Artist Spotlight: Meet Leonardo Barilaro
What was the creative process like for this particular masterpiece?
The whole process started with a series of questions: What if you could actually listen to the connection between the Sun and the Earth? What if a piano could become a spaceship to take you on that journey? I began with the raw, authentic sound of the solar wind, captured by NASA's Parker Solar Probe. That was my starting point, the voice of our star. From there, I built a soundscape around it using a grand piano and electronic textures to represent the journey through space, like navigating magnetic fields. The final destination is the ethereal sound of the Aurora Borealis, recorded from orbit. It’s a literal conversation between two celestial bodies, with the piano acting as the interpreter.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for "Listen" to life?
My vision was to merge these very different sonic elements, a raw space recording, a classical grand piano, recorded at Steinway Dubai, and modern electronic textures into one cohesive journey. The challenge was ensuring the NASA recordings didn't just feel like sound effects but were treated as instruments. I worked closely with the team at NYU Abu Dhabi, in particular with mixing and mastering engineer Daniel Basurto Fojaco, mentored by head sound engineer Prof. Matteo Marciano. Daniel's own background as a composer and opera singer meant he intuitively understood the narrative I was building. We blended the frequencies, ensuring the roar of the solar wind and the whisper of the auroras could dance with the piano without overpowering it. It was a delicate balancing act to make it all sound like one cosmic ‘orchestra.’
How do you translate the essence and energy of "Listen" in a live performance?
I will perform it live for the first time in just a few days at the Lario Space event on the Como Lake in Italy. Translating Listen live is all about storytelling. The piece tells a very specific story of cosmic connection and my role is to make the audience feel it. When the sound of the solar wind fills the venue, it’s visceral. When the piano enters, it becomes humanity’s response to that immense force. The energy builds as the music journeys through atmospheric soundscapes, arriving at the beauty of the auroras. It’s about shaping a dynamic arc, taking people from awe and power to a moment of ethereal beauty and connection. I want them to leave feeling as though they’ve actually travelled through Space.
How has technology influenced the way you approach composition?
For me, technology isn’t just a tool, it’s a collaborator and part of the raw material. In Listen, for example, the core musical elements come from data captured by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe. With my background as an aerospace engineer, I see technology as a bridge between art and science, a way to turn concepts like solar winds or hypervelocity impacts into sound that resonates emotionally. My passion for synths, shaped early on by my mentor Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater, makes blending piano and electronics instinctive. Projects like ASTROBEAT, where my music was streamed from the International Space Station, show how advanced technology enables not only scientific discovery but also artistic exploration with the piano becoming a vessel, a spaceship for imagination.
What do you think is the role of music in society, and how do you see yourself contributing to it?
I believe music is a universal translator, capable of turning abstract ideas, like the physics of the Universe, into emotions everyone can feel. My contribution is to use music as a bridge between humanity and the cosmos, showing that Space is not just a domain for scientists but also a source of creativity and connection. As I often say, “Art can help us better understand the Universe and our place in it.”
For me, music’s role is to inspire, break down barriers and expand our imagination. Through what I call Space Music, I aim to craft a sound that is forward-looking, unifying and inclusive.
My dream of performing the first piano concert on Mars is meant to embody this spirit, reminding us that even the impossible is within reach.
See You Up There!
