Pia Fraus (EE)

About

Formed in Tallinn in 1998, Pia Fraus has spent over two decades crafting the kind of hazy, layered sound that puts Estonian dream pop and shoegaze on the map. The band's name comes from a Latin phrase meaning "pious fraud" or "small lie", which feels fitting for music that blurs the line between beauty and unease. With two vocalists, Kristel Eplik and Eve Komp, alongside synths, guitar and rhythm, their sound has a rich, full texture that rewards close listening. Their discography spans eight studio albums, from Wonder What It's Like in 2001 through to Evening Colours in 2023, showing a band with real staying power and a consistent artistic vision. Albums like Field Ceremony and Empty Parks have kept them relevant in shoegaze circles well beyond their Estonian roots, and the pace they have maintained across more than twenty years is quietly impressive.