PIERCE
PIERCE enters a bold new chapter with Dirty, a dark and tension-filled release that embraces restraint, atmosphere, and intensity. In this interview, he discusses creative evolution, live energy, and the future of his sound.
1. “Dirty” feels like a defining moment for this new phase. What specifically pushed you to recalibrate your sound and enter this more refined era?
I’ve been doing PIERCE for almost ten years now, and I think I finally got to a point where I stopped worrying about what lane I was supposed to fit into. Over the years I’ve made a lot of different styles of records, and I’m grateful for all of it because it helped me figure out what I actually love making. When I looked at the songs I was most excited to play live, they were almost always the darker, more tension-driven records. “Dirty” felt like the moment where I stopped fighting that and fully leaned into it.
2. The track leans heavily into tension and controlled chaos rather than melody. What drew you toward that stripped, pressure driven approach?
Honestly, I think tension is what makes dance music exciting. Everyone remembers a big drop, but what gets me fired up is the few seconds before it happens. That feeling where the crowd knows something’s coming and the energy in the room keeps building. With “Dirty,” I wanted to live in that space longer and make the payoff hit harder because of it.
3. You describe “Dirty” as darker and more addictive. How did you shape that atmosphere both sonically and emotionally?
A lot of it came from keeping things simple. I wasn’t trying to throw a hundred ideas into one song. I wanted a few key elements that pulled people in and kept them there. Sonically, I focused on sounds that felt a little uncomfortable and hypnotic at the same time. Emotionally, I wanted the track to feel like something you couldn’t quite shake after hearing it. That’s where the “addictive” part comes from.
4. Compared to your earlier releases, what do you feel has evolved most in your production style and creative mindset?
Confidence. Earlier in my career I always felt like I had to prove myself. I’d pack records with as much stuff as possible because I thought more was better. Now I trust my instincts a lot more. If a section only needs one sound, then it only needs one sound. I’ve learned that restraint can be way more powerful than constantly adding things.
5. Your live performances are known for their intensity. How do you see a track like “Dirty” translating in a festival or large-system setting?
That’s honestly where I think the record shines the most. When I was writing it, I kept picturing a festival crowd at night, right before the drop, when everyone’s locked in and waiting for something to happen. The whole track was built around creating that feeling. On a big system you really feel the pressure and movement in a way that’s hard to recreate anywhere else.
6. With this release signaling a broader shift, what can listeners expect from the next chapter of PIERCE in terms of sound, visuals, and overall identity?
I think people are going to see a much clearer version of who I am as an artist. The music is darker, the visuals are more intentional, and everything feels like it’s coming from the same place creatively. I’m not trying to reinvent myself. If anything, I’m finally narrowing in on what PIERCE was supposed to be all along. The records coming after “Dirty” push that even further, and I’m really excited for people to hear what’s next.