Leonardo Barilaro, known professionally as The Space Pianist, has just launched his groundbreaking new single “Listen” as the official soundtrack for Polymath Festival 2.0. This remarkable piece takes listeners on an incredible journey by combining actual NASA space recordings with delicate piano melodies, creating a powerful bridge between scientific discovery and artistic expression that spans from the Sun to Earth.
Recorded at the prestigious Steinway Dubai, “Listen” opens with authentic solar wind sounds captured by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe during its historic mission. Barilaro then weaves gentle piano melodies around these cosmic recordings, gradually building into sparkling electronic textures that represent the invisible magnetic fields surrounding our planet. The composition reaches its climax with the mesmerizing sounds of the Aurora Borealis, completing this sonic voyage through space.
This release represents much more than traditional music – it serves as an immersive experience that invites listeners to feel personally connected to the cosmos. Barilaro’s vision is crystal clear: space exploration encompasses not only scientific research but also human creativity and emotional connection. “Listen” perfectly embodies his signature “Space Music” style, building on the success of previous works like “Moon Seeds,” which achieved the remarkable feat of being streamed from the International Space Station.
The creative process behind “Listen” required careful integration of raw space audio with piano and electronic elements to craft a compelling narrative about cosmic forces. The main challenge involved making these diverse sounds flow together smoothly while maintaining musical coherence – a problem solved through meticulous studio work and creative collaboration.
Fans can also experience a specially created music video that accompanies the single, adding stunning visual elements to Barilaro’s cosmic storytelling. Looking forward, “Listen” establishes a solid foundation for his continuing mission as an artist-ambassador who connects art with science, including his ambitious dream of one day performing music on Mars.
Listen to “Listen” below
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What inspired you to create the single “Listen,” and what message are you trying to convey through it?
‘Listen’ was created to be the official soundtrack for the Polymath Festival 2.0, an event that celebrates interdisciplinary thinking. The core inspiration was to capture that spirit by blending authentic NASA recordings with piano. The track tells a story of the beautiful interference that connects the Sun to Earth. My message is that Space isn’t just a frontier for science; it’s a source of creativity and connection, reminding us that “In Space, there is space for Everyone”.
How does “Listen” fit into your current artistic journey and musical style?
‘Listen’ is a perfect representation of my artistic identity and my musical style, which I call ‘Space Music’ (literally!). It continues my mission of blending piano and synthesizers with bold experimentation, following the path of my previous work like ‘Moon Seeds’, which was streamed from the International Space Station last November 2024. This track is another step in my journey as a Cultural Ambassador of the Space Art Movement, using music to connect people to the cosmos.
Can you walk us through the creative process behind writing and producing this track?
The process began with the concept of creating a sonic journey from the Sun to the Earth. I started with the raw sound of solar wind captured by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe. From there, I composed a soundscape using a grand piano and electronic textures to evoke the feeling of traveling through magnetic fields. The journey concludes with the ethereal sound of the Aurora Borealis, recorded from orbit. The piano parts were recorded at Steinway Dubai, and then the track was engineered, mixed, and mastered in collaboration with Gazelien Records at NYU Abu Dhabi.
What emotions or experiences influenced the sound of “Listen”?
The feeling behind ‘Listen’ is one of profound connection and the humanization of Space. I was driven by the experience of hearing these raw sounds from space and imagining them as a conversation. The sound of the solar wind is powerful and raw, while the auroras are ethereal. I wanted the piano and electronic textures to represent the human element bridging these two cosmic forces, creating a soundscape that feels both immense and deeply personal.
Was there a particular moment or story that sparked the idea for this song?
The idea came when I first heard NASA’s Parker Solar Probe data translated into sound. I thought: if I connect this with the aurorae and the piano, it can tell the story of our Sun embracing our Earth.
This spark was the opportunity to create the official soundtrack for the Polymath Festival 2.0. The festival’s theme of celebrating multifaceted potential and blending art with science was the perfect catalyst. This led me to ask a series of questions: “What if you connect the sound of the solar wind and the auroras with a grand piano? What if a piano becomes a spaceship?”. The piece is my answer to those questions.
How do you hope listeners connect with “Listen” on a personal level?
I hope listeners find a moment of stillness and curiosity, almost like looking up at the night sky. I want the music to inspire them to see Space not just as a scientific field, but as a source of creativity and imagination. My goal is for the track to help them reflect on our place in the Universe and feel the beauty of the forces that connect us to the stars.
How does “Listen” differ from your previous releases in terms of style or theme?
The difference lies in its role, being the official soundtrack of the Polymath Festival. This gives it a thematic anchor in polymathy and human potential, expanding its purpose beyond music into cultural storytelling.
My previous major project, ASTROBEAT, involved collaborations with artists like Tina Guo and sending music to the International Space Station. ‘Listen’ in this case is different, because it brings the actual sounds from space missions, like the Parker Solar Probe, down to Earth and merges them into the core of the composition, making the track itself a form of cosmic data translated into art.
What challenges did you face while working on this track, and how did you overcome them?
A significant challenge was creating a musical narrative that felt authentic. It’s one thing to layer sounds, but it’s another to make them tell a story of a journey from the Sun to Earth. The key was to structure the composition in a neo-classical way, using the piano and electronic textures as the vessel that guides the listener. Overcoming this involved a lot of experimentation in the studio, and the collaboration with mix and mastering engineer Daniel Basurto Fojaco was crucial to finding the right balance.
Do you have plans for a music video or special visuals to accompany this release?
Yes, absolutely! A music video is an integral part of this release. In fact, the premiere of ‘Listen’ at the Polymath Festival 2.0 included the debut of both the new song and its official music video. You can find it on my official channels.
How do you see “Listen” shaping your music career moving forward?
‘Listen’ solidifies my path as an artist who truly merges art and science and strengthens my mission as a Cultural Ambassador for the Space Art Movement. It’s not just a concept, it’s a tangible piece of work that uses scientific data as a musical instrument. Moving forward, this track serves as a blueprint for how I can continue to collaborate with scientific institutions to create music, pushing me ever closer to my ultimate dream of performing on Mars.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes moments from the making of “Listen” that fans might find interesting?
A very special moment was recording the piano part at Steinway Dubai. Playing on such a magnificent instrument, I closed my eyes and imagined the raw sounds of the solar wind and the auroras that would soon be blended with the music. It was a surreal experience, feeling the vibrations of the piano here on Earth while my mind was out in Space.
This was made possible thanks to the wonderful support from the House of Pianos CEO, Shavkat Mamadjonov.
