Premiere: Belgium's Portland Unveils “Exactly What I Need,” A Cinematic and Uplifting Indie Pop Anthem - Atwood Magazine

      Portland’s "Exactly What I Need" is a vibrant, uplifting indie pop anthem that turns anguish into purpose—an emotional, heartfelt reflection on mortality, healing, and the simple joy of being alive.

      Stream: "Exactly What I Need" – Portland

      "It’s reassuring to understand that can be sufficient."

      There’s something awe-inspiring about hearing an artist face their own mortality and still uncover beauty in the aftermath. Portland’s "Exactly What I Need" both aches and sparkles—an uplifting anthem that discovers brightness in devastation, grace amidst sorrow, and significance in the little, everyday moments that connect us to this life. The song addresses what truly matters when time seems precious; it reflects on who we cherish, and how we choose to spend our fleeting days.

      Champain – Portland

      I’m going to shout it throughout the streets

      This is exactly what I need

      Please never instruct me on what to do

      Because I’ll just bounce it back to you

      And I will cling on

      Aah…

      I won’t wait, it’s too late

      Aah…

      It’s just right, it’s alright

      Atwood Magazine is excited to premiere "Exactly What I Need," the exhilarating fourth single from Portland’s upcoming third album Champain, set to release on November 7 via [PIAS] Recordings. A powerful, cinematic burst of indie pop, the song embodies the Belgian band's signature mix of melancholy and joy into something genuinely cathartic—a surge of sound and spirit that feels both profoundly human and vibrantly alive.

      Portland’s Jente Pironet © Titus Simoens & Nina Swaans

      “Looking back, it’s really about what I don’t need,” laughs lead vocalist Jente Pironet. “During that dark time after my cancer diagnosis, life felt like it was slipping away. I sought escape: going to bars and trying to forget. Nowadays, when I feel bad, I go into nature or share a glass of rosé with my grandmother. They’re small moments, but it’s comforting to realize that can be sufficient.”

      So please correct me if I’m mistaken

      But I just want to express my feelings in this song

      You only live once, so please let me be

      Oh, forever I want to dwell in this space

      And I will hold on

      That tension—between escape and acceptance, denial and surrender—echoes through every pulse of "Exactly What I Need." The throbbing drums, shimmering guitars, and glistening synths swirl around Pironet’s poignant voice, encapsulating the urgency of someone determined to seize every moment. “I’m gonna scream it all over the streets,” he proclaims in the chorus, his performance alive with fervor, desire, and hope. The result is an anthem that is both victorious and tender: a reminder that the simplest blessings—sunlight, music, human connection—can be enough salvation.

      Aah…

      I won’t wait, it’s too late

      Aah…

      It’s just right, it’s alright

      Aah…

      I won’t wait, it’s too late

      Portland’s Jente Pironet © Titus Simoens & Nina Swaans

      Like the finest works of Arcade Fire, The Killers, or Broken Social Scene, Portland melds grandeur with intimacy, transforming personal catharsis into a collective release.

      Their music encourages us to dance and feel, to sing and heal. As Champain approaches, it’s evident that this band has turned suffering into meaning, converting struggles into something radiant.

      Let "Exactly What I Need" uplift you and remind you of what is truly worth holding onto. Stream the song—and its intimate, personal music video—exclusively on Atwood Magazine!

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      :: stream/purchase Exactly What I Need here ::

      :: connect with Portland here ::

      :: stream/purchase CHAMPAIN here ::

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      Stream: “Exactly What I Need” – Portland

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