Portland, the Belgian dreampop outfit fronted by singer-songwriter Jente Pironet, have released their new single ‘Exactly What I Need’. The 3rd song to drop in the run up to the forthcoming album ‘Champain’ sounds like Portland’s most upbeat and joyous affair yet. “I’m gonna scream it all over the streets. This is exactly what I need”, proclaims Pironet backed by energetic drumbeat and shimmering synths. However, its subject matter is darker than its melody suggests.
In 2023, just days after triumphing on the stage of Belgium’s biggest festival Rock Werchter, frontman Jente Pironet was diagnosed with brain cancer. What should have been a year of triumph became a time of struggle, recovery, and self-discovery.
“In hindsight, it’s about exactly what I don’t need”, laughs Pironet, “In that dark period after my cancer diagnosis it felt like life was slipping through my fingers. I clung to escapism: going out to bars and trying to forget. When I feel bad these days, I go out into nature or have a glass of rosé with my grandmother. They’re small things, but it’s comforting to realize that can be enough.”
Portland are one of Belgium’s most compelling indie exports. Blending cinematic pop, melancholic folk, and festival-ready rock, the band first broke through with their 2019 debut ‘Your Colours Will Stain’ and follow-up ‘Departures’ (2023). Known for their delicate harmonies and emotionally charged live shows, Portland has earned praise from European tastemakers and graced stages from Rock Werchter to Eurosonic.
Portland’s new album ‘Champain’ is set for release on November 7th on [PIAS] Recordings. Born out of the turmoil and struggle of previous years, the record is an honest travelogue of a restless soul, written between hospital rooms and festival stages, brimming with hope, sharp edges, and reclaimed strength.
