INTERVIEW: Wester is Ready to Have It All, Big and Small

Wester is a new brother and sister country music duo comprised of Pearl Clarkin and Rafe Wester. Born and raised on the Redneck Riviera on Pensacola Beach Florida, they pack a fun, fresh and explosive punch for the young country music audience. Pearl brings the glitter, Rafe brings the grit, and together they bring the party wherever they go.

Rafe Wester has always been told he resembles Randy Travis. Growing up, people would ask, Do you sing? He grew up watching his sister, Pearl, perform on CMA stages in Nashville, Tennessee and witnessed the shenanigans of party-goers on Lower Broadway. Rafe didn’t discover his passion for music until he became an adult. Inspired by those same mischievous antics, Rafe, now twenty-one years old, co-wrote “Redneck RollerCoaster” with Will Rambeaux and Sherrie Austin.

Pearl began performing at live music venues in her hometown of Pensacola Beach, FL at the young age of twelve. Since then, she has performed over 1,200 live shows across the country, has been featured on CMT and GAC TV, and has opened up for the likes of Charlie Daniels, Michael Ray, Montgomery Gentry, Jake Owen and more. Pearl has played at Nashville’s famous CMA Fest during the last five years and CMTBig Machine Label Group and Cumulus Media recently named her one of the top ten unsigned artists in the country.

As an acclaimed singer/songwriter, Pearl has performed at some of Nashville’s most famous venues for original music, such as The Bluebird Cafe and The Listening Room. Her fiercely loyal fanbase, Alligator Army, enjoys following her performances across the country. Pearl serves as an advocate for equality for women in country music and also fronts the all-female band Rhinestone.

Who are some of your musical influences?

Rafe likes Hank Williams Sr., Randy Travis, Josh Turner, Johnny Cash and Colter Wall. My (Pearl) influences are Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Highway Men, Jake Owen and too many others to mention. I also sing jazz and love Ella and Peggy.

Tell us about the first song you wrote.

This is a crazy story. When I was 12, I was one of the chosen few to get accepted into Idol Camp. I had absolutely no training in music unlike some of the other kids who were children of stars and had been trained since they were 2. Macy Gray was one of the celebrities who came to talk to us kids about the industry. She asked who of us were songwriters. I did not raise my hand, I didn’t really know what that was. She asked… who makes up songs in their head about everyday things and sings them. Well, that was me for sure and I waved my hand. She came to talk to me and asked me to sing some of my little songs. Macy told me I was a natural born songwriter and to go home and take piano or guitar and put my songs to music. The first song I wrote was called “Even Though I Want To.” The next year when I went back to Idol camp, I was asked if I had written anything and I had written a LOT of songs! But I sang them the first one and I was told it was a GREAT song and they (Freemantle Media) would showcase me singing it full band as the finale of the Idol Camp performance. Then, I was told we should market the song in Nashville. We didn’t know what that meant so we had it and a video recorded in Nashville when I was 13 and submitted it to a CMT search for America’s Top Unsigned Artist. The song did so well that CMT asked me to come to their offices to make sure I was the 13 year old who sang it and performed in the video. This all really started my career and Nashville was calling me to come sing on weekends and during school breaks. I was in middle school. I’ll always love this “first” song for so many reasons.

Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?

Rafe is just starting his career and I (Pearl) have so much fun seeing him achieve so many firsts. This past year since we started singing together, we wrote almost 40 songs. We traveled the country to sing for almost 40 shows. We sang online for radio shows. We recorded some songs. And now, with “Redneck Rollercoaster,” we released our first song to streaming. I can’t wait for him to have his first song to radio and hear it on the airwaves for the first time. I can’t wait for him to sing at CMAFest. I can’t wait for him to see himself on TV singing for the first time. I have done these things. Together, I can’t wait to sing at the Grand Ole Opry. I can’t wait for us to sign a publishing and record deal. Its all, big and small, so very exciting. I told Rafe just enjoy every day of all this, every single day!!!

How do you manage having a good time at shows, but also trying to stay mentally and physically fit?

Having a good time at shows is so easy. Rafe is a fitness freak he works out every day he can. Me (Pearl), not so much. I am naturally thin and am terrible at exercising but I have found a way of making myself. 2 years ago I joined beauty pageants. I have a horrible fear of going on stage in a bathing suit. But, if I know I am going to… I work out (haha!). This is the only way I can make myself exercise. Mentally fit??? I think all musicians are a little crazy or they wouldn’t be in music.

What’s the best way a fan can support you?

We always have fans at our shows, which is so sweet. Words cannot describe how much we love to see them! What is hard to get fans to do (and it’s the easiest thing ever!) is to get off Facebook and Instagram for a minute and go follow us on our streaming accounts. Please, if you are reading this, go listen to our song on all streaming platforms!

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