In 2024, Joshua Pearlstein’s track Endorphins proved to be one of Jane’s Monthly Favourites.
By Graeme Smith
The track scored a spot on the run down thanks to its groovy rhythm and pop sensibilities.
That was the last time we featured anything from him, so it’s been a bit of a wait for his return. The wait has been worth it though, as he’s now back with his self-proclaimed ‘best one yet!’
It’s hard to disagree with him given the quality of his latest single Prize. The beat hits nicely right from the off, giving us an edgy groove that spills naturally into the first verse. There, we get lyrics that are full of heartache sung with plenty of charisma by Pearlstein. There’s an uneasiness to the story, but they’re delivered with such bravado that you can’t help but be stirred.
The track builds inevitably into a catchy, staccato chorus infused with an electronic pop energy. The percussive textures throughout keep things feeling fresh and vibrant and the composition ends powerfully with a sultry hip-hop breakdown and layered crescendo.
Pearlstein is 20 years old and studies at Berklee College of Music. Despite his career still being in its early stages, he’s amassed quite a following. His music has collected over one million streams and 150,000 listeners. He’s also caught the attention of tastemakers like Earmilk.
An artist forging his own path, he records in non-studio spaces working with his girlfriend, best friend, mixer, manager and “collaborative engine,” Lera Shemi. “The most honest thing to me is recording in these non-studio spaces,” he explains. “It breathes life into the songs.”
Though now based in Boston and Los Angeles, Pearlstein was born and raised in Atlanta, USA where music came into his life early on. He loved pop artists who used their craft to build cinematic worlds, including Prince, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, The Weeknd, and Lady Gaga.
Fans of any of those artists, and thoughtful pop more generally, will love what Joshua Pearlstein is doing. He truly is building a solid foundation for a pop career that can really go places. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
If you want to keep up to date with all he’s doing, you can do so by heading to his website, and by following him on Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Prize is out now, and you can give it a listen below.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator
