SPOTLIGHT: LAURA PIERI
Meet Laura Pieri and tune into reimagined EP “Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR)”
The original Frankie EP explored rebirth and self-discovery, while Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR) celebrates movement and joy. What inspired you to reimagine the story in this way?
The original Frankie was me shedding skin. But once you’ve burned something down, you have to decide how to move forward. What comes after happily ever after you know? Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR) is that second act. It focuses on the moment you stop intellectualizing your pain and just move through it, literally.
You’ve described the new project as “less thinking, more feeling.” How did you approach embodying that mindset in the studio?
I had to stop trying to control the outcome. In the studio, that meant letting the energy dictate direction, which is really hard for me since I like to come to projects with a vision kind of set. Once the songs were close to ready the approval process was way more about a gut feeling than really analyzing and honing in and trying to listen to dissect. If it feels good, it feels good.
Remixing requires what you called “a little destruction.” Was there a specific moment in this process when you felt that freedom to let go and rebuild?
Not a particular moment, but I think choosing this specific project to undergo this specific transformation did that for me.
Working with YXSH has been a long-standing collaboration for you. How does that creative trust influence the way you experiment with your sound?
I really believe we are as close to telepathic as two different people can get. I really trust him to challenge me and push the elasticity of my comfort zone with respect. That’s rare. I can walk into the room and say, “I want this to feel upside down?” and he’ll somehow translate that into sound. That level of trust lets me take bigger risks.
“Flown Away” is the only brand-new track on the project. What role does it play in completing the Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR) narrative?
It’s the epilogue. After all the chaos, it’s the quiet moment when you realize that the magic was there the whole time.
The reimagined versions pulse with energy, shimmering synths, and euphoric hooks. Were there particular sonic influences or artists you were channeling while reshaping these songs?
I have to say this project would not exist how it does without Brat and the very lively club scene we see now. There’s a real cultural shift happening, where nightlife has become a place of emotional release again, not just escape. We are all so desensitized to so much and there is so much weight to be seen and carried, the dance floor has become equal parts release as escape. That’s the energy I wanted to capture. What’s exciting about this moment is that sincerity and irony can coexist. That paradox defines our time.
Your work often weaves together sound, story, and spectacle. How did you envision the visual world for Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR) compared to the original Frankie EP?
If the original Frankie lived in fantasy, animation, candlelights, dinner tables, this one lives under a disco ball, in glitter and drenched in sweat. The color palette shifted from shadows and deep tones to a brighter sensation. But it’s still the same universe, just reflected back at you through movement and joy.
The Frankie EP had an accompanying short film. Do you see yourself creating a new visual piece for this project, or does the dancefloor speak for itself?
The dancefloor is the visual piece. You know when Beyonce said, you are the visuals baby! It's kind of in that spirit. It’s the living installation , the collective film we’re all in together. Every person who dances becomes part of the story. So instead of recreating a film, I was more focused on creating moments that feel alive and participatory.
As a Brazilian-born, New York-based artist, how do those cultural influences shape the way you approach rhythm, energy, and performance?
My Brazilian roots are in everything I do, even when I don’t sing in Portuguese. New York is where I grew up so I think of it like Brazil is more my instinct, but New York has definitely given me my texture. Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR) exists in the tension between those worlds.
Frankie told the story of reclaiming your voice in a male-dominated world. How do you hope Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR) empowers listeners in a different way?
Frankie was about speaking. Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR) is about being heard, and seen, on your own terms. It’s permission to take up space without explanation. I want people to feel that they can be complex , sexy, sad, joyful, messy , all at once. You don’t have to choose between power and pleasure.
Which of the reimagined tracks surprised you most once you heard it in its new form?
Probably “Come Clean.” The original was a melancholy pop song. But in its deep house version, it became hypnotic. I don't necessarily prefer it, but it's definitely the one I have recently been gravitating towards.
You’ve said you’ve been chasing music for as long as you can remember. How do you feel this project reflects the artist you’ve grown into today?
It feels like the first time I’ve let my instinct lead completely. For years, I was chasing an idea of who I thought I had to be. Now I’m chasing my truth.
Transformation seems central to your artistry, from sound to visuals to storytelling. What does transformation mean to you in your personal life right now
Transformation, to me, is the discipline of becoming. I think as human beings change is the only constant that we know so you better learn to have some devotion to the process, it's gonna come whether you like it or not. You have to be willing to burn versions of yourself that once kept you safe. Right now, I’m still learning to be both the fire and the light.
With Frankie (ON THE DANCEFLOOR), what do you hope people feel when they hear these songs in a club or live performance setting?
I hope they feel free. If they're sweating, glowing, crying, whatever, you’re alive.
Looking ahead, how do you see this project influencing the future of your sound and artistic direction?
It’s definitely set the tone for what’s next: more immersion, more physicality, more honesty.
Listen to “FRANKIE (ON THE DANCEFLOOR)” here.
