Pearl Charles is back and ready to enchant listeners once again with her dreamy fusion of folk, rock, and retro glamour. The Los Angeles-born singer-songwriter has just released a brand new single, Just What It Is, the first taste of her upcoming album Desert Queen, set for release on May 30th.
Just What It Is drifts in like a summer breeze—an introspective, sultry track that Pearl describes as “a wistful tale of days gone by and small town parades viewed from train car windows.” The song is rich in sonic detail, featuring velvety harmonies and shimmering folk textures that set the tone for what promises to be a captivating record.
Produced by Lewis Pesacov (Best Coast, Local Natives, FIDLAR) in Los Angeles and mixed by Michael Rault in the wide-open atmosphere of Joshua Tree, Desert Queen is a bold evolution for Charles. The record builds on the disco, funk, and soft rock palette of her acclaimed 2021 album Magic Mirror, while introducing a desert-dusted mystique inspired by her recent move from LA to Joshua Tree.
“The themes on the record go hand-in-hand with the reasons for my move,” Pearl explains. “As much as I love the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, I found a definite sense of disillusionment with city life.” That bittersweet longing for change and clarity is echoed across the album’s ten tracks, blending personal reflection with sonic sparkle.
One of the standout collaborations on the album includes Gone So Long, which features British music legend Tim Burgess and channels classic rock vibes reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac.
Pearl cites literary influences like Eve Babitz and Joan Didion as touchstones for the album’s lyrical and emotional landscape: “Although I left the city, I wanted to carry the tradition of my favourite female Angeleno writers into my desert life and carry the torch of that perspective into this new landscape.”
Fans will get the chance to experience Desert Queen live as Pearl Charles heads to the UK this May and June for a series of acoustic and full-band performances.
UK Tour Dates
May 2025
Fri 30 – Glasgow, Last Night From Glasgow (Acoustic Set)
Sat 31 – Edinburgh, Assai (Acoustic Set)
Wed 4 – Bury, Wax & Beans (Acoustic Set)
Sat 7 – London, Rough Trade East (Acoustic Set)
June 2025
Tue 3 – Glasgow, King Tut’s (Full Band)
Thu 5 – London, Moth Club (Full Band)
Tracklist – Desert Queen
City Lights
Step Too Far
Middle Of The Night
Just What It Is
Givin’ It Up
Birthday
Smoke In The Limousine
Nothing On Me
Gone So Long
You Know It Ain’t Right
Desert Queen promises to be Pearl Charles at her most confident and creatively free—an album shaped by the past, grounded in the present, and gazing out toward an expansive horizon.
