In an ambitious fusion of genealogy and sound design, rising Danish-Corsican artist Malu Pierini is set to release Libera Me, a debut album that functions less as a collection of songs and more as an auditory documentary of her lineage. Transforming her family’s photo album into a filmic sound universe, Pierini constructs a narrative arc that travels from the rugged landscapes of Corsica to the neon-lit cabarets of 1960s Paris, finally resolving in the cool melancholy of modern-day Copenhagen. Across ten tracks, she weaves a tapestry of French elegance and Nordic soul, examining how the unlived dreams of her ancestors have shaped her own artistic trajectory.
The narrative heartbeat of the record lies in the romance between Pierini’s grandparents: Bernard, a charismatic Corsican who directed a cabaret in Paris, and a Danish dancer who left home to join a troupe in the French capital. This history is vividly explored in tracks like Bernard, a cinematic chanson where Pierini engages in a metaphysical conversation with her late grandfather. She explores his “invisible lead role” in her life, questioning how much of his theatricality and grand gestures she has inherited as a performer. The album delves into the duality of this era; while Bernard thrived in the nightlife of La Nouvelle Eve, Pierini’s grandmother found herself isolated in the apartment above, realizing her own dreams had been sidelined by his charisma.
From a production standpoint, Libera Me exhibits high-fidelity craftsmanship, developed in close collaboration with producers Nicholas and Oliver Kincaid, whose credits include work with Mina Okabe, Scarlet Pleasure, and Emil Kruse. The team has curated a sophisticated sonic palette that blends organic instrumentation with atmospheric sound design. Pierini utilized field recordings to texture the mix, capturing specific diegetic sounds that anchor the listener in her physical history: the tolling of church bells on Corsica, the rhythmic patter of rain, the ambient buzz of a busy cabaret, and the drone of cicadas on a mountain summer night. These audio artifacts serve to dissolve the barrier between the past and the present.
The album opens with Souvenir, where warm bossa nova syncopation meets the sampled voice of a flight attendant, establishing the record as a transcontinental journey. This leads into the album’s emotional centerpiece, Pourquoi. Here, the sonic landscape evokes a postcard from Paris, merging the dramatic flair of Edith Piaf and the Pigalle district with a distinct Nordic sensitivity. The track is an existential inquiry into the butterfly effect of her family’s choices—acknowledging that had her grandmother never left Paris, Pierini herself would not exist. Conversely, tracks like Just For Us utilize lush string arrangements to depict new romance, while Bisous pivots to a playful, self-ironic tone, showcasing a diva-esque confidence.
Thematically, the project is bound by the concept of Libera Me (Latin for “Deliver Me” or “Free Me”), a title referenced from a prayer Pierini recalls from church services on Corsica. The phrase acts as a red thread throughout the LP, representing a desire to honor one’s heritage while simultaneously breaking free from generational patterns and inherited narratives. Pierini frames the album as both a tribute and a liberation—a way to step out of the shadows of family lore and claim her own identity on stage.
Pierini has already secured her status as a “sprouting talent” in the Danish music scene, achieving airplay on national radio stations P3, P4, and P5, alongside coverage in international outlets such as COLORS, DLSO, and Ones To Watch. She has consistently performed to sold-out crowds since her debut, including a notable performance at Hotel Cecil.
Libera Me is scheduled for independent release via Universal Music Group on January 30. To mark the release, Malu Pierini will perform live at Lille VEGA in Copenhagen on February 17 and at Vin Danmark in Aarhus on February 21.
