Influenced by Belle & Sebastian, Regina Spektor, and Feist, Pearl & the Puppets is essentially a solo vehicle for multi-instrumentalist Katie Sutherland. After recruiting a permanent backing band, she adopted the name Pearl & the Puppets, and spent much of 2009 touring the Scottish festival circuit and supporting the likes of Sugababes, Mika, and Elton John. Her debut album, produced by Stephen Street (Blur), David Kosten (Bat for Lashes), and Steve Chrisanthou (Corinne Bailey Rae), was released in 2011. ~ Jon O'Brien