PIERA is breaking all the rules; with their lyrics you get a snapshot into their private lives, these super sleuths are investigating life and the pursuit of happiness, in a new, unusual way.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Piera Klein: singer/songwriter/producer
Micah Plissner: songwriter/prodcuer
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Piera? How long has the band been around?
Piera Klein: I’ve been working as a solo singer songwriter for a few years now. In the mid-2000s I was working with an Emmy Nominated songwriting team for placements and after the success of every song I sang being placed I decided to venture out on my own and explore experimental songwriting and performance with co-producer-artist Micah Plissner. For added background I’ve been creating music and singing songs since childhood. I play guitar, piano, and synths as well as have the basics down to record in logic and protools.
Micah Plissner: I was in a lot of bands in the late 90s – early 2000s including Hangnail, Divine Chaos and Dustpoets, as the lead singer and songwriter. In 2005 my career took a turn when I was asked to produce a lot of indie records and became well known in the indie artist scene of Los Angeles. Everything changed when I met Piera and we started creating a new sound and started collaborating together. It was a turning point for me to dive back into the world of being an artist.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
PIERA is PIERA -- Similar to the British electronic duo GOLDFRAPP, consisting of members Will Gregory and Alison Goldfrapp. In this case our duo consists of Micah Plissner and Piera Klein.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Piera Klein and Micah Plissner: Our alchemy is a synergistic collaboration on every level. We both compose music, lyrics, come up with soundscapes and experiment together. Our main themes touch on the universal human experience of these current modern times. Is it likely to change? There’s nothing stopping us from anywhere our inspiration leads. One thing that forever rings true is that music has a way of expressing the otherwise inexpressible – whether emotional, physical, or spiritual, and we are deeply satisfied when uncovering the invisible threads that tie us all together.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Piera Klein: Honestly, I don’t think about other artists when I’m in a creative zone. I’m usually overwhelmed with an emotion or consumed by a thought that I feel compelled to explore. I’m drawn to my instruments as the gateway to “arouse my consciousness”. But if you ask me what’s on heavy rotation in my playlist right now -- lots of environmental soundscapes, new age meditative soundtracks and moody electronic artists ranging from space jazz to krautrock, to The Knife, Tangerine Dream, TR/ST, Boy Harsher, Kraftwerk, and then I mix it up with classics such as Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Sergio Mendez, Chet Baker and Chopin.
Micah Plissner: When I’m creating I don’t consciously think of other artists. Rather I’m looking for sounds I haven’t heard yet and I enjoy discovering new ways of creating those new sounds. I’ve been in love with artists from Mississippi Delta Bluesmen to trashy punk rock– to the bands that Piera mentioned. There’s really no definitive center of a musical genre that I’m aiming at. It solicits responses from different genres and groups that I’m not surprised by, because I can hear the outcome of my music journey and yet, to me, I’m always on the fringe and can’t be easily defined.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Piera Klein: I heard a Tori Amos remix of a song called Blue Skies and I knew that mixing classical structure with electronic music was a genius blend. At that time I was also really excited by Bjork, Radiohead and the European space jazz scene – Air, Télépopmusik, Zero 7, Massive Attack, Goldfrapp, as well as new wave bands of the early 80s.
Micah Plissner: I think I was shocked from one dimension to another having heard really early Hip-hop such as Biggie and Death Row Records and then again when I heard the UK Jungle sounds coming from the 90s. I was hurled into obsession with producers like Goldie, Grooverider, as well as Photek, and even Kruder and Dorfmeister and that lead to making music that almost has nothing to do with that world, but it catapulted me into my journey of understanding that in music there really isn’t any boundaries.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Piera Klein: I’m such a Virgo and a planner by nature that by the time the day of a show arrives, everything is beyond organized and done. I usually have the entire day to relax before loading up and going.
Micah Plissner: I’m bringing a certain amount of tech on stage that I have to cable up – make sure everything’s working as it should, and I have to do it fast. So I’ve got my gear ready to go.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We just released our debut album to rave reviews from Industry insiders. In addition with very minimal promotion, we are currently playing on over 54 radio stations across the nation, and our album went to #1 on the RMR Electronic Radio Charts. It was also really fun to perform with the iconic 80s new wave band BERLIN – our 1st show after the intense pandemic lockdown and reopening.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Piera Klein: I’d love to tour with pretty much anyone on Mute Records. That label has some of my favorite artists right now…oh, and of course Laurie Anderson.
Micah Plissner: I’d tour with this one guy from the past – hint, his name starts with David and ends with Bowie….why? because he did it all.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For more info find PIERA at: www.pieramusic.net