Pearl charles- Complete Artist Review
Complete Artist Review after listening to every record. Here you will find an overview of Pearl Charles as well as my personal rankings of her first two records and EP. Also, you will find my Top 10 Songs and link to my Essentials Playlist in this pages 1st photo.
Click on other photos for surprise Easter Egg links!
pearl charles
There’s something magical about Pearl Charles. She doesn’t just make music—she crafts soundscapes that feel like they’ve been unearthed from a lost era, dusted off, and given new life with a modern touch. Rooted in the sun-soaked nostalgia of the ‘60s and ‘70s, her music is effortlessly cool, endlessly listenable, and bursting with warmth. Whether it’s a twangy country ballad, a disco-infused groove, or a wistful folk tune, she has an undeniable knack for blending the best elements of the past into something fresh and captivating.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Pearl Charles has been steeped in music for as long as she can remember. She picked up her first instrument at five years old, and by her late teens, she was already making waves in the indie scene. Her first big musical endeavor was The Driftwood Singers, an Americana duo where she honed her songwriting skills and appreciation for traditional sounds. From there, she jumped behind the drum kit for garage-pop outfit The Blank Tapes, adding another dimension to her already impressive repertoire.
But Charles was always meant to be a frontwoman. In 2015, she struck out on her own with her debut self-titled EP, a collection of songs that hinted at the dreamy, genre-blurring artist she was becoming. It was indie pop with a touch of ‘60s Americana and beach rock, warm and inviting yet brimming with potential. That potential exploded into full view with her first full-length release.
With Sleepless Dreamer, Pearl Charles fully stepped into her identity as an artist. The album is drenched in California sunshine, a breezy yet richly textured mix of cosmic country, psych-pop, and ‘70s AM radio gold. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to roll the windows down and cruise along the coast, lost in its dreamy melodies.
From the Fleetwood Mac-esque shimmer of All The Boys to the synth-laced title track, Charles crafted an album that felt nostalgic yet undeniably her own. There’s a playful charm to the production, a sense of warmth and authenticity that made it clear she wasn’t just mimicking her influences—she was reinventing them. Sleepless Dreamer firmly planted her in the indie spotlight, earning comparisons to classic singer-songwriters while proving she had something new to say.
Charles shortly after released a string of non-LP singles and collaborations that showcase the full breadth of her musical vision. Sweet Sunshine Wine is a quintessential Pearl Charles track—effortlessly warm, drenched in golden-hour glow, with piano lines that invite you to sway along. It feels like a lost gem from the ‘70s, yet somehow still fresh.
Her collaboration with Xixa on Summer Wine takes a different approach, reinterpreting the classic with a darker, moodier twist. There’s a Flamenco flair, a Santana-esque snappiness, and a shadowy Western atmosphere that adds a new depth to the track. Dark Western? Let’s make that a genre.
Demos and alternate versions have also surfaced, offering glimpses into Charles’s creative process. The shimmering early version of Sleepless Dreamer is fascinating to hear in its raw form, while the alternate take of Night Tides swaps out polish for grit, with a guitar solo that absolutely shreds. Meanwhile, the outtake Mind’s a Mystery feels like a lost ‘60s beach-rock classic, an earworm that would’ve fit right in with The Mamas & The Papas at their peak.
And then, there’s Christmas Must Be Tonight, a stripped-back acoustic duet with Michael Rault that channels The Carpenters and even hints at ‘70s-era Elton John. It’s understated, warm, and proof that Charles can make any genre her own.
If Sleepless Dreamer was an invitation into Pearl Charles’s world, Magic Mirror was the grand tour. Released in 2021, her second album took everything she did well and amplified it. The disco flourishes were funkier, the country twang was richer, the songwriting sharper. It was a perfect evolution—an artist fully coming into her own.
The ABBA-esque groove of Only for Tonight immediately lets you know that Charles is here to have fun, while What I Need is a stunning fusion of easy-listening Norah Jones charm with twangy ‘70s pop sensibilities. The title track is a breathtaking piano-driven ballad that feels like it could have been an Elton John classic in another timeline. And then there’s Slipping Away, an absolute showstopper—Blue Öyster Cult-style cowbell, lush harmonies, a hook that burrows into your brain and refuses to leave. It’s a perfect storm of everything Charles does best.
While Magic Mirror is undeniably influenced by the past, it never feels like a nostalgia act. It’s modern, vibrant, and deeply personal. Charles isn’t just paying tribute to the golden age of songwriting—she’s extending the legacy.
Since Magic Mirror, Charles has continued to expand her sonic palette with a string of new singles, teasing what could be an incredible third album. Givin’ It Up leans into soft ‘70s R&B, while Figure Skater (a collaboration with Charles Watson) feels like a long-lost Stevie Nicks deep cut, shimmering with a haunting beauty. Smoke in the Limousine takes a more ethereal approach, layering dreamy acoustics with simple yet gorgeous orchestration.
Then there’s Does This Song Sound Familiar?—a dark twangy earworm that mixes a half-time shuffle groove with James Bond-style guitar lines, oozing cool with every note. Step Too Far is an undeniable highlight, blending Norah Jones’s relaxed elegance with alt-pop twang. The flute accompaniment alone makes it worth playing on repeat, but the melody is so good it might just make your brain short-circuit. Each of these tracks offers a different side of Charles’s artistry, proving that she’s not content to stay in one lane. She’s refining, exploring, and constantly evolving.
Album Rankings
Magic Mirror (2021)
Sleepless Dreamer (2018)
Pearl Charles EP (2015)
Top 10 Songs
(In No pARTICULAR oRDER)
Slipping Away (Magic Mirror)
Middle Of The Night (Single)
Step Too Far (Single)
What I Need (Magic Mirror)
Sleepless Dreamer (Sleepless Dreamer)
Night Tides (Sleepless Dreamer)
Night & Day (Pearl Charles)
Indian Burnout (Pearl Charles)
All The Boys (Sleepless Dreamer)
Sweet Sunshine Wine (Magic Mirror)
Pearl Charles is the kind of artist who feels timeless. Her music exists in that perfect intersection of past and present, effortlessly balancing nostalgia with originality. She takes the best elements of classic songwriting—thoughtful lyricism, rich instrumentation, undeniable hooks—and breathes new life into them. With two stellar albums behind her and a third seemingly on the horizon, it’s clear that Charles is just getting started. Whether she’s making you dance, sway, or daydream about a different era, one thing is certain—she’s got a sound that lingers, and that’s the mark of an artist built to last.