Pearl launch new single – despite BBC scuffle.
Wellington band Pearl launches its new single Life is Beautiful on March 5, despite a scuffle with the BBC that nearly
derailed it.
It is typical of the gutsy Pearl duo, Lisa Nimmo and Shelley Hirini, to succeed regardless of the odds.
The evocative new single Life is Beautiful originally used chilling BBC news audio clips of a bombing in Jerusalem to
illustrate how precious yet fragile life is.
However, when they sought permission from the BBC to use the clips, they were denied because it was deemed too
political.
They were forced to re-write and then re-record the clips. Ironically the voice now used on the new single, remixed for
the launch, is that of a former BBC journalist.
The new single is backed by a stunning video from Dunedin-based film director Patrick Gillies, featuring top Auckland
actor Colin Moy (In My Fathers Den).
It launches a nationwide acoustic tour by Pearl who have already achieved enormous musical success; including supports
for Elton John and Eric Clapton.
They’ve had to work hard for it. Early on they were warned by Eddie Raynor (Split Enz) that even though they wrote and
performed great music, they would struggle to find a record label to back them because of their age (30s).
He was right and they’ve had to think laterally to reach their fans.
In 2006 they funded, produced and released their debut album No Ordinary Day and were the first New Zealand band to
create a cheeky web promo video that has now received nearly 400,000 hits worldwide. They have also developed a unique
keynote presentation that is a hit at business conferences; all to get their music to an adult market.
So, when they found the might of the BBC against them Lisa and Shelley weren’t about to give up.
“We were disappointed,” says Lisa. “The song is about appreciating the beauty in our world. The clips helped to
communicate that message in a powerful way, which surely is a positive thing.”
Shelley explains she wrote the song after 9/11 and a 5am call from her brother in America urging her to turn on the
television. Together they watched the World Trade Centre’s twin towers crumble.
“It bought home to me just how much we take for granted and how good our life is here in New Zealand.”
It certainly struck a chord with video director Patrick Gillies, who had a friend die while he worked on the video; a
gritty drama about a busy father (Colin Moy) failing to connect with his daughter (Kyra Beaton) who is struggling with
loneliness and isolation.
“It was a kind of wake up call….since then I’ve become noticeably more relaxed. We have our health and our lives and
that’s all that matters,” says Patrick.
Check out the new single and video at www.youtube.com/user/madaboutpearl
ends