September 12, 2024
Let’s take a little trip to the beautiful country of the Netherlands! After Roos Meijer, Joëtta, Saint Djuni, and of course IMC Family member Sven Ross, it’s time to discover PIEN. And as we often say at IMC, the world of indie music is both vast and sometimes very small—everyone seems to know each other. As it happens, PIEN is a friend of Sven Ross!
Naturally, she came knocking on our door with her new single "The Cover," which we listened to carefully and fell for on multiple levels.
First off, the song’s title is intriguing. Is it a cover? An original song about a cover? Nope! It’s actually about the "cover" we put on our faces to hide from others. Confused yet? Don’t worry, I’m doing it on purpose! Let’s let PIEN explain it herself:
"As a woman, I always felt I needed to put on a mask to please others, especially men. When I was a teenager, it was easier to play the pretty, dumb blonde than to share my interests and knowledge about art, music, and history. I thought people would like me better if I was charming, funny, and not too serious. Once I started sharing more about what was behind my cover (my mask), I learned that it’s way more attractive to people than playing a role. I just needed to be myself to feel free again and find the right people to walk through life with. So don’t judge a book by its cover, because there’s so much more behind it."
This metaphor of the book is, in fact, found in the chorus: "There is more to this book than just its cover," PIEN sings. And it’s precisely this sharp, precise, and high-level writing that won us over. The second verse, in particular, caught our attention:
"See these friends across the ocean / See their lives shining in the sun / See their smiles bright as always / Has a cloud ever crossed their skies?"
Beyond the struggle of a woman sometimes afraid to show herself, this verse can also be interpreted more broadly to reflect our current society, which lives through screens. After all, there’s not much we can do about it—it’s too late, and screens are now a part of our lives. Proof? How are you reading this article right now? What I mean is that the constant comparison to others is a real struggle. Not just for women, of course, but seeing others constantly succeed can get exhausting for those who feel like nothing is going right. And that’s why I find this verse so strong and powerful—it’s unintentionally tied to our modern society, and for all we know, the artist may not have even noticed this perspective.
If you lack self-confidence, never forget that this world behind the screen isn’t real. What those well-dressed, perfectly coiffed people share in neat little squares or rectangles is just 1% of their life. The other 99%? They’re struggling like the rest of us. And let’s demystify them: they’re not divine creatures—they go to the bathroom just like we do!
"The Cover" stands out for its precise production, full of detail from the very first seconds. How many different sounds can you catch in the first 15 seconds? We dare you to find them all! But what truly shines in the song, from the very first words, is PIEN’s incredible voice. Enhanced by an enchanting reverb, her voice lifts us with surprising lightness, carrying us onto a cloud. You get caught up in it, close your eyes, and float off on a magical journey that lasts just under three minutes. By the time the song ends, you’ll open your eyes and wonder if it was all real. Yes, the world she’s created is so magical, you might forget it’s real at all!
Performing at iconic London venues, PIEN is making her mark on the indie scene, having already played at well-known spots like The Camden Club, Katzpace, and 93 Feet East. And good news: if you’ve fallen for "The Cover" like we have, her debut EP is coming in June 2025. Hang tight—when the quality is this high, the wait is worth it!
Added to our "Indie Pop Center" and "New IMC Friday" playlists on Spotify, Deezer, YouTube and Soundcloud.
Reach out to PIEN
More songs from PIEN on Spotify
Lyrics
See this girl, she’s a woman
Trying hard to make her mark
Don’t tell me I’m too young to understand it
I’ve been down to hell and back
Don’t be fooled by all the numbers
Or by all the words that I write
There is more to this book than just its cover
Don’t be afraid to read between the lines
See these friends across the ocean
See their lives shining in the sun
See their smiles bright as always
Has a cloud ever crossed their skies?
Don’t be fooled by all the numbers
Or by all the words that I write
There is more to this book than just its cover
Don’t be afraid to read between the lines
There is so much more than I ever knew there would be
There are so many people out there to meet
There are too many lives that I could live
And so few hours to spend my days
Don’t be fooled by all the numbers
Or by all the words that I write
There is more to this book than just its cover
Don’t be afraid to read between the lines
