Pearl & The Oysters have returned with a new single titled ‘Wide Awake’.
The duo, Juliette Pearl Davis and Joachim Polack, have built a reputation for their dreamy, otherworldly take on synth pop, blending soft electronic textures with playful songwriting across albums such as Coast 2 Coast and Planet Pearl.
‘Wide Awake’, however, marks something of a turning point in their sound. While the band’s earlier work leaned heavily into shimmering synths and cosmic pop imagery, the new track introduces a warmer, more analogue feel.
Produced by Jonathan Rado, the song draws clear inspiration from classic West Coast pop. The layered harmonies and sunlit melodies recall the lush arrangements of The Beach Boys, while its gentle sense of melancholy hints at the sophisticated songwriting of artists such as Todd Rundgren.
Behind its relaxed sound lies a more serious origin. ‘Wide Awake’ was written in the aftermath of the devastating fires that swept through parts of Los Angeles, an event that left a deep impression on the duo. The song reflects on the uneasy feeling of living through such moments, capturing the emotional dissonance between everyday life and the awareness that everything around you can change in an instant.
Musically, the track channels that tension through a blend of soft rock textures and the duo’s trademark synth tones, resulting in a piece that feels both nostalgic and quietly unsettled.
The release arrives alongside a new music video directed by Nikki Milan Houston, extending the song’s reflective mood through a set of dreamlike visuals.
For Pearl & The Oysters, ‘Wide Awake’ represents a subtle shift in direction, balancing the imaginative spirit that has always defined their music with a more grounded sense of place and experience.
‘Wide Awake’ is out now.
