Today we’d like to introduce you to Piera Klein
Hi Piera, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Yes, and thank you again for the opportunity to share a bit of my journey. For me it all began in childhood…as many of our stories often do..those formative years can shape us in profound ways when we don’t yet have a self-concept or think so much about the future. We are simply existing, playing and exploring the world around us…and in many ways our true nature is most prominently on display before we start learning “the rules” of being.
At the time my family lived in a neighborhood just a hop skip and jump away from Topanga Canyon –an area famously known for the artists, musicians, and entertainment folks that have been attracted to that region for many decades. My best friend Jenny lived a few blocks away and our mom’s would take turns walking us to each other’s houses for play time as they had also become friends. Jenny’s dad happened to be a professional singer-songwriter-producer for children’s music, and one summer I was invited to sing in the recording studio on one of the albums. What a vivid memory.
Recording studios in the early 80s were still old fashioned in many ways — huge equipment, tape machines, large consoles and walls lined with electronic machines, all under the control of these men they called “engineers”. It felt like I had walked into a magic spaceship of sorts.
The experience was exhilarating for the young me. It was a super fun day and definitely not something I would have considered as “work”. I remember clearly receiving what would be my first ever paycheck and it left me with the impression that using my creativity and talent had a real monetary value. It was an introduction to a world that I didn’t know existed before – a world where adults and children could get paid for doing cool fun things.
Fast forward to few years later my dad bought an acoustic guitar for himself to learn how to play. I think was more excited to have it in the house than he was because I was always asking if I could borrow it and play with it and he was always allowing me. For me it was pure magic. I loved it so much and soon found myself making up my own songs. In the same way I felt drawn to the piano, one of my friends family’s had one, and although my family didn’t have one, it wasn’t long that I started asking for one…and eventually received….I was always making up songs wherever I had the chance to play…and eventually they arranged for me to take some lessons.
Fast forward to junior high and high-school, music was a big part of my life. I had performed in a couple little bands, and spent a lot of time in my room alone after school signing songs I had written on the guitar and piano. Although creating and playing music was such an enormous pleasure for me, I didn’t really connect the dots between it being a passion to it becoming a career pursuit until much later…
When I wasn’t looking for it, synchronicities and signs eventually brought me an opportunity to sing a series of songs for a well-known network’s TV library.
Every song I sang was placed and it was then I knew this wasn’t just another “fun project that pays”…but a guidepost leading me in the direction of music as a career.
Soon after I started working on my debut indie album with Micah Plissner…and once released we had the amazing experience of opening for iconic artists and acts such as Berlin, A Flock of Seagulls, Martha Davis and The Motels, ABC, Oingo-Boingo, Bow Wow Wow, The Untouchables, etc.
Harry Maslin, producer of David Bowie’s “Station to Station”, “Fame” and other well known hits, somehow heard of our music and chimed in with a glowing review.
Simultaneously we got involved with the modular music scene in DTLA as we were using a lot of Euro Rack and Buchla System in our music, and that opened a portal to a whole new world of experimental sonic exploration.
We are currently working on our next release and can’t wait to share it with everyone
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Music and creativity has always been my happy place… and it’s always rewarding to create and perform. I think life has it’s challenges no matter who you are and what you do, so I don’t believe in smooth roads…but I do believe there’s a spiritual dimension to life and following your passion and intuition is an important key in finding and following your road.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a singer, songwriter, performer and co-producer of the musical duo PIERA. The music is electronic, synth-pop, and with industrial-psychedelic vibes. The sound is created using a mixture of analogue synthesizers, Eurorack modules, Buchla, and other modern music machines. As a duo, we have created a universe of our own, and if you could see the loft where we reside in Downtown LA, you would see we are living in what’s basically become a very serious recording studio, full of equipment and gear, cables and wires, and all sorts of interesting looking sound machines and instruments, mixed with furniture and art. We are known for having our own unique vibe, and also for memorable songs.
When we released our first album, PIERA, it was just when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. We had to get creative about how to perform live, and so we had fun exploring new social mediums such as Instagram Live and platforms like Twitch, etc. This is also around the time we decided to make our first official DIY music-video “Unraveling”, which was an amazing experience and exceed our expectations all around. We then immediately dove back into the studio to produce new music and out if it came our latest single “Cult Love”. When the world opened back up, we started performing live again with acts from various genres – from industrial, to synth, to indie pop, and others in between.
For us as a duo, having the freedom to express ourselves without limitations musically, has enabled us to experiment and explore new realms. It’s an exciting time to be an artist in the modern music scene today as the possibilities seem truly endless. At the moment we are in the studio working on new music and look forward to releasing it soon along with a series of performances. We are always excited about seeing where the road takes us as you don’t always know. For example we’ve been getting a lot of attention in Europe and Mexico.
What am I the most proud of?
My tenacity. You’ve got to have a large dose of the grit and guts it takes to follow your dreams! Seriously. I also think performing with iconic acts, being featured on daytime TV soundtracks, and having glowing support from major industry professionals has given me the confidence to fully embrace the wild journey of being an artist and learn to let go of rigid perceptions of “what my journey should look like” and accept that this is my real life, and although it is sometimes unpredictable with twists and turns along the way, to allow it to unfold organically. That’s where the magic is. There’s no guidebook. It’s not all glamorous or easy and it takes commitment, a solid work-ethic, and mental flexibility to be open to new and different kinds of ways of balancing life as a whole, all the while, allowing your creativity to flow and inspiration to serve as your inner guide. You get to decide what’s next and how you want to evolve in your journey and carve your own path.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Los Angeles is an amazing vibrant city full of “can-do” energy. There are so many people here living and pursuing their dreams. It’s kind of intense and inspiring in that way. The nature is awe-inspiring too…. We have beautiful coastlines and beaches, mountains, and valleys all around. One of my favorite things to do when I have a pocket of free time is go for a drive…and somehow, for some reason, I always end up at the beach.
Along with music and the music scene, I have deep appreciation the art scene, great cuisine, and the mind-body-soul focused experiences the city has to offer. I personally enjoy yoga, sound baths, going to art openings and hiking…. and I can’t complain about the benefit of living in a high-rise with a great pool and view of the city.
In LA there is a high value placed on looking AND feeling good, and an overall appreciation for the great outdoors…. We all want to look and feel our best, and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us, and the city offers a million ways to find our signature perfect blend.
In terms of what I like least about the city…
There is a dark side, and it makes a lot of people uncomfortable, but it needs to be faced. The homeless situation in this city is a real issue and it’s not a simple fix. Problems at this level are multi-dimensional and require a multi-pronged approach. It’s not just a housing issue, or financial issue or mental health issue or drug issue. I truly believe when problems like these arise, they are a result of systemic failures of both the private and public sectors, and it will take both to help heal the core issues. My wish would be for this city to form a coalition and engage with several non-profits, hospitals, universities and businesses to work together to tackle different aspects, in harmony, where all the stakeholders participate in their area of expertise. If laws need to be changed to help provide appropriate care, so be it. We have so many cultural amenities, and in my humble opinion, Angelenos have enough shiny things to enjoy, that we can afford to shift our focus on providing more compassionate comprehensive care for those deeply suffering on our streets.
The other obvious downside of living in LA is the traffic. It puts a spotlight on our personal priorities. For a city of car lovers, this is one heck of an issue, but we all put up with it. It’s all part of the LA grind we’ve become accustomed to and serves as a bit of a tell when you have to consider who you and what you are willing to travel for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pieramusic.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piera.music
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSWTyHfVlj5ska7izX60nw?view_as=subscriber
Image Credits
Adrian Arredondo (primary photo of Piera Klein)
PIERA (album and artwork courtesy of PIERA)
CULT LOVE (artwork courtesy of Piera Klein)
Cameron Dunbar (photo of Piera Klein in black and white)
Lindsay Best (photo of Micah Plissner and Piera Klein)
Rachel Murray/Getty Images (photo of Piera Klein at Visionary Women non-profit event)
