Pearll
Current Members
- Chloe Drew-Batty – Vocals, Guitar
- Lyd Thetford – Drums
Former Members
- Ruby Smyth – Bass
- Chelsea McKeever – Bass, Guitar
- Christian Carter – Keys
Touring Members
- Jack Patrick – Bass
- Owen Boyce – Guitar
- Sophie Gaskell – Guitar
Pearll are a band formed by Chloe Drew-Batty and Lyd Thetford whose music became associated with Brighton’s independent scene.
| Years active | 2019-2026 • 2026-Present |
| Genres | Alternative • Post-punk • Indie |
Early Days, Norfolk
The band ‘Pearll’ is primarily formed of the creative duo Chloe Drew-Batty and Lyd Thetford and began in Norfolk around July 2019 but would begin showcasing their music in the summer of 2021. The original band dynamic was a 4-piece which featured Christian Carter on keys and Chelsea McKeever on Bass, however, they would not be creditied on the band’s debut single ‘Best it’s ever been’ which released in November 2021.
Around this time, Drew-Batty would reach remission for her cancer treatment which would inspire the writing process for an eventual album. In the meantime, the band would perform around Norfolk and even gain a opportunity to perform on BBC radio Suffolk and Norfolk for the ‘New Beginnings’ exhibition in March 2022.
The band would then release a follow up single titled ‘Are you Real?’ in May 2022. Shortly thereafter, Carter would depart the band turning it into a power trio. The new setup would release the next single ‘At least we’re not dead’ in February 2023 which would also feature on their debut EP ‘Generic Adolescents’ in October that same year.
Move to Brighton
In the rollout of the release, the band would make the migration down to the Brighton music scene and begin attending BIMM. This would not hamper the pace of the band as they would also release their debut album ‘Volatile’. During this early Brighton period, Ruby Smyth would join the band on bass guitar with McKeever moving to guitar, thereby reverting the band back to a 4-piece lineup.
In April 2024, the band would announce a rebrand of its image. McKeever would quietly depart the group shortly before, making the band turn back into a trio. The new era of Pearll would be shown by colour palette aethsthetics and a stronger focus on a grunge/punk image. The group would also release their newest single ‘Hate it’ which would break the group out with significant radio play and become the band’s most popular tune. This was also helped by the band’s performance at 22Driver’s ‘Live at the Lanes’ gig which helped promote the single.
Hiatus
Unfortunately, the success would be dampened by the departure of Smyth who would go on to focus on her other band Pleasance in January 2025. Around February, the follow up single ‘Hey Honey!’ would debut but would fail to make the same splash as their previous song. The band would then spend the next year gigging around Brighton before going on Hiatus in April 2026.
The band would announce their return on June 2026.
- Discography
- Associations
- Sources
Discography
| Year | Title | Type | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Best it’s ever been | Single | Independent |
| 2022 | Everything I Touch | Single | Independant |
| 2022 | Are you Real? | Single | Independent |
| 2023 | At least we’re not dead | Single | Independent |
| 2023 | Generic Adolescents | EP | Independent |
| 2024 | Volatile | Album | Independent |
| 2024 | Hate it | Single | Independent |
| 2024 | Back to July | Single | Independent |
| 2025 | Hey Honey! | Single | Independent |
Associated Entries
- The Holy Show – Share member (Thetford)
- Pleasance – Share member (Smyth)
- BIMM – Members attended
Interview with Jonty Reed for Barbed Audio
Gig review by Pavis With in Norfolk for Outline Online
NEW NOISE! FEAT. KITTY PERRIN, PEARLL, TAF ROYALE & MAD HATCH
Another corking night of (mostly) new talent courtesy of the good people of NEW NOISE!
by Pavlis with ·Photo: Mark Stimpson 9 June 2025
It is down to Voodoo Daddy’s once again for NEW NOISE! which, without wishing to repeat what I said in my review of the last NEW NOISE! show I went to, is a platform for developing and promoting talent in Norfolk and Suffolk in the 14-25 age range. As always, it is great value – 4 acts for £5.58 – and there is a diverse range of styles on display.
Travelling from Brighton but (I am told) with local connections, PEARLL are normally a 4-piece but play as a trio tonight. The sound is dark, grungy, even slightly goth. The powerful vocals
include occasional raps. There’s driving bass, squally rhythm guitar with almost classic rock style soling and pounding drums hinting at early Manics, Compulsion and even a bit of shoegaze. The closing song even throws some Simple Minds and Alarm into the mix, which is no bad thing. Pearll do however have their own sound and, whilst this wasn’t brilliant, it was very enjoyable and I’d very much like to see the full band.
New article covering Pearll as a solo act by Reece Hanson for Eastern Daily Press
A 17-year-old has written, recorded and produced her debut album from her bedroom, all while winning her fight with cancer.
Chloe Drew-Batty used her “passion” for music to express herself after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last year, as well as dealing with the coronavirus lockdown.
Just months after being told she was in remission, the Bungay Sixth Form A-Level student released her debut album Volatile, last week, using her artist name Pearll.
Inspired by the support from the Teenage Cancer Trust, the 17-year-old is donating all profits from the album to the charity.
She said: “It was a really difficult time but the Teenage Cancer Trust really helped and I wanted to give something back to them for what they’ve done.
“It has been quite hard, lots of trips to hospital and a few months of chemotherapy, but I was told I was in remission a few months ago.
“I was really happy and relieved, not only for myself but I think it takes a massive toll on everyone involved.
“It was very emotionally and physically draining, so it was a massive weight taken off for a lot of people.”
Despite never intending on releasing an album when she began in May, she says the experience has given her a “new view of life.”
She said: “I have always loved music and written my own, but I have never done anything like this.
“I only started using the music software programme last May, so it has been quite a learning curve, but it has been really fun to do it.
“It is a cliché but when something that big happens you realise you don’t have forever to do things.
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