Mackem Witch Pop star Shannon goes viral with spellbinding sound

She's the Mackem Witch-Pop who has cast a spell across the globe, going viral to almost three million people with her Nordic vocal technique of Kulning, while