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  

PEARL Freddie's Song Live
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=aQZKJF191sM

PEARL All I Need vibrator promo
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=UzEpRb5YTKg

Life is Beautiful tour dates:


Auckland – Honey Bar, 5 O’Connell St, Auckland, March 6, 13, 20 & 27 (Free)

Whitianga – Eggsentric Cafe, March 21

Rotorua – Brass, March 28 (Free)

Raumati South (Wellington) – Lembas, April 11

Eastbourne (Wellington) – Lifeboat Tavern, April 12

Tauranga – Naked Grape, April 18.

New Plymouth – Matinee, April 19 (Free)

Christchurch – venue tbc, April 24 (Free)

Blenheim – Boathouse, April 25

Taupo – Plateau, May 1 (Free)

Napier – Masonic Hotel, May 2 (Free)

Palmerston North – Brewer’s Apprentice, may 9 (Free)


Pearl Background

Pearl was formed in 2003, after Lisa and Shelley were brought together by a Life Coach who recognised a shared passion for music.

For a while they built the band in their spare time while juggling corporate careers and a young family.

They won a song-writing competition, but received some sobering advice from Eddie Raynor (Split Enz), who said 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).

Undaunted the pair worked harder. They were joined by Lisa’s husband Chris Jones, also a talented musician, and continued to build their fan base through high-profile performances with Jimmy Barnes, Fur Patrol and Lisa Chappell.

In 2006 they funded, produced and released their debut album No Ordinary Day. It received critical acclaim.

It sparked even greater success, leading to them supporting Elton John, before 35,000 fans in Wellington in December 2006, and then Eric Clapton at the Mission Concert in Hawke’s Bay in January 2007.

The March 5 release of their new single Life is Beautiful marks the beginning of a 15 date nationwide tour.

It coincides with a keynote presentation Pearl is delivering at the ‘Womenz Night Out’ at The Langham in Auckland on March 11.

The unique presentation, using a combination of their inspiring success story and live music, has seen them become regular guests at business conferences.

It’s one of the novel marketing ideas Lisa and Shelley have used to expose their music to the adult market.

They were the first New Zealand band to produce a web promo video to support their single All I Need. It’s a cheeky look at love versus sex toys, which has received nearly 400,000 hits worldwide.

They’re also putting Shelley’s Japanese language ability to good use and setting their sights internationally with a song from their album No Ordinary Day recorded in Japanese.

“We would never have achieved as much as we have without looking for new and unique ways for people to hear our music. By living outside our comfort zones we have grown and learnt far more rapidly than if we had taken a safer road,” says Lisa.

Photographs and more information at www.pearlband.com  

Pearl achievements:

Support act for:

Eric Clapton (Jan 07)
Elton John (Dec 06)
The Feelers and Th’Dudes (Dec 06)
Lisa Chappell (Jun 06)
Jimmy Barnes (Dec 05)
Fur Patrol (Dec 05)


Licensed tracks from No Ordinary Day

Stronger than Love is featured in the New Zealand film ‘The Shoe Box’, which premiered at Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post in August 2007.
Wake Up Next to You played on all Air New Zealand flights 2007/08.


Five singles featured on NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Discs:

Life is Beautiful (March 08)
Wake Up Next to You (Sept 07)
Fall At Your Feet (Aug 06)
All I Need (Dec 05)
Fallacy (Jun 05)
Two NZ On Air music video grants:

Life is Beautiful (Aug 07)
Fallacy (Jun 05)
Debut album

No Ordinary Day was released through Jayrem records in 2006.
Patrick Gillies – Life is Beautiful video director

Working on Pearl’s Life is Beautiful video has refocused the life of Dunedin based film director Patrick Gillies.

He says he was drawn to the project by the lyrics of Life is Beautiful and the message about making the most of every moment.

And it became even more poignant when, shortly after starting work on the video, a friend of his died.

“It was a kind of wake up call. It really hit home. Since then I have become noticeably more relaxed about things. We have our health and our lives and that’s all that matters.”

The video is a gritty drama about a busy father (Colin Moy) failing to connect with his daughter (Kyra Beaton), who is struggling with loneliness and isolation.

When the father hears news clips about bombings in Jerusalem it brings home to him just how precious and fragile life is and leads to a reconciliation.

“It’s a poignant relationship drama and I’ve tried to portray it in a poetic quality...I’m really happy with it.”

Patrick says he always envisaged Colin Moy in the role of the father and is thrilled he accepted the job.

“I’m hoping he was drawn to the quality of the project.”

The video was shot around Auckland on February 12.

Patrick’s previous work has included directing a number of short films, plus he has produced several comedy shows for TV2 and directed a show for TV3. 

Find out more on www.eh-films.com  

 
Colin Moy – Life is Beautiful video actor

Auckland-based actor Colin Moy loved the gritty, intensity of the Life is Beautiful video.

“That’s when it comes alive for me. As an actor that’s the stuff that makes me happy.”

It tells the story of a busy father (played by Colin) who doesn’t have time for his family, while his daughter (Kyra Beaton) is struggling with loneliness and isolation.

When the father hears news clips about a bombing in Jerusalem it brings home to him just how precious and fragile life is.

It involves some intense scenes, particularly one shot in a suburban Auckland street in which he finds his daughter in a car kissing her boyfriend and confronts them.

During filming, the angry yelling that follows brought neighbours onto the streets concerned about their safety.

“We were a bit too convincing.”

Colin says the message in the Life is Beautiful lyrics really struck him; “Totally; I have a young family.”

He was attracted to the project by a number of factors: he’d never appeared in a music video before, he was keen to work with director Patrick Gillies, and he liked the song and its sentiments.

Colin says he’s developing a reputation for tackling difficult characters, such as his portrayal of Andrew in In My Father’s Den and now the troubled father in the Life is Beautiful video.

Even so, “That’s not how I see myself,” he says.

He has recently acted on James Cameron’s Sci-fi epic, Avatar, and is currently working on a project to present a season of three professional dramas at The PumpHouse on Auckland’s North Shore.


Kyra-Li Beaton – Life is Beautiful video actress

Working on Pearl’s Life is Beautiful video has been a dream job for aspiring actress Kyra-Li Beaton of West Auckland.

The 22-year-old spent a day shooting the video, playing a troubled 16-year-old girl who is struggling to build a relationship with her father (Colin Moy).

“They were all quite intense scenes,” she says.

“It was great experience for me to be on set all day and shooting at different locations. It was a real learning curve.”

She particularly loved working alongside experienced actor Colin Moy. “He’s a brilliant actor and he helped me by giving me little pointers.”

Kyra-Li’s been keen on the stage since she was very young and studied drama through college, being named best female actress at Waitakere College in the sixth form.

She has since spent a year studying drama and dance at the Excel Performing Arts School in Auckland.

Her credits include Shortland Street and several television commercials.

She’s currently working at the Hanger Bar and Restaurant in West Auckland, while she waits for her next call-up.

“My dream job is to go to the studio every day and act.”