By: Jamie Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I would have to say Cory Rooney describes it best when he says my sound is “a perfect blend of today’s pop music and Brazilian culture.”
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) My greatest influence would have to be Michael Jackson. Growing up, I was also very influenced by the strong women who have inspired me: Beyonce, Shakira, and Ivete Sangalo.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “I Will Follow You.”
A) “I Will Follow You” is a song about that first passionate all-consuming love. When you fall hard for someone and you’re willing to do anything for them and follow them anywhere. It’s part of growing up and learning what love is like to feel that kind of passion for someone.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think all of us, at one point or another, have felt that kind of love and then learned how consuming it can be. It’s not sustainable to have such a dramatic and intense love for someone, but it’s such a crucial part of falling in love. It’s a feeling we all have shared before and probably will still feel again.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) Well, what better couple to emulate toxic love than Bonnie and Clyde? When we began thinking about the video, it just made sense to have the couple depicted as a “ride-or-die” kind of couple. We still wanted them to be modern and up to date, so we made them hackers instead of bank robbers. They’re social media versions of Bonnie and Clyde, in a sense!
Q) It’s amazing to see you relaunch the video without guns! Why was this so important to you?
A) After I saw the events earlier this year in Florida, it was clear to me that I could not be complacent. The usage of guns in the media is something that I had never stopped to think about. It was important to me to participate in the conversation in a healthy and constructive way rather than a destructive one. I did not want to romanticize gun violence in any kind and that is exactly what I was doing before, even if it was all a fantasy in the video. I wanted to be clear about how gun violence, no matter when, is problematic.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I’m still getting the hang of it! I believe song writing will always be a work in progress for me. Sometimes the inspiration comes from a concept and sometimes it comes from a melody. I try to always write about things that I feel like I need help talking about. Sometimes basic communication can seem so intimidating, that it’s easier for me to talk through music. Since the inspiration comes from all aspects of my life, there isn’t a set method for how I write. Although, sometimes it’s beneficial to have music before I start thinking about the lyrics.
Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) Increasingly more so! I believe that participating in the process is key in having your identity shine through. I am still learning and feel like I still will for some time, but I definitely am very involved in the process of making my music.
Q) Will there be a full EP or album coming soon?
A) We are in the lab cooking up some fire for you right now and can’t wait for you to hear it!
Q) What can fans expect from a live Laura Pieri performance?
A) My live show is full of explosive energy! We bring the music to life with visuals and dance. It’s my favorite place to be!
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) My dream place to perform is Madison Square Garden in NYC.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Well, currently I would love to collaborate with Zedd. I enjoy the authenticity that he brings to the electronic scene. It’s something I admire. He has maintained a solid musical fingerprint for years now. I hope to be the same way in the future.
Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Just like my favorite songs and artists, this changes constantly. I currently am obsessed with Billie Eilish. I just started listening to her this year and she is so talented. Original, too! I love her music and her lyrics. I feel like every song is a poem in a sense and they each speak to me on a highly personal level.
Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?
A) In terms of fans, I love that we are all part of the social media age. It really gives me an opportunity to connect with them individually and collectively in ways that were not possible in the past. I can go on Twitter and Instagram and see what my fans are doing, if they like my song, what parts do they like more, and so forth. It allows me to be closer to them and I am very thankful for that.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) THANK YOU! I still can’t believe that this is all happening, but I am so grateful for them. I personally think I have the best fans, but I understand I am biased in that. When I have doubts or when I feel uncertain, they constantly inspire me to be better. I am very thankful for them and hope to make them proud in the future.