express yourself. There are also so many artists that inspire me, but I think my two favorites are Marilyn Manson and Britney Spears. They’re definitely my tops, as far as musical inspirations go, but I’m also influenced by Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails, all that kind of stuff. I’m really into industrial music, so… I think those are my biggest inspirations, for sure. I also really love dancing and performing and all that, but I think it’s really cool making a rock show with dance and stuff. I don’t really think it’s been done before. I like it! So, yeah!
Free-Wired: You first stepped onto the scene as Porcelain and the Tramps, literally a one-woman band, as they say. Why’d you make the change to Porcelain Black?
Porcelain: Because people thought Porcelain and the Tramps was a band, and it wasn’t. It was just me and I didn’t want to confuse people. (laughs)
Free-Wired: So I know this, but a lot of people still aren’t aware. Where’d you get your stage name from?
Porcelain: Well, when I was little, my aunt used to buy me all these porcelain dolls ‘cause I had, like, strawberry blonde hair and super pale skin. She was always like “I got another doll that looks like you!” So I had all these creepy porcelain dolls in my room and then people just kept on calling me ‘Porcelain’ so that’s how I got that name. I just liked ‘Black’ because, you know, porcelain is, like, really fragile, it can break easily, and then black is more dominant and opposite, you know? I just like mixing things that really shouldn’t go together, so that’s where the name came from.
Free-Wired: I’ve been a fan for awhile now. I remember, back in 2007, I was 13 years old and I used to blast your old songs in my room. “Fuck Like a Star” came on, and my mom heard, and I got grounded for 2 weeks!
Porcelain: (laughs) No way! Well, I’m known for getting people in trouble. That’s what happens when you hang out with me. I bring out the best in everybody! (laughs) Just kidding! Well, I’m sorry that you got grounded!
Free-Wired: Actually, that batch of songs are really special to me. They helped me get through rough times.
Porcelain: Aw, I’m happy to hear that! I just want people to be happy, and be inspired. I want them to feel empowered when they hear my music. Like when they’re feeling down, they can listen to it, and it can cheer ‘em up, so that’s good! I’m glad my music helped you.
Free-Wired: So a lot of the old fans say you’ve sold out, you’ve mellowed out. Whatever. What would you say in response?
Porcelain: I don’t think I have, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, so if that’s what they think, then whatever. But I know I haven’t sold out, so that’s all that matters.
Free-Wired: I don’t think you did. Listening to your early music, there was this hint of a pop feel to it. I think the new music is still very you, the style is still very you.
Porcelain: Yeah, but I mean, I definitely can see maybe where they’re coming from, because I wanted to bring a more pop/dance element to it, and I wanted to make it more universal, so not just rock people could like it. Everybody could like it. So it’s just, like… I have different kinds of projects, too, with my friend. Every project is gonna have its sound and its own different thing. But whatever. People can be entitled to their own opinion.
Free-Wired: Will we still see some industrial alternative rock styled songs on the album?
Porcelain: Absolutely! There are definitely raw, industrial, alternative-rock songs on the album for sure.
Free-Wired: Speaking of the album, did you decide on a title yet?
Porcelain: We’re still deciding. I’m not sure. I don’t know if I wanna have it named after a song, or if I wanna come up with a different name. Still working on it, and as soon as I know, you’ll find out.
Free-Wired: How’d you get signed to 2101 Records?
Porcelain: I had met RedOne through a mutual friend, an A&R. He was telling Red about me, like ‘You have to meet this girl!’ He then called me and he’s like ‘RedOne wants to meet you! You have to come into the studio!’ I was like ‘No way!’ I was freaking out ‘cause I love RedOne and I really respect him and look up to him as a songwriter, as a producer, and as an overall human being ‘cause he’s humble. He’s just a great person. So I went into the studio and I met him and it was on! We talked about the vision, he totally got me, and we just clicked instantly. Then the next day, we went into the studio and we wrote “This is What Rock ‘n’ Roll Looks Like.”
Free-Wired: So that’s how the song came about. That’s cool. So describe your working relationship with RedOne.
Porcelain: Definitely, definitely like family. I mean, there’s a whole team who are just the most amazing, down to earth family ever. It’s like I have a bunch of big brothers, and it’s amazing. Everybody respects one other, everybody’s humble, chill. That’s probably my favorite thing about them because, in this industry, there’s people with lots of egos. They aren’t humble at all. The bullshit gets to their head, you know? So I really just respect all of them. It’s like one big happy family at the end of the day.
Free-Wired: Is RedOne the sole producer on the record or have you collaborated with anyone else?
Porcelain: We wrote everything together except for one song called “How Do You Love Someone,” but he’s the producer of the whole record. He’s doing the whole thing.
Free-Wired: Wasn’t “How Do You Love Someone” originally recorded by Ashley Tisdale, though? You wrote it and it was then given to her?
