Review: Debut EP "Tissues" by PIAO
Shanghai born, Toronto transplant PIAO is the artist you’ve been waiting for. With heartfelt lyrics and a vocal range that hits both ends of the spectrum, PIAO breaks the mold of the traditional pop artist and creates her own lane. Recent Berklee graduate and multi-instrumentalist, PIAO has had the opportunity to work with talented artists and producers like T-Pain and Don Cannon to help amplify her vision and build her musical repertoire. As she develops her sound and plans to release new music, prepare to know the name PIAO.
PIAO’s EP “Tissues” is an astoundingly strong debut. Ranging from the fun boujee feel of “SFL” to the vulnerable doubts portrayed in “Haunted by Potential”, this EP is well rounded display of the versatility, skill, and artistry of an exciting new artist, PIAO.
Preview the EP:
Starting with her first single “SFL” she sets the emotional high point of the EP. This track is upbeat and displays the confident side of PIAO, portraying her as cool, calm, collected, and driven. This track is a fun listen and has depth layered into it as it revolves around the search for purpose.
Dipping into the second single we are introduced to a more solemn side of PIAO. The title track of the EP, “Tissues”, is a smooth track that seems to take a little more RnB influence than the rest of the project. This song expands on her struggle with purpose, and swings into a more introspective role in the album. With simple production, PIAO takes a look at how she leads her life and how she interacts with the world around her.
Keeping with the theme of introspection, “Spacebubu” turns the look inward towards her love life. This song is soft and sweet with spacey synth PIAO’s reaching out to the unidentified person who will be hers. This reach towards the unknown seems to be portrayed with singing “you” stretching between octaves helping us further uncover just how far she can go with her range.
With the second to last track in the project we reach “Haunted by Potential”. This song puts on display the struggle of balancing work and play. Riddled with doubts about her past and her future, PIAO lets out an intense performance that is dynamic, personal, and at points, nearly theatrical.
Arriving at the final track of the project, there lays a surprise to say the least. Used to her softer whisper-like vocals, we are thrown a curve ball. “Hannah Montana” in simple terms is fun, but it further displays that PIAO truly is not bound by a single genre. This track, in stark contrast to rest of the project is essentially pop-punk and PIAO’s vocals rise to the occasion. She displays the shouty performance that we would expect from the genre. Framing her love life based off the expectations she was given through media, PIAO finds another unique way to spin her life experience. However, this time, the focus on pop culture shows her capability to lock into a less personal and more mainstream lyrical space, without dismissing the artistry that we became accustomed to throughout the rest of the EP.
“Tissues” is an incredible introduction to the extremely talented PIAO. It displays her aptitude for being relatable and crafting a brand all while moving between the borders of genres. This project is so well thought out that its hard to believe its a debut. Keep your eyes out, if she keeps up hers pace, PIAO could be a household name.
PIAO’s Links: