Get to know: PEARL – The ‘Corrupted Choir Girl’ Finding Freedom in Sound
- QH SOUND
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
There’s something deliciously ironic about PEARL calling herself a “corrupted choir girl.” Classically trained, the London-based synth-pop artist has turned rebellion into her muse, swapping Mendelssohn for moody basslines, shimmering synths, and emotionally raw lyricism. “I’m a corrupted choir girl,” she laughs, “I was classically trained but Mendlessohn didn’t have my heart so I started writing my own music.”
PEARL's sonic universe is “warm, bouncy and ethereal”, yet beneath the dreamy synth layers lies a striking honesty and vulnerability. It’s that duality - the heavenly and the human, that makes her sound both escapist and deeply relatable.
Her story begins with an unexpected twist of fate. “I was youngster that could hold a tune so that became my USP,” she says. That natural gift earned her a singing scholarship and led her through the world of musical theatre. But it wasn’t until PEARL found her creative independence at ICMP music university that things truly clicked. “I only started to really enjoy music when I went to ICMP... and started experimenting with my own writing style and sound.”
It was in that freedom that PEARL discovered her true voice, one that blends vulnerability with sharp wit, cinematic soundscapes with confessional songwriting. “I knew it would hurt more if I didn’t try than if I did and failed,” she admits. That simple yet powerful conviction became her catalyst and north star.
Like many artists forging their path, PEARL’s journey has been fueled by rejection and resilience. She recalls one particular moment that stung: “A very big manager took me out for lunch then aired me.” Instead of letting that break her, she turned it into motivation. “Being picked up, stared at and put down again is a horrible feeling,” she reflects, “but rejection on any level has always helped me grow - it adds that fuel to the fire.”
That unflinching honesty threads through her lyrics. Her song “Fish”, from her debut EP, holds a special place in her heart. “It was a very healing song to write and really helped me place some pretty heavy emotions,” she shares. It’s this prolific emotional candour and willingness to spill her thoughts out “as messy notes” before refining them into hits that makes PEARL’s music feel so alive.
“I’d love for fans to escape into the PEARL world,” she says. That world is cinematic, a bit surreal, and emotionally charged! Think pastel melancholy meeting shimmering euphoria.
Her collaborations stretch her creative reach even further. She’s explored the “world of emotional dance” through releases with Kasbo, Falden, Lonely In The Rain, and Aname - artists known for crafting soundtracks of introspection and motion. “Their music really lends itself to emotional exploration, so explore I did.”
Having recently won the QH Sound Award for Breakthrough Artist, PEARL is stepping confidently into a new creative chapter she calls her “baby blue era.” - “A lot more music” is on the way, she teases, and with it, a shift in tone. “I’ve gone from soft, countryside ethereal to grittier, corporate-cosplaying city-dweller. Everything is a smidge crunchier and laced with pain.”
Her sound is evolving, her perspective deepening, but her mission for connection with her music remains unwavered. “I hope they find something in the lyrics that speaks to them,” she says of her listeners, and it’s working. PEARL often receives “pretty vulnerable messages” from fans who’ve found solace in her songs. “It always makes me pretty emotional,” she admits. “Finding connection through any collective or shared experience is a sure-fire way to put tingles on my arms and lump in my throat.”
Beyond the music, PEARL is refreshingly candid about the reality of balancing artistry and everyday life. “I don’t,” she says bluntly when asked how she manages the two. “I am constantly planning and scheming. I’m in the studio 2 days a week, and then working my part-time receptionist job where I plan my ascent to greatness.”
Her creative process has also become an act of self-liberation. “I am exploring a life outside of my nightmare perfectionism and am learning to enjoy imperfect moments and happy accidents in the creation process.” This blend of humour and honesty is what defines PEARL, and is what we admire about her the most. A mix of celestial poise and grounded wit.
PEARL’s rise feels inevitable, not because she’s chasing perfection, but because she’s embracing imperfection. She’s the choir girl who walked out of the cathedral to build her own altar; a synth-pop storyteller turning pain into poetry and chaos into charm.
With her wit, warmth, and “exceptional modesty,” PEARL isn’t just an artist to watch, she’s one to feel, to escape with, and to root for as she turns her “baby blue” vision into reality.
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