Unplugged Lounge Conversations with Piper Connolly

In the ever-evolving world of alt-pop, 13-year-old Piper Connolly is emerging as a genre-defying force, blending youthful authenticity with a rebellious spirit that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly new. Described as “caffeine-laced Pop Rocks,” her sound bursts with high-voltage energy and emotional resonance, drawing well-earned comparisons to trailblazers like Avril Lavigne and Hayley Williams. With new music, a rumoured West Coast tour, and whispers of an EP on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be the year Piper Connolly steps fully into the spotlight, bringing with her a sound shaped by early rock, ‘90s grunge, and the soulful urgency of a new generation. Piper sat down with Sonic Sisters Magazine to talk about her journey into music, the women who have inspired her, and the personal experiences that shape her songwriting.

Thanks for chatting with us at Sonic Sisters Magazine! Can you share a bit about how your journey into music began?

Thanks for having me! Honestly, music kind of found me before I knew what I was even looking for. I grew up around a lot of different sounds—rock, pop, even showtunes—and I was always humming or writing random lyrics in my notes app. But once I got on stage for the first time, something just clicked. Like, "oh... this is where I’m supposed to be."

Who have been some of the most significant influences on your musical style?

Oof, big question. I’ve definitely been shaped by artists like Paramore and Avril Lavigne—the attitude, the hooks, the unapologetic energy. But I’m also super into weird sonic textures, so artists like Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan make me feel like the rules don’t matter as long as it feels honest. I want people to hear a song and go, “that’s Piper,” even if it sounds totally different from the last one.

And which female musicians or women in the music industry have inspired your journey?

So many. Hayley Williams is a big one—not just for her voice, but for how she’s grown over time without ever losing her core. I also really admire how Billie and her team have stayed creative on their own terms. And then there are the icons—Alanis Morissette taught me that rage and vulnerability can live in the same lyric, Stevie Nicks showed me that mystique and raw emotion are a powerful combo, and Aretha Franklin… she was just pure soul and power. And honestly? A lot of the local women around me, the ones grinding it out in studios and venues and TikTok feeds. They remind me this isn’t a fairytale—it’s real work, and it’s worth it.

How do your personal experiences shape your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners take away from those connections?

I don’t write anything I can’t feel. Sometimes I exaggerate a moment or create a character, but the emotion underneath is always mine. I hope listeners hear my songs and think, “Wait, I’ve felt that too.” Whether it’s heartbreak or ego or feeling like an alien in your own skin, I try to give those feelings a soundtrack.

Congratulations on your brand-new single 'chameleon' - what inspired this particular song?

Thank you! “chameleon” came from this place of low-key jealousy—like watching someone else’s success and wondering if I’d be more “liked” if I changed who I was. It’s about that slippery slope of self-editing, trying on different masks to fit in. And spoiler: it never works. So the song is sort of a glittery breakdown of that whole spiral.

What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?

“Creep” by Radiohead is one. It wrecked me the first time I heard it. The rawness, the simplicity, the weird beauty of just saying exactly how out of place you feel—it made me want to write songs that didn’t try to be cool. Just true.

Is there a song in your catalog that holds a special personal meaning for you? We'd love to hear the story or inspiration behind it.

Definitely “muse.” That one came from a really complicated place. I was working closely with someone creatively, and over time, I developed feelings for them. It was confusing, because the art we were making together was so good—like magic—but underneath it, I was low-key heartbroken. I had to decide whether to keep creating with this person and stay in this space that hurt... or walk away to protect myself. Writing “muse” was part of that decision. It's about that impossible in-between—loving the art, loving the connection, but knowing it’s not sustainable. That song holds a lot for me.

What are some of the aspirations you have for your music moving forward?

I want to keep pushing the boundaries of what a “Piper Connolly song” sounds like. More visuals, more live shows, and maybe even a concept EP one day. I also want to collaborate with artists who scare me—in a good way. People who’ll pull something new out of me.

What advice would you give to emerging female artists who are just starting out in the music world?

Take up space. Even when you feel small or unsure, your voice deserves to be heard. Don’t wait for permission to be bold. And find your people—the ones who see your magic even when you don’t. They’re everything.

Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Just… thank you. Truly. If you’ve ever streamed one of my songs, come to a show, shared a post, or even just watched a clip and felt something—that means more to me than I can explain. I’m still figuring out who I am as an artist, and sometimes, it feels like I’m building this world one lyric at a time. But every time someone connects with the music, it’s like… confirmation that I’m not alone in what I’m feeling. That we’re building it together. I don’t take any of it for granted, and I just want you to know how grateful I am to have even a small place in your playlist—or your heart.

And if you’re still here, stick around—there’s more music coming, and I think it might just be my most honest work yet. We’re only getting started.