The Pearly Gates Say, “There’s a Black Hole (Where Your Heart Should Be)”
Charlottetown rockets, The Pearly Gates, have unveiled their single, “There’s A Black Hole (Where Your Heart Should Be),” a track centred around lost love.
The East Coast-based four-piece sings the score on a familiar fable, uniquely delivered in their unmistakable sonic offering: a modern twist on 60s rock nostalgia. “There’s A Black Hole” juxtaposes an uptempo jangly dance party with melancholic lyrics.
“I liked the idea of writing a song about a bad relationship I had been in with a dark lyrical theme,” explains Palmer, adding “accompanied by a sunny happy chord progression and sing-along cheerful melody.”
Musing that much of his lyrical content and inspiration for songwriting is inspired by various snapshots of his life. Palmer reflectively recalls penning this track while on the East Coast with his father.
“I came up with the melody for the verses while lobster fishing with my father,” he recalls. “I put in long days on the boat doing repetitive work and spend most of the time writing songs in my head. Writing lyrics, working out the melody, and repeating it over and over in hopes of not forgetting anything by the time I get home to add the music to what I produced.”
The group formed during the early portion of the pandemic in 2020. They found their niche performing music that was equally reminiscent of “tweed and tubes” as it is chock full of sarcasm and satire, to both the band’s amusement and their audience’s adoration of their sound.
“‘There’s a Black Hole’ was recorded during a snowstorm with very little heat, and no internet at the height of Covid cases hitting PEI; there was a certain irony with how difficult the recording process was for such a happy sounding song,” Palmer laughs.
The second single for The Pearly Gates, “There’s A Black Hole,” was produced by Ian Romano largely by phone throughout the session and recorded as a part of Music PEI’s Golden Ticket Program.
Listen to “There’s A Black Hole (Where Your Heart Should Be)” below, and find out more about The Pearly Gates via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Mark – I’m Mark, and I sing and play guitar.
Chris – I’m Chris, and I play bass. And we make up one-half of the Pearly Gates.
Our better half is Colin Buchanan on guitar and vocals and Roger Carter on the drums.
What’s the best part of living in Charlottetown?
Chris – There are a lot of great things about living in Charlottetown. The pace and scale of the city make it very unique. The community would also be very high on my list.
Mark – In the summertime, drinks on the deck with the guy calling the horse races over the loudspeaker in the distance is one of my favourite things.
Tell me more about PEI Golden Ticket Program.
Mark – We entered a song and were selected along with five other artists to record a song with funding help from Music Pei. We also learned a lot about the different hats you must wear as a musician.
Is there a real person behind “There’s a Black Hole (Where Your Heart Should Be),” and do they know it’s about them?
Chris– Mark…?
Mark – Yes, there is, and yes, she does! We’re actually great friends.
What’s the one album by a Canadian artist that everyone should have in their collection?
Chris – Music From Big Pink, the Band
Mark – It’s gotta be The Transformed Man by William Shatner.