Pearly* Are Ready to Showcase Dunedin Music to the Wider World
Read an exclusive interview with exciting Dunedin alternative rockers Pearly*, one of our Future of Music 2026 acts
This interview is part of our Future of Music 2026 series. Follow all the coverage here.
When we launched our first-ever immersive Scene Report last year, Ōtepoti Dunedin was the standout choice.
2025 was one of the best years for Dunedin’s music scene in a generation, with bands like Dale Kerrigan, IVY, and Vagina Dry releasing career-best work.
It was another band from the city’s tight-knight alternative rock community, however, that released a record on the hallowed Flying Nun label: Pearly*.
A word-of-mouth sensation around Aotearoa, Pearly* announced themselves in a major way with Not So Sweet, their eclectic and atmospheric debut album.
While overseas outfits like Oasis, Pixies, and Radiohead are clear inspirations, the influence of legendary Flying Nun bands such as The Clean is also imprinted on their sound, with Pearly* continuing the proud lineage of indie rock in Australasia’s most historic music city.
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
If there’s technically nothing ‘new’ going on in Pearly*s music — they blend angsty, brooding lyrics with fuzzed-out, distorted guitars — it’s the four members’ individual talent and collective interplay that makes them sound so exciting and necessary. Dunedin’s next breakout band is here.
Read an exclusive interview with Pearly* guitarist and vocalist Joel Field — he’s joined in the lineup by Phaedra Love (bass/vocals), Ryan Hill (guitar), and Josh Nicholls (drums) — below.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: What does it mean to you to be included in Rolling Stone’s Future of Music series?
Joel: Ōtepoti and our community have really been in the limelight again in the past year, partly because of the Rolling Stone articles. It’s nice to represent our scene, and help introduce it to a wider audience.
How did you first get your start in music?
We wanted to make music that was fun. Joel and Josh had experience in bands before, so [we] really just did everything as fast as we could. [We] made an EP, and booked a tour right away.
Describe your sound to a new listener in three words.
Verse, chorus, outro.
Tell us about your latest release.
Our debut record Not So Sweet, we’re very proud of it. Since then we’ve been working on new songs that we’re really excited about.
Credit: Supplied
What’s your favourite career memory so far?
All the friends we’ve made.
What are the positives and negatives of being a musician in 2026?
The community and the calibre of music is amazing. The cost of living, however, is crushing young artists who don’t have financial support or industry connections. Unfortunately if nothing changes music will continue to trend towards legacy acts and rich kids. Despite this, it’s encouraging to see gig attendance so high and a genuine demand for local and interesting music.
What’s one thing you’d change about the ANZ music industry?
Artist benefit!
Are you hopeful for the future of music in ANZ?
The music coming out of Aotearoa is some of the best music being made anywhere right now.
View this post on Instagram
Name one other ANZ act you’d like to see make our Future of Music series in the future.
What’s coming up for you this year?
We got a music video coming soon, a couple live sets, and maybe some new singles…
