Emerging pop artist Pia Baris has released her debut EP stardust, a six-track collection that introduces the German singer-songwriter as a compelling new voice in contemporary pop. Blending intimate storytelling, atmospheric production, and intricately layered vocal arrangements, the project arrives as the culmination of years spent developing her craft through classical training, live performance, and songwriting.

To celebrate the release, Baris has delved into each track on the project.

 ‘i know’

‘I know’ is actually one of the oldest songs on the EP. I wrote it around the time I moved to Berlin, which was a really exciting but also challenging period in my life. The song is about knowing that something isn’t good for you anymore but still struggling to let go of it. It captures that feeling of being surrounded by people and nightlife, yet still feeling lonely. Looking back, it represents the beginning of the journey that stardust tells and marks a turning point in my career.

I wrote the song on the piano and then went to the studio to make it complete. The lyrics came very naturally and I think it was the first song that captured the sound I wanted to have as an artist. My move to Berlin was very hard for me, since I had to live alone for the first time in my life, and was surrounded by new people.

‘picket fence’

‘picket fence’ is about letting go of an idea rather than a person. It’s inspired by realizing that a relationship can be beautiful and meaningful, but still not be right for your future. The title references this image of the perfect life that many people grow up imagining. Sometimes we hold onto relationships because they fit that picture, even when deep down we know they aren’t meant to last. This song is about choosing yourself and accepting self respect is more important than chasing the potential of something. Writing picket fence was a very interesting journey. I have a little book where I write down words that I love and I just always wanted a song called picket fence. 

So I sat on my piano and came up with the melody for the hook. In my songwriting camp in October I then added the other pieces which made the song complete.

The hook is recorded in one take while I was sitting on my bench which is funny cause I never do that, but I tried to recreate the vibe later in the studio but nothing could beat that first take. Also the outro is completely improvised. I told Patrick to just give me the beat and I just improvised some runs and that was super fun. I am very proud about that song. I love hiding deep messages behind cute metaphors.

‘silhouette’

‘silhouette’ explores what remains after a relationship ends. Even when someone is no longer physically present, they can still occupy a lot of space in your mind. I was fascinated by the idea that memories can become more powerful than reality. The song lives somewhere between longing and imagination. Sonically, it’s one of the dreamiest moments on the EP, and I wanted the production and layered harmonies to feel almost ghost-like, reflecting the way memories linger.

Writing this song was a very interesting experience. I was in a session and I pulled out my notebook of words and ideas. I love the word “silhouette” and always wanted to write a song around that concept.

The song came together in about an hour, which felt very unusual. At first, I wasn’t sure about it because it made me feel a little lost emotionally. Then I remembered if something makes you feel something, it has a purpose. After the session, I listened to the song on repeat and completely fell in love with it.

I love the concept because it reflects a big part of who I am as a person. The guitar solo is also one of my favorite moments on the EP. What’s funny is that the bridge and guitar solo weren’t written until three weeks after the rest of the song. After listening back, we realized something was missing. Adding those final elements gave the song exactly the emotional depth it needed.

‘machete’

‘machete’ is probably the most playful track on the project. It’s confident, flirtatious, and a little cheeky. At its core, it’s about emotional self-protection. Sometimes the most honest thing you can do is tell someone not to get too close because you’re not in a place where you can give them what they want. I liked the contrast between the energetic pop production and the underlying vulnerability of the lyrics. It’s a song about boundaries, but delivered with a smile.

‘dangerous mind’

With ‘dangerous mind’, I wanted to explore a darker emotional space. The song is about being drawn to unpredictability and knowing something could hurt you, yet choosing it anyway. I think many people can relate to that push and pull between attraction and self-preservation. There’s a tension running through the entire song—both lyrically and sonically—that reflects the excitement and danger of those kinds of connections.

The first draft of the song is completely different from what I put on the EP. The first track is more acoustic, while this one is more dramatic and produced. I actually wrote this song in a songwriting camp in Switzerland. I came up with the intro before i went to the camp and went to the session with that idea and then we finished it.

‘complex’

‘complex’ closes the EP because it feels like the final realization of everything that came before. It’s written from the perspective of someone observing another person trapped in a relationship that’s causing them pain. The song looks at emotional dependency and how easy it can be to mistake intensity for love. Sometimes we become so invested in fixing something that we lose ourselves in the process. Ending the EP with this song felt important because it asks a question rather than giving an answer: why do we stay in situations that hurt us when we know we deserve more?

Writing this song was very different from how I normally write. I had a mental breakdown and right after I just wrote down the lyrics in one run. Chords and melody came after which is very unusual. This song comes straight from my heart and is a topic that means a lot to me and I hope some people can relate. Also it kinda reflects being the therapist friends which i was for a while so this song is like a best friend giving you advice.

Listen to stardust below.