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Pia: “My artist name is a tribute to my father”

Pia Geffroy is a creative jack-of-all-trades. Singing, guitar, songwriting and production, dance, choreography... these are just a few of the talents of this International Business student. At the moment, she mainly focuses on her music: a surprising combination of pop and classical. 

Pia uses the artist name Geffroy – a small tribute to her father, who used to perform under the same name. “He loved music and making music himself”, says Pia. “That's what got me interested in it too.” In the 1970s, her father played in the rock band Galaxis and shared the stage with bands such as Scorpions, Eloy and UFO. “He would always talk about it very proudly”, she says.

Pia started writing her own songs at the age of thirteen. At first, she only played the guitar, but nowadays she also sings and produces her songs using a digital audio workstation. “I've always loved classical music and its drama”, says Pia. “Then I thought: why not take what I love most and apply it to pop music? That's how I started finding my own style.”

Pia Geffroy zit op de vloer terwijl ze tegen een versterker leunt en een rode gitaar vasthoudt.

A vision brought to life

You would think that would keep her pretty busy. But music is not Pia's only love – she has also been dancing since childhood. Although she doesn't always find the time, she tries to participate in Hiphop Fridays every Friday, organised by Let's Dance!, the student dance association in Maastricht. 

She also creates her own choreographies. “That’s really something special”, Pia says. “You can let your feelings and thoughts flow freely. I love improvising to music and coming up with a choreography that way.”

Last year, everything came together when she got the chance to make her own music video. Through a friend, she met a videographer who offered to help her make the video. Pia came up with a creative concept and the choreography and recruited her friends as extras. “Suddenly, thirteen people were working on something I had created, including a professional camera crew”, she says. “It was so cool to see my vision come to life.”

Students at Maastricht University do more than just study. UM encourages its students to make time for their passions, hobbies, and other special activities alongside their degree programmes. In this series of stories, UM students share how they combine their studies with inspiring side projects. Ranging from art and sports to entrepreneurship and social engagement.

Organising study periods wisely

Of course, Pia also has to study. She manages this well by organising her study periods wisely. “In the first few weeks of a new term, I spend a relatively large amount of time on music”,  she explains. “That gives me space to take on new projects and write songs. Halfway through the term, I put my guitar away and focus entirely on studying.”

She also makes conscious choices. “I think carefully about how I want to spend my time”, says Pia. “For example, I don't go to all the student parties, and I try to make friends who are also involved in dance or music.”

Sudden loss

Sometimes she needs rest too, although she didn't realise that before. Last year, that changed. “My father passed away very suddenly”, she says. “When that happened, I simply couldn't go on. I couldn't continue my studies or music and took a period break. That was very hard, because it caused me to fall behind in my studies.”

Pia let go of the pressure to perform for a while and made room for her grief. “When something like that happens, it's important to give yourself time”, she says. “I realised then that my mental health is also important. It's okay to slow down sometimes, without giving up on your dreams.”

 

Text: Caya Forman
Photography: Joris Hilterman

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