Check out our interview with talented pink-decorated pop artist Pi3rce.
PI3RCE brings ‘cute but psycho’ to a new level with her extreme pink aesthetic and futuristic sound. While her music and style may seem frivolous on the outside, there is a deeper meaning behind her brand. PI3RCE’s electro-pop music aims to highlight the effect of social media on the world today – for better or worse. Although her aesthetic is bright and bubbly, her over-the-top pink style is her own ironic take on accentuated materialism and femininity.
Currently located in Nashville, PI3RCE is gearing up to release her debut EP “Influencers” (2020) – with each single exploring the social commentary surrounding social media. The EP is preceded by her recently released single “Famous,” and her latest hit single “Like Kylie.”
Follow Pi3rce at @pi3rcemusic
Hi PI3RCE, please tell us a little about you?
Hello! I’m a new electronic pop artist with a “sweet but psycho” persona that is 40% sugar and 60% spice.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Pastel Goth Princess!
Who has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?
100% my mom. She’s been a professional singer and actress her whole life, and has always inspired and encouraged me to pursue my gifts and hone my talents. She’s also one of the strongest women I know and taught me from an early age to never let anyone disrespect or take advantage of me.
How did you get started in the business?
I am from an industry family so I’ve always been in entertainment. I started booking commercials and modeling jobs in LA when I was a baby, and then started studying dance, acting, singing and playing instruments as young as 2 years old. I had developed my skills enough to start seriously songwriting when I was 13, and got my first songwriting job at age 15 in Los Angeles. After being hooked on the writing and recording process, I branched out as a musical artist and released my first original album at 16– and haven’t looked back since.
Did you go to music school?
Nope, but my whole life has basically been music school. I started with drums at 4, then took up violin, piano, cello, and guitar over the following years. I had been playing in orchestras, singing in choirs, acting in plays, and dancing in ballets since I was very young. I just kept training. I still take dance and singing lessons, and I am always aiming to improve my skills in every facet of my career.
Describe your sound in 3 words?
Edgy electronic pop
Who influenced you and why did you choose to make music?
Again, my mom was the catalyst for sure. She put every genre in front of me when I was a child. I was raised on jazz, classical, and Brazilian music, so my musical lexicon is quite large. I later fell in love with alternative rock, hip hop, and country, and have now settled in new-age electronic-pop where I can explore all of my musical musings at once. Fun fact: I can sing in Italian, French, and Portuguese, and knew most of the American Standards before I was 6. Thanks Mom!
Do you ever get nervous?
Very. I actually have extreme anxiety which I’ve struggled with since my traumatic brain injury in 2016. I have a few methods to calm myself down, but if it reaches the level of a panic attack, there’s usually no return. However, since I’ve been performing since I could walk, I rarely get anxious when I’m in front of a large audience. When I’m on stage, I get into a “the zone”, similar to what an athlete experiences on the field, where it’s just me and the “ball”— in this case the music— and everything else is just white noise in the distance.
What is your next goal as a musician?
I’m planning to go on tour to promote my new album in 2020, and I’d love to go visit my new fans in Tokyo who have really expressed their love over Instagram and connected with my sound lately.
Now tell us about your new single “Like Kylie”?
“Like Kylie” is a super fun pop beat that I love to blast in my car with the windows down while driving along the Malibu Coast. It’s a really feel good summer bop that actually came out of a really dark depression I was going through. In the song I explain how my life was falling apart and I basically had nothing to my name. I was absolutely hopeless, but the only thing that kept me going was looking up to successful people who were where I wanted to be someday. I’d wake up and remind myself that if I just keep working hard and grinding, someday I could be as successful as the queen, Kylie Jenner.
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And about the success of your first hit “Famous”?
“Famous” was a really special release for me. I was launching my new sound and image online. The song is about how social media has given lots of people a false sense of fame and entitlement, as if ‘followers’ and ‘likes’ make you better than everyone else. I wrote it with a talented songwriter in Nashville, Lizzie Cates, who has won tons of awards for her music, but still experiences rude people who think they are ‘too cool’ to work with her. We both wanted it to also connect with kids in high school dealing with the dreaded and infamous popular-cliques (both mean girls and mean boys). It really became an anti-bullying message, my favorite line being: “did no one tell you kindness is free?”
What we can expect of PI3RCE in 2019/2020?
2020 is going to be very exciting with the release of my EP “Influencers”! The EP has some incredible bonus tracks as well as the 3 pop jams you’ll see as singles before the album hits.
What is you favorite song to belt out in the car/for karaoke?
No lie, I play Kim Petras’ “Clarity” at least once a day and it’s my absolute favorite song to turn up to.
What is your own definition of happiness?
Happiness is definitely elusive and I think it’s also important to know that it’s extremely fluctuating. I think that happiness can best be captured in moments of appreciation for what’s happening around you. I always feel the most happiness when a great song comes on at sunset, or I have my own special moment with morning coffee staring at the ocean. I also find a lot of happiness in memories or thinking of the life I want with my future family on a beautiful ranch in Tennessee.
Any loves other than music?
I’m a devoted weightlifter and have found a huge passion for MMA this year as well. I train 2+ hours daily and am on a strict diet. I definitely thrive in controlled chaos and love pushing my limits to new extents every day.
How’s a typical day in your life?
Alarm goes off 7:30am
Actually get up at 8:00am
Gym 9:00am
Write 11:00am
Lunch 1:00pm
Write/photoshoot/recording 2:00pm
Kickboxing or JuJitsu 5:00pm
Dinner 7:00pm
Clean, Meal-prep, and listen to podcasts 9:00pm
Pass out 12:00am
Idea of a perfect Sunday?
Ideally I’d get up early, put on cowgirl boots and a floral sundress, cook breakfast, go to church with my family, then go horseback riding or hiking or boating or something outdoors, and then a quiet moonlit dinner with my boyfriend under the stars dancing to the new Kacey Musgraves album.
What is your favorite healthy food? And your favorite cheat food?
I’m really digging dried mangos lately, but whenever it’s a holiday or I’m celebrating, I grab a tub of cherry Halo Top Ice Cream and eat the whole thing.
Who is your biggest beauty inspiration?
Kylie of course!! She is the queen, but I’m also in love with the eclectic and wild creations by Jeffree Star.
How would you describe your fashion style?
My fashion style is very 2000s Princess, and very pink but punk, which has actually become a real trend called “pastel goth”. I also love anime and am obsessed with Japanese Kawaii style as well.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet my grandpa who died before I was born. I find that I always think about what he would do when I’m in need of advice or at a crossroads. I’d love to be able to really pick his brain and hear his words of wisdom for myself.
Do you support any charities?
I do! After my Brain Injury in 2016, I started my own online charity selling vintage clothing to help brain cancer patients pay for chemotherapy. I recently just finished performing at a fundraiser concert for Help of Ojai, a cancer foundation in my hometown. I’m also really passionate about supporting our troops and encourage my followers to support veteran nonprofits. I am also looking to partner with the American Brain Injury Association to raise awareness and money for research to help brain injury patients, since I am still struggling with effects from the TBI that I suffered five years ago.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I definitely see my music taking off worldwide, and would love to have my own fashion line— something I’ve dreamed of since I was little— and several experimental albums that aren’t held to any genre or industry standard.
What do you think of Social Media?
I— as well as everyone I talk to these days— have a love/hate relationship with social media. While it’s an incredible tool to connect people worldwide, and launch your own independent empire like never before, social media has far-reaching effects on mental health and social dynamics that I’m not sure we are prepared to fully understand or handle as a society. That is really why I wanted to write my concept album “Influencers”. After being a successful blogger for years, I’ve seen the in and outs of the social media world. I wanted to write about my personal and professional experiences in this new social-age. However, I don’t believe any issue is black and white, so the album reflects both the positives and negatives of living in today’s social media culture. I’m hoping my album can be looked back on by future generations as a time capsule for this unprecedented time in human history.
Where we can follow you?
Would love for you to follow me on social! I’m at @pi3rcemusic on IG, FB, and Twitter!
Song: Clarity, Kim Petras
Singer/Artist: Lorde
Movie: The Adams Family
Travel Destination: Seattle
Sports Team: USC (only for my dad)
TV Show: Schitt’s Creek
Book: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
