Piera Van de Wiel
pieravandewiel.com

I’m Piera Van de Wiel, Singer-Songwriter, Actor, and Filmmaker. I am the founder of my company Stronger With Music that promotes the importance of Music and Mental Health and Music and Social Impact. I am passionate about the sustainable development goals and in utilizing art, music, and film to achieve the UN’s agenda of 2030. 

I wrote my first song at 15 years old, when I lost my best friend in a car accident. My world fell apart, but through the support of my Head of Music he encouraged me to write a song to voice my grief. I felt empowered when writing the song and each day I felt stronger-  Stronger With Music. 

When I attended the Tisch School of the Arts to study my BFA in Drama with minors in music and business entertainment, it was imperative for me to work on my craft as an Actor; learn how to be a storyteller, and use these skills for my career in the arts and for my songwriting. I graduated in 2017 and I am so grateful for the support and incredible resources that Tisch provided me. 

During my time at Tisch I attended Atlantic Acting School and Stonestreet Studios. When I met Gary and Alyssa Bennett I saw these two powerhouse directors, filmmakers and artists who I looked up to. They were an amazing source of knowledge and really helped me to grow stronger as an actor and a storyteller. I realized that I wanted to create and write my own projects and see my visions come to life in front of me. 

Whether I start working on a project or begin writing a new song, I always make sure I am carrying my leather journal where I write words that stand out to me, and phrases that I hear that resonate with me. I also keep a daily journal where for 3-5 minutes I time myself writing my stream of consciousness and I continue until the timer rings out on my phone. Here I uncover thoughts to later develop or use in a new song or even a script.  

I also believe that networking is vitally important. Before the global pandemic of Covid, I would attend networking events for songwriters, writers, filmmakers. Each time I attended an event I would have my business cards at the ready with my headshot on the front and also QR code on the back that takes each person to my website (start creating these now, very accessible and easy to use!)  Now I have been attending virtual festivals screenings for my work, online networking events, panel discussions and virtual performances all with a virtual background with my QR code on there, so people can scan the screen and can connect with me. The ability to be able to talk about your projects with other collaborators and artists can help you move your work forward. Use the skills you have learnt to tell the story you want to tell, and see who wants to be a part of your journey. 

My single “Used” is currently raising awareness of the shadow pandemic of Domestic Violence and supporting the work of the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women; and my single “Come Back Home (Abaco Relief Song)” supporting the relief efforts of the Abaco islands after it was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian. I grew up on the islands, and I wanted to do my part in helping my friends and family out there who lived through hell, and a year later are still struggling. I created an Anniversary Edition Music Video of “Come Back Home” with home footage and included victims of the hurricane singing my ending chorus. The song has been awarded the Silver Medal of Listener Impact at the Global Music Awards, with my Anniversary music video being recognized as Finalist at the Independent Shorts Awards, Quarter-Finalist at the Los Angeles Film Awards, and Officially selected at the Arts X SDGs (sustainable development goals) festival and still on the film festival circuit. 

With this recognition, my aim is to increase the awareness of the dire situation in the Abacos. And through music and this music video I want audiences to learn about the disaster, and see how they can help. 

It has encouraged me to do more music videos. Including an International Day of Peace Music Project with Global musicians (*so from wherever you are in the world, reach out to me with your music tracks and how you are affecting change and advocating for peace! @pieravandewielofficial)

The importance of visual content was solidified when I was at Stonestreet. It is time to create your own projects, write your own material and don’t leave your career to someone else. Be active and focus on what message you want to put out into the world, don’t wait for someone else’s permission. Together we can collaborate and create social change through art in this creative economy.