Indie orchestral rock riser PiPEIIA has released her new single, “Afterglow,” a whimsical take on the mystical feeling arising after having experienced a euphoric moment.
“Afterglow” is an ode to a tucked-away fantastic world where the unthinkable is possible. As the track pushes the boundaries of reality and imagination, electronic beat drops are accompanied by electric guitar, pairing EDM pop rhythms and pacing with a carefree rock attitude. In an eclectic mix of genres, PiPEIIA pictures the kaleidoscopic joy and bliss of an emotionally powerful moment.
The track is the manifestation of a cathartic form of liberation, which sparks something supernatural, a moment suspended in space and time.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with PiPEllA about all time favorite songs, dream collabs, the latest project and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Are you able to choose a favorite song of all time? Or would you label this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what are your current Top 3?
I have a few different ideas of what my favorite song of all time would be and they are all from movie soundtracks I discovered as a kid. I think instead of trying to narrow them down playoff style, I’ll go ahead and tell you my top three songs of the moment. The first one is “Sleep Deprivation” by Chance Peña. The raw emotion in the chorus is so addicting that I go back and listen to it over and over again. The next is definitely “Wasted Nights” by One OK Rock. The band is one of my favorites of all time and this particular song helped inspire Afterglow. The last one is “Shadow” by Seventeen. I am a huge K-pop stan and this song is my current obsession.
What about your new single “Afterglow” and your project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
I’m really proud of how unique this project is. Afterglow is the second single from my interactive album, PiPEllA: The Worlds Traveler, a fantasy-inspired visual album that plays out entirely in a TikTok POV series. With each song that comes out, the character of PiPEllA travels to a new world via portals she creates. With Afterglow, I wanted to create a song that would draw people into the story. It’s the start of the journey in earnest and I wanted it to feel like the beginning of something.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
Making music is like breathing. Even when I considered stopping because I was scared I would fail, I was still writing lyrics and melodies on a daily basis. I realized I was never going to be happy doing anything else. My first inspiration to make music was fantasy movie soundtracks, but now I get inspired by a million things a day.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
Morgan Clae. She is an incredible Cinematic singer-songwriter and producer. Luckily for me, that dream is actually becoming a reality because we are working on a song together as we speak!
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
I just listened to Storm by AURORA and Wu Qing Feng, which is absolutely incredible. My favorite artists of all time are One OK Rock, Florence and The Machine, Stray Kids, YOUHA and Joy Oladokun
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
You can find me on TIkTok at @pipella.music and on Instagram at @pipellamusic
