In a dark basement in 2024, the band Porch Light was formed. They first grabbed fans’ attention with the DIY, grunge style of their first two EPs, Porch Light and Navy Blue. Released in quick succession in 2025, they proved that the band knew exactly who they were and what they wanted to say. Their hard-rock sound and influences from ’90s icons like Radiohead and The Cranberries were simply the beginning for Porch Light. While they swept into a gap in the market for their authentic sound, they said a lot with their image, too. Dark blue dominated their first two EPs, and they spent their time recording low-light videos of their songs or playing house shows in their hometown of Minneapolis, MN.
Now, although they’ve amassed over one million monthly listeners and have earned spots on major festivals like Lollapalooza and Shaky Knees, they haven’t forgotten where they came from. They’re still gathering crowds in backyards to sing old favorites as well as songs from their debut album, Hush.
With Hush, they’ve refined their already masterful sound into the sharpest representation of Porch Light to date. They’re more confident, and each band member shines. Between the aggressive, distorted guitar solo in ‘With You,’ the acoustic strum of ‘Violence,’ and the unabashed high-energy in ‘Under,’ each song on Hush shows off their bold sound, while no two songs sound the same.
Hush is out now. And just days after its release, Porch Light is taking the songs on the road. Before they take off on their headline tour, we caught up with singer Jackie Uhas to discuss the making of their debut album.
The Beginning Of Porch Light
Welcome to The Honey Pop! To start out, we think it’s so interesting that you guys met doing karaoke. Do you have a go-to karaoke song?
The guys caught me singing Paramore the night we officially met, which is always a favorite of mine – Hayley is incredible, and it’s so fun singing anything she writes. I love doing ‘Safari Song’ by Greta Van Fleet, ‘Last Name’ by Carrie Underwood, or ‘You and I’ by Lady Gaga. People hate on karaoke, but I don’t care; I love it.
Considering all of your individual influences, what was it like to bring each of your styles together to arrive at your raw alt-rock sound as a band?
It was actually kind of mindless, or rather, organic. We all had the same vision for what we wanted right from the jump, so we just started to gnaw away at song ideas and try to navigate executing what we wanted from our music. It’s been really fun to see everything ebb and flow into what we are writing now vs when we first started.
You started recording videos and playing music in your basement, but as you’ve moved up, you’ve maintained this dark, underground look. How intentional have you been with the visual presentation of your music?
If you made a Venn diagram of all that we are, that basement would be at the center. I think it’s become second nature to build out our visual world around this; it feels natural and real because it is the ethos of who we are and why we sound how we do.
Being from Minneapolis, you’ve spoken about how the local scene has supported you as an up-and-coming band. Now that you’re moving beyond the local scene, how have you stayed connected to it?
We will never stop wanting to play and playing house shows. It’s how I found out about the scene, and how I have managed to end up in this band. I think showing support and making noise for all of these local artists is so important, and we will always be striving to put a bigger spotlight on all that is Minneapolis music. I think showing up, supporting local venues like First Avenue, and not forgetting how we got to where we are able to be now is always going to stick with us.
How, if at all, did the fast success you’ve had influence the direction or process of finishing the debut album?
There’s always a level of pressure applied when put in the position we have found ourselves in, but staying grounded and continuing to do what we’ve always done is how to keep going – which is simply making music we like and think is cool. This album is filled with so many different styles and energies; we don’t fight it, the music writes itself.
Hush
Your debut album Hush is anything but quiet. What does the name mean to you?
Hush is our shortened version of saying “stop beating a dead horse”. Kind of a “shut up already and move on” meaning. A lot of the lyrics I write are about past wrongdoings or emotional turmoil, but it’s humbling when you end up writing 10 songs about the same thing. Like, comeeee onnnnn girl.
You mentioned that you wrote ‘Arctic’ locked in a cabin in the dead of winter. How did the setting influence the song? And how was that writing process different from other songs?
We wrote the majority of the album at the cabin, with a few being started there and changed throughout the recording process. I think that starting a lot of these songs in that environment paved the way for the essence and sound of the whole album. It kind of sparked all that is Hush.
The order of the songs on Hush seems to tell a full-circle story about trying to let go of the past. How did you decide the order of the songs on the track list?
We actually had written out and sorted a track list in the studio, and then when mixes started getting sent back, naturally, we listened in order. We got so used to the order, we didn’t want to change it. I think it does tell a story, and like a lot of things we experience as a band, it happened the way it was supposed to.
How has this album helped each of you find your place in the band?
We were already a very collaborative group, but building out something like an album with 5 people is bound to be something unique. I think everyone became very comfortable speaking their heart and their truths. We all care so deeply, but in everyday life it’s normal to let things slide. When it comes to something like music that can live forever, you have to be true to yourself and your instrument. It’s really fun creating with these guys; they’re incredible.
Writing
‘Mary’s Got a Gun’ has an interesting origin story, written as an exercise to practice writing and singing together, and it’s about a fictional character. How did this exercise help you with writing the rest of the album?
It actually was me getting stronger at singing and playing guitar at the same time. I struggle with advancing my guitar skills any further than they are, which is due to lack of proper practice, so I rarely write things built out on my own. ‘Oxygen’ and ‘Mary’s Got a Gun’ are the exceptions, with me having written them out start to finish melodically and lyrically, with baseline guitar chords. The guys turned them into what they are now, with both tracks having almost not made both projects. Mary’s was a fun idea I just tried not to think about too much. I write very emotional and serious things, and I wanted to write something somewhat lighthearted.
You also mentioned that big ceiling lights are “a big no.” In your opinion, what is the ideal setup to write?
Fuck overhead lighting. Seriously, everyone agrees. White, harsh, sterile lighting makes me sad and violent. I feel like I’m in the ER or the dentist. A few lamps with 60W warm bulbs, or those Bluetooth colored bulbs you can change on your phone. Shit, even those sunset lamps that are cheap but, nonetheless, a vibe. I like singing out of Zac’s Orange amp; it sounds so tinny but in a good distorted way. It’s what I use in all our videos. I’ll bring it home sometimes and post up in a chair somewhere I can belt, or in my room.
Tour
How have you approached making a setlist for this upcoming tour with a debut album and two EPs?
Well, a lot of our songs aren’t super long so making this setlist wasn’t all that difficult. We’re playing damn near all of Hush and Navy Blue with a few favorites from the first EP.
You’ve emphasized how important it is for you to play live, and aside from your upcoming tour, you’ve played some incredible, high-energy sets at both festivals and house shows. What is it like to connect with the audiences at those shows?
House shows will always be a favorite for us – there’s nothing like it. I think when put in a natural environment, like a house or a backyard, you subconsciously feel more comfortable and that leads to a lot of looseness and energy being released through the crowd. It’s magnetic. Festivals are new to us, but so exciting and rewarding. We feel blessed that we’re able to do these festival sets and that a lot of new faces are able to catch us in that space. It’s an amazing opportunity to play for people who have never heard of you.
Between your heavier rock songs and softer, more vulnerable tracks, which is your favorite to play live?
I love singing everything, but I think as a group, the heavier & faster songs are always fun for us. We love getting people to move, and I love getting in the crowd with them. It feels cathartic to scream my feelings at people while they scream them back at me.
Lastly, is there anything you can tease about the upcoming tour?
This is my favorite set we have played to date!!!!!!!!!!! So many songs from the album; I cannot wait to play!!!!
Sounds like a Porch Light live set is something you don’t want to miss. Check out their tour schedule and catch them in a city near you! And then find us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to discuss each and every song on Hush.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PORCH LIGHT:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
