by Giliann Karon (@gilposting)
Multi-instrumentalist Jack Sperry embarked on a quest to give his indie-folk project a name that conjured the adventurous spirit and boundless space of the artists who inspired him. Neutral Milk Hotel, The Antlers, and Mount Eerie evoke rugged topography and expansive landscapes that could exist anywhere in the world, yet their catalogs and influence became intimately site-specific. Sperry settled on Port Ross, a harbor near an uninhabited cluster of islands near Auckland, NZ.
Nighttime at Gardner Hall name-drops the performing arts center at his alma mater, the University of Utah, tethering the album to a formative time and place. College, especially the final two years, can feel like the pinnacle of existence. Family conflict, relationship trauma, and financial struggles all bubble up as you set sail for adulthood. Written during these years and beyond, Port Ross’s sprawling, flexible debut relies on instruments and stories from his Salt Lake City upbringing and 2023 move to Brooklyn – a double bass from his 10th-grade chemistry teacher, synths from the thrift store, and a smattering of strings and percussion from Craigslist.
Some tracks, such as “Pinkerton” and “Only Child,” took root in high school. Nighttime at Gardner Hall crystallizes these formative moments, tracing his journey with instruments from each chapter. Voice memos of sprinkler sputters (“Pinkerton”), practice room choir sessions (“Nighttime at Gardner Hall”), and chirping crickets (“Nightlight”) immerse the listener even deeper in Sperry’s universe. Orchestral piano solos and wailing trumpet underpin the collection of songs from adolescence and young adulthood.
“Forgiveness is really important to me in lyrics,” he says. “I feel like lyrics should be written from completed emotional trajectories. Or it should feel complete by the time the song is finished. I don't like bitterness in lyrics.” His lyrics gingerly address friendship, death, and trauma with the resolve of someone who’s seen the other side.
Nighttime at Gardner Hall out now. Follow Port Ross on Instagram.