INTERVIEW: Sara Leigh Shaw – The Pearl Harts

THE PEARL HARTS have been making waves on the live circuit for the past few years, and having recently toured with SKUNK ANANSIE, the London based duo finally settled into the studio to record their long-awaited debut album Glitter & Spit. With the release date on the imminent horizon, we chatted to drummer/vocalist Sara Leigh Shaw about THE PEARL HARTS‘ bolstering 70s inspired rock n roll style, the freedom of being a DIY band and the origins of their record.

What is the story behind the albums title Glitter & Spit?

Sara: Being a duo we were looking for a title that suggested that duality. Kirsty and I have, I guess, an intense relationship of extremes, where one is being sensible the other is usually being crazy, one of us will pick up the slack if the other can’t. We also wanted something that represents our characters as women, we are strong, but we are also feminine and soft. Glitter and Spit is about our wild and rebellious side, but it’s also about our sensitive side too. There are two sides to THE PEARL HARTS coin!

How did you both decide on the sound of THE PEARL HARTS?

Sara: It came fairly naturally. One of the reasons we formed this band was because we enjoyed playing together in a previous project. We both have [a] very definite style that compliments each other. We both had things that we wanted to say and we wanted to be in your face! We have had to hone our songwriting and music making to fit that sound, which has been a challenge at times, but now we really know where we can go with our sound in the future and how to develop it in our next set of songs and recordings.

Was it a conscious decision to go down the heavy blues route?

Sara: Yes and no, it was what came out naturally, our playing attitude has a don’t give a fuck style to it. Kirsty has that really bluesy style vocal, we were playing to our loves and strengths, we’re big fans of BLACK SABBATH too so definitely wanted to go with a heavier sound.

There’s an array of different lyrical themes on Glitter & Spit. What inspires your songwriting?

Sara: Everyday life, intense love and loss, extreme emotions, anger. Our feelings influence a lot of our songwriting, it’s very cathartic to us. There are some songs on the album too that have been inspired by people who were in our lives and have passed. There are also themes of femininity and empowerment. Again we wrote what felt natural to us at that time.

There’s also a huge range of different sonic themes running through your music, from punk tempos in Lara to southern rock n roll in The Rush and Bonfires. How did you pull together all of these different styles into one record?

Sara: Musically we take inspiration from a lot of places, we love other styles aside from rock, modern pop has a big influence as does 70s funk. I guess we try to pull from the inspiration and make it our own, it has taken some working out, but we feel like there’s a THE PEARL HEARTS sound, whether that’s the tribal-esque drum sound or Kirsty’s vocal.

How do you feel about your debut album finally being unleashed on the world?

Sara: Excited, nervous and relieved! It has been a long journey!

You’ve been described as being a DIY band. In terms of sitting down to record your album, did you find the process different from a more traditional approach in the studio?

Sara: I think despite the fact we are a DIY band we probably recorded the album similar how many other bands these days record in the studio. Get a batch of tunes written, experiment with them in the rehearsal room, rehearse and get them recorded. We were really lucky in that we have done a lot of touring so had already worked the tunes in. There are lots of different ways to work in the studio, I guess our main constraint as a DIY band is money – with more money you have more time to experiment in the studio. However with our style of music, the urgency and the raw live performance is probably the most important as it makes for a more compelling listen.

What have you learned from starting out DIY and what advice would you give to other bands just starting out?

Sara: The main piece of advice is the music comes first, make a kick ass tune that can talk to a lot of people and go from there. Don’t rush into anything too quickly and pick who is on your team wisely, at the end of the day a manager or a booking agent is just as important as a member of the band. Taking time is the most important thing. Stay true to your art and be fearless.

You recently toured with SKUNK ANANSIE. What was that like?

Sara: It really was amazing. SKUNK ANANSIE went above and beyond to make sure we got everything we needed for that tour and looked after us. They gave us invaluable advice and had so much time for us. The shows were some of the biggest of our career and it really has given us the confidence that we can do this just the two of us!

What else is in store for the future of THE PEARL HARTS?

Sara: We have our headline tour in March followed by a support tour in the UK with LOUISE DISTRAS in April — then a few other things we can’t reveal just yet. We’re also planning to get back into the studio as soon as we can to record most likely an EP.

Glitter & Spit is set for release on February 23rd via Double Bang Records.

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