Pearla is the nom de plume of Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Nicole Rodriguez, whose intimate and imaginative indie folk-pop songs are often textured with strings, horns, and dissonant electronics. She adopted the Pearla moniker as an homage to her musician grandfather’s surname. Working with frequent collaborator and co-producer Tyler Postiglione, Rodriguez released her debut EP, Quilting & Other Activities, in 2019. Her inventive and oft-kilter style, rooted in the surrealist corners of the natural world and echoing the work of artists like Will Oldham, Björk, Joni Mitchell, Aldous Harding, and Sharon Van Etten, caught the attention of Spacebomb Records, which issued her first full-length effort. Released in 2023, Oh Glistening Onion, The Nighttime Is Coming, saw Rodriguez deliver a poignant and enigmatic set of songs that addressed mortality, intimacy, and personal freedom. ~ James Christopher Monger