After recently returning with her stunning comeback single ‘Body Parts’, her first piece of new material since last year’s debut EP ‘Where I Go’, fast-rising British artist PEARL recently delivered her wondrous new offering ‘Orbit’.
Moving with all the same vibrant elegance she has looked to project this past year, ‘Orbit’ marks another glittering addition to her immersive catalogue of late. So we caught up with her to find out more about her background and what she has found most inspiring over the years.
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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?
I started singing classical music at school and then went on to study contemporary music at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London, wanting to find my own sound and style. I did everything other than music for a while and lost a lot of confidence. It took me a while to craft a soundscape that I felt happy in and ready to share, and now here I am!
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?
Billie Marten was probably the first artist I got fully invested in and still follow religiously. Her storytelling and melodies really inspired me. I love Grace Ives and her production style, and I am currently obsessed with LAUREL!
Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?
Sylvan Esso for their interesting production and beautiful wacky lyrics. I think they balance out synthesised and organic sounds in such a beautiful way!
Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?
Listening to the first mix of my first EP with Matt Ingram who I co-produced it with. We went for a walk round Hackney Wick and sat in a weird little park. I had spent so long thinking I wasn’t good enough and being afraid of what I was going to hear and all of a sudden this swell of confidence and happiness came over me and I heard the world I was trying to create come to life and it was AWESOME.
How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?
I just let it alllll falllll out. I collect a mental library of sounds I like, so I can build songs in session and writing wise, I pick an object and write about it through the senses so it creates a vivid memory I can draw inspiration from. I’m not afraid of being honest…most of the time, sometimes I choose a different angle or perspective to put some distance in.
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?
Insecurity about my age, how I look, if I am annoying to work with, imposter syndrome. Alllll the good stuff. I’m 29, I sometimes get a double chin when I sing, I do not need to apologise for changing something that doesn’t fit my project and I’ve worked my butt off and am not afraid to make mistakes and keep learning (I overcome them by acceptance, resilience and little internal pep talks!)
Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
The songs I’m writing at the moment are all from quite an introspective place. I’ve been looking at things I didn’t really want to look at before and I think my writing reflects that.
Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?