Porcelain: Yeah. Me and Billy Steinberg wrote it. I really didn’t wanna give that song up but she ended up doing it, but I got it back, so that’s good. But that was an interesting situation. But I got to meet her and she was really cool. She’s a nice girl.
Free-Wired: Is it gonna sound like her version, or are you gonna change the structure, mix it up a bit?
Porcelain: Well, my vocals are a lot more raspy and raw. Also, the drums on it are more epic, rock, ACDC, like thunderstruck kind of drums but on a ballad, if that makes sense to you? So it’s definitely gonna have a different vibe. We’ll reproduce it, make it good, so, yeah!
Free-Wired: So aside from Lil’ Wayne, are there any features on the album?
Porcelain: Not as of yet, but I did get asked to do a song – Rick Ross asked me to do a song with him, Lil’ Twist asked me to do a song with him. Pretty much everybody on the tour. Me and Rick started our song already, so we’ll see what happens with that. I don’t know if it would go on my record or his record, but a collaboration is definitely in the works right now.
Free-Wired: I think you should collaborate with Nicki Minaj.
Porcelain: Yeah! I would love to work with Nicki, I think she’s dope. I love her so that would be amazing.
Free-Wired: And you’re pretty close friends with Yelawolf, too, right?
Porcelain: Yeah, that’s the homie! (laughs)
Free-Wired: You should do a song together.
Porcelain: Yeah! That would be cool. Maybe I’ll talk to him about it.
Free-Wired: Do you have a song called “Mannequin,” by the way?
Porcelain: Yes. It’s called “Mannequin Factory.”
Free-Wired: What’s the concept behind the song?
Porcelain: It doesn’t matter what you look like. Everybody’s different in their own way, and, at the end of the day, we’re all mannequins built in a factory, meaning we’re all the same, we’re all human. We all have feelings. The song’s just about embracing who you are, and not being ashamed or fearing what people think of you. In the verses, like, the insecure voice is like, “Yeah, look at me, tell me what you see/Are you impressed/Do you like my dress.” Like in a mannequin voice and then it comes in with the rock ‘n’ roll voice, like “Oh, wait, I don’t care/No etiquette, what you see is what you get.” It’s like take it or leave it. Anybody who’s anybody can grow up the same at the end of the day, you know? And we all just wanna be loved, and have a good time, and have good friends, and live a good life.
Free-Wired: Sounds amazing! So what are the songs you’re performing on tour? There are a lot of videos on YouTube but we can’t figure out all of the titles.
Porcelain: Yes. I do “La Di Da Di,” and then I do “This Is What Rock ‘n’ Roll Looks Like,” and then, I do “Mannequin Factory.”
Free-Wired: Cool! So is “Curiosity” still making the record?
Porcelain: Well, I did that with a songwriter, Bobby Huff. There are just so many songs. Old songs, new songs we really gotta go through and see if this record is just gonna be me and Red’s songs, you know? I think “Curiosity” and all those songs, I might still release under Porcelain and the Tramps, you know? Keep that like a separate project, or… I don’t know. We’re still not sure yet. We’ll have to see. Undecided!
Free-Wired: Us fans are really dying for those songs, especially those sessions in particular.
Porcelain: Yeah. I really want them to hear the songs too, so maybe I’ll just release it online for them. (laughs) We’ll see.
Free-Wired: I remember hearing this a long time ago, but I’m not really sure on the accuracy. Were you trained for Broadway?
Porcelain: Yeah, I was in National Competitive Dancing my entire life, and I was training to go to Broadway or come out to LA and be a backup dancer. I loved dancing, but music was my thing, you know? With being a musician, you can be a dancer too, though, so I decided to just stick with music. I used to train for crazy hours. I used to train 45 hours a week at one point, actually!
Free-Wired: Wow! So you came from a very difficult background. Has that influenced you in any way?
Porcelain: Yeah, it definitely made me have to have tough skin at a young age and be independent. I’m like really, really independent. And growing up in Detroit, you have to have tough skin and you have to stick up for yourself, and just not be afraid. And everything else that happened, too, like my dad passing away and stuff like that. Everything that happens to you when you’re a kid molds who you are as an adult.
Free-Wired: So have you decided on a single after “Rock ‘n’ Roll?”
Porcelain: No, we’re not sure yet. Maybe “Mannequin Factory.” We haven’t decided. I’m not sure, but “Mannequin Factory” is definitely gonna be a single. “How Do You Love Someone” is definitely gonna be one of the singles. I mean, we wrote so many good songs, me and Red, so it’s really hard to choose. It’s definitely gonna be a good record, not one of those records that has a few good songs and the rest are filler songs. It’s gonna be consistently good, so I’m just really happy and thankful for that, you know?
Im SUCH a huge fan of PATT and im so happy you've been signed. i hope you make it mainstream so more people can hear you :)
Dont Change.
Much Love.
Sazzzxx