Pearla - “Forgive Yourself”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Aldous Harding, Lucius, Phoebe Bridgers

NYC indie folk-pop artist Pearla continues to support her 2019 debut EP Quilting & Other Activities, a collection of six tracks that dip into alt-country, electro-pop, dream rock, and classic pop eras while maintaining strength from her personal songwriting. Emotionally weighted and performed with lush grace, Pearla’s music lives in a beautiful, open space instead of just relying on her indie folk backbone. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Dreamy folk pop tends to be a pretty tight box, so it’s notable how much range Pearla is able to cover over her rich, debut EP Quilting & Other Activities. Alt country ballad “Quilting” lies tastefully with “Daydream”,  an airy indie pop track that builds with lush soundscapes interceding throughout. “Forgive Yourself” puts Pearl’s textured, alto vocal out front aided by experimental sound layers by song’s end and “Somewhere” even adds some subtle industrial percussion to a bouncy sung melody. All of these twists give Quilting & Other Activities life.