Pyra, an outspoken artivist and musician, has unveiled her debut album, ‘PYRADISE,’ a powerful exploration of dystopian themes inspired by current global conditions and iconic films like Battle Royale and Blade Runner. The album transports listeners to a world where humanity struggles against oppressive forces, mirroring the societal challenges she faces today. With her unique blend of music and activism, Pyra aims to raise awareness and inspire change through her art.
In ‘PYRADISE‘ Pyra presents a narrative that delves into themes of liberation and freedom, set in a dystopian world where humanity fights for these ideals against a less than ideal state. The album begins and ends with a national anthem, symbolizing the cyclical nature of resistance and triumph. Tracks like ‘petrol & matches‘ draw from Pyra’s personal experiences with the military government, highlighting the societal frustrations and the desire for change; and ‘cut my tongue‘ is a medium to convey pressing societal issues, hoping to slow the progression towards an extreme dystopian future.
Her performances at festivals like Burning Man and The Great Escape have resonated deeply with audiences, solidifying her role as a powerful voice for equality and change.
Popspoken: What was the inspiration behind the concept of ‘PYRADISE’ and its dystopian setting?
Pyra: The inspiration behind the ‘PYRADISE’ album comes from the current state of the world we are in as well as films such as Battle Royale, Hunger Games, Blade Runner and Squid Game. I believe that these films reflect the state of the world we are in right now. I feel that within the macro or micro level of the society, there is oppression hidden Within.
Popspoken: Can you describe your creative process while working on this album?
Pyra: Every time I work on an EP or album I think of it as world creation. I wanted to portray to the audience this Pyrate Island where Humanity fights to climb up the ladder only to find that there is still a mastermind or a villain setting up top of the world they’re trying to conquer. So how would you describe this world as sound? The songs in the album start with a national anthem and ends with the national anthem that is destroyed by the resistant unit. The songs within the album follows a hero’s journey of pain, sacrifice, hardship, resilience and triumph against the Corrupted State.
Popspoken: ‘PYRADISE’ explores themes of liberation and freedom. Can you elaborate on how these themes are presented in the album?
Pyra: I once had this epiphany realizing that if Freedom exists, there would be no such word in the dictionary. Freedom is supposed to be a state that we have. It is supposed to be the rights of all Humanity I believe, but the fact that there is this word in the dictionary means that we are unable to achieve this particular state which is supposed to be an automatic status given to us naturally.
The album explores themes of liberation and freedom, humanity dreams of but never achieved although we endlessly fight for it, we endlessly yearn for it. I think more than freedom, it explores the frustration, anger, torment of being in an oppressed Society. It is the feeling of suffocation that we all share today.
Popspoken: Could you share the story behind ‘petrol & matches’ and how your experiences with the military government influenced this song?
Pyra: 2 years back during COVID, a few of my TikTok videos went viral and in this video was where I expressed my discontentment against the State and the management. I think it is the people who agree with what I’m saying that’s why it kept on getting viral and shared repeatedly to me on X, Instagram reels as well as TikTok. It was me talking about the most mundane things about Bangkok that is true but somehow that seemed like a threat to the society. After that, the military and army officials started following all my social media accounts. To ask me specifically how it’s just people in uniforms following me, that’s how I know that wow, I am perceive as a threat to the State you know? From all these viral TikTok videos of me singing about the society in the world and the truth of it all.
Popspoken: Can you discuss the significance of the dystopian pop genre in conveying your message?
Pyra: I call it my genre because what I’m doing is exactly what your favorite dystopian authors or filmmakers are doing, but it’s just that my medium is music. Rather than talking about my heartbreak story, I feel like there are more pressing topics that we need to discuss so that we can stop or slow the process of reaching that extreme dystopian state. I believe we are already in dystopia, but we do not want to reach the level of Battle Royal or Hunger Games for sure. Hopefully, I can be a part of slowing the process of doom.
Popspoken: How important is it for you to use your platform to combat inequality and advocate for change?
Pyra: I think that’s very important and that’s the core of my existence. I believe that there is no particular special meaning in our existence, but is very important that we all find our own meaning and purpose being born into this world. For myself, I am happy when I can make other people happy so I have dedicated my life to making the world a bit less s*** before I die, therefore it is using my platform to combat inequality. This seems philanthropic and heroic but actually, it is not – I myself also rely on others to keep on existing, so it is only a fair deal for all of us in this case.
Popspoken: Can you share any memorable experiences from performing tracks from ‘PYRADISE’ at festivals like Burning Man or The Great Escape?
Pyra: That’s definitely very special for me when the audience gets what you’re trying to convey and in both of these festivals, the audience gets it. When the crowd responds to your music the way you expect it to be responded, this is the two-way communication that an artist yearns for on stage. It is the feeling, the adrenaline, it is just like an addiction to keep us going in this career that is unstable as hell.
