There’s something surreal about walking into The Pearl on a September night and feeling like you have been swept away to Paris. That’s the power of Oracle Sisters. Oooh, what an ominous name. They are a dreamy, genre-bending group and they are about to give you a taste of it. They have been quietly building a loyal fan following and they hail from? You guessed it. Paris! Not every artist’s success is loud and booming, and these sisters have built a loyal fan following because their music speaks to people.
On September 11, Oracle Sisters hit The Pearl. It’s a 19-plus show, doors open at 7 p.m. and the vibe promises to be equal parts intimate and otherworldly. I mean, if their name doesn’t give away those otherworldly vibes, what does?
If you’re new to Oracle Sisters, here’s the quick summary: Lewis Lazar and Christopher Willatt were childhood stars who started writing together years ago in Belgium and slowly as many creatives do landed in Paris. Now Paris has no lack of talented creatives and this is where they met Julia Johansen, a Finnish musician who joined first as a singer and then as the band’s drummer. The result? A group that makes music that somehow feels familiar and cosmic all at once. Their chemistry is very apparent, and their story sounds like how a fictional band would find its members.
Their debut album, Hydranism, recorded on the Greek island of Hydra during the pandemic, sounds filled with folk and psychedelic undertones. I always say that where you create music will always have an impact on the sounds that you produce, and their album is a testament to that very sentiment. Their latest record, Divinations, goes further into the eclectic, weaving folk with rock. It’s the kind of music you close your eyes to and suddenly you’re elsewhere, or you listen to it while high. Either works, though for these specific artists, I recommend experiencing their music live.
Oracle Sisters don’t just perform songs while on stage; they are very aware of the atmosphere they are creating. Imagine The Pearl’s stunning chandeliers swaying over bodies that move to the rhythm of the music, the low hum of the audience singing dissolving through the room. Their harmonies settle somewhere deeper, reminding you that live music isn’t just sound put together; it’s the ambience, the people, and very much the stage where it takes place.
It might be happening on a Thursday, but that shouldn’t sway you away from it. That slow, deliberate atmosphere of the Oracle sisters is meant to be experienced on a beautiful evening, with lights of all colors reflecting on your face. A ’70s outfit would be perfect, though there is no dress code. So if you’re into Paris and psychedelic music, and you know you aren’t visiting Paris anytime soon, this is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss.