Pearl Charles (born May 11, 1991) is an American singer-songwriter from Los… Read Full Bio ↴Pearl Charles (born May 11, 1991) is an American singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. She aims to embody California rock and roll and, as a figure in the local music scene (and beyond) she began touring as a member of old-timey Americana duo The Driftwood Singers, at age 18, followed by a lengthy stint drumming and singing in garage-pop band, The Blank Tapes. The Blank Tapes toured extensively and earned accolades from Rolling Stone and The New Yorker for their sunny lo-fi surf rock. Along the way, Pearl collaborated with artists such as Jonathan Wilson, Stephen McBean (Black Mountain), Farmer Dave Scher (Beachwood Sparks) and Johnathan Rice and toured extensively internationally supporting diverse artists such as Father John Misty, Matt Costa, Thee Oh Sees, Kim Deal, The Growlers, Allah Las and Mystic Braves to name a few, as well as earning a BFA in Music from CalArts.

Embarking on a solo career in 2015, Pearl is set to solidify her own name and place by releasing a 6 song debut EP on Burger Records this summer. Pearl recorded her self-titled EP track by track with a select group of producers and a little help from her friends, many of whom are notable L.A. musicians in their own right including Joel Jerome (La Sera, Cherry Glazerr) and Taylor Locke (Rooney). Though she draws inspiration from the legendary scenes of the 60's and 70's, from Laurel Canyon to The Factory, from Haight-Ashbury to Muscle Shoals, she also counts contemporary artists amongst her influences such as Tame Impala, Mac DeMarco, Sharon Van Etten and Jenny Lewis, to name a few. Pearl Charles writes and sings songs with a distinctly unique voice, creating a sound that is both timeless yet undeniably here, now.

Idea To Her
Pearl Charles Lyrics

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She blows smoke
It begins to rain
A simple landscape
And it goes insane

You're an idea to her
Just and idea to her
You ride your bike like a tiger

And it goes away

You ride your bike like a tiger
And you feel the same
It comes right up to you
And it goes away

Here in the unpleasantness of sunrise in the brink
I try to ignore myself and stop to take a breath
A pattern is evolving
I take a picture every day
And now l see what they mean

You're an idea to her
Just and idea to her

You ride your bike like a tiger
And it goes insane

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Pearl Charles's song "Idea To Her" seems to be describing a mundane scene: someone blowing smoke, the beginning of rain, and a simple landscape. But suddenly, the scene “goes insane.” The second verse delves deeper, describing a sense of unease and discomfort with oneself during sunrise. The image of taking a picture every day suggests an attempt to capture a moment in time and gain some control over the chaos. However, it's only through someone else’s eyes that the singer feels a sense of identity - “you’re an idea to her.” Perhaps, in a world where everything else feels like it's spinning out of control, personal identity can be found through someone else’s perception.

The chorus repeats the lines “You’re an idea to her” and “You ride your bike like a tiger,” suggesting that both the singer’s identity and their behavior are being seen as symbols by someone else. The final lines of the chorus, “And it goes away,” could suggest that both the extreme behavior and the sense of identity evoked by this other person are fleeting.

Overall, the song seems to be exploring how we struggle to find meaning and identity in a world that can seem chaotic and unpredictable. It also highlights the way we can find solace and understanding through our relationships with others, even if it only offers a temporary relief from the turmoil we might be experiencing.

Line by Line Meaning

She blows smoke
Pearl Charles sees a woman smoking

It begins to rain
Rain starts pouring down

A simple landscape
The scene is calm and unremarkable

And it goes insane
Suddenly, everything becomes chaotic

You're an idea to her
The woman sees you as a passing thought

Just an idea to her
You're not a tangible person to her

You ride your bike like a tiger
You move with speed and confidence

And it goes away
Your presence diminishes

You ride your bike like a tiger
You continue to move at a fast pace

And you feel the same
Your energy remains constant

It comes right up to you
Something approaches you closely