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Popdust Exclusive Premiere of Scruffy Pearls New Music Video 'Letting Loose'

The NYC based soul-funk band release a video full of energy and bright colors.

Soul-pop band, Scruffy Pearls, began with two couples from New York City meeting up to jam on Sunday nights. Soon after, they completed their multi-genre group with the addition of two of their friends on bass and trumpet. They expect to release their first full length album in Summer of 2019.

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Popdust Presents

Popdust Presents | Scruffy Pearls Spins a Web of Blues, Rock & Pop

The New York City Four-Piece Bounces Beyond Genre Labels for an Explosive Hybrid

Nick Glimenakis

The band gets candid about roots and influences.

September 1, 2018 | New York alt-pop band Scruffy Pearls leans into the wave of quirky-pop rippling outward from mainstream these days. Lead singer Carly Brooke waltzes through a dreamy mix of classic soul and guitar-laden singer-songwriter, propelled from band mates RJ Gatsby (on keys, guitar and ukulele), Billy Pearson (lead guitar) and Renee Hikari (drums and percussion). The now-four-piece weave together the past and present, a tapestry of tightly-crafted grooves and melodies.

In a recent promo tour, the band, which is made up of two couples with long-standing relationships, hung out in the Popdust office for a jam session and discussion with host Brent Butler. The conversation delved into the meaning behind the band name, growing up on Long Island, melting genres, and upcoming new music. Watch the interview above.

Earlier this summer, the quartet curated a playlist of their biggest influences and current favorites, from Bill Withers, Alabama Shakes, Kacey Musgraves to Prince, Janelle Monae, Vulfpeck, C2C, and The Revivalists. They also shared insight into essential cuts of their very own. On "Good Things," which tears at the seams, they told us, "This song was our first single inspired by the ups and downs of our dream chasing. Facing rejection over and over can be mentally grueling, but we decided to put a positive spin on it because we believe that nothing can destroy your dreams as long as you keep loving what you do and doing what you love."

"Love Song," chiseled in mesmerizing Billy Joel form, suits up the band to tap into their romantic sensibility. "We are a romantic bunch and writing love songs has always been one of our favorite things to do," they shared. "This song is about the ups and downs relationships go through. Love changes over time, but there are always ways to keep the magic alive."

Watch "Forrest Gump" | Live & Acoustic

Where EP standout "Here's to the Times" is staunchly anthemic, imparting a message of camaraderie and hope, "Where You Belong," which feels like a demo outtake, allows Brooke to plant her feet at the center of the (musical) storm. From top to bottom, the band's 2016 self-titled EP glides across funky-inspired beats ("Good Things"), piano-based intimacy ("Love Song") and giddy indie-rock ("People Keep Talkin'"). Brooke's voice is equal parts blues-rock, soul and pop, floating somewhere between Amy Winehouse and ZZ Ward. It's both towering and capable of squeezing out a few more tears.

The band is currently finishing up a their second EP, anchored with "Forrest Gump" (above), and is expected "soon."

Watch "Taking a Hold on Me" | Live & Acoustic

Follow Scruffy Pearls on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram


Jason Scott is a freelance music journalist with bylines in B-Sides & Badlands, Billboard, PopCrush, Ladygunn, Greatist, AXS, Uproxx, Paste and many others. Follow him on Twitter.


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Playlist

MUSIC MONDAY | Scruffy Pearls Brings us Soul-Pop Sweetness

JUNE 18 | Live Session Video for "Forrest Gump"

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THE MIX | What's Old is New Again

by Scruffy Pearls

06.18.18 | This playlist is a mixture of old and new which is also a theme in our own music. We love writing songs that have a familiar timeless feel and melodies but with today's modern twist, instrumentation and production wise. All six of us grew up listening to different music and we have different tastes which allows us as a band to be open to all kinds of ideas and make any type of song our style.

Listen to Scruffy Pearls' song and watch their official live session of "Forrest Gump."

New York is a melting pot and the band Scruffy Pearls proves that music can be just as diverse…even within a band. The six members all have different backgrounds musically, get they've taken their unique sounds, blended them beautifully, and resulted in soul-pop sweetness that's fresh, familiar, fun, and fabulous.

Scruffy Pearls features Carly Brooke on vocals, RJ Gatsby on keys, ukulele, harmonica, and acoustic guitar, Parker McAllister on bass, Renee Hikari on Drums, Billy Pearson on electric guitar, and Adam Abresch on trumpet.

Old-meets-new for a timeless quality that teens can groove to, millennials can move to, and even their parents can approvingly sing along with. Influenced by the likes of Randy Newman, Fleetwood Mac, John Legend, and then some, Scruffy Pearls is making their way around the Big Apple, opening for bands including Lukas Nelson + Promise of the Real, Lawrence, and Parsonsfield.

As they are onto their 2 nd EP, Scruffy Pearls has already caught the attention of movers and shakers in the industry. NBC's Today Show's Jenna Wolfe describes their special sound as, "A beautiful engaging mix of Amy Winehouse and Mumford and Sons that gets me all excited." And Radio Woodstock's DJ MK Burnell raves, "They fill the room with their energy and talent. A killer band!"

Scruffy PearlsScruffy Pearlsfacebook.com

Six = success for this multi-genre group. They share their engaging and eclectic style in this powerful playlist, mixing classic with current, keeping it cool with every song selection.

Follow Scruffy Pearls on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Periscope

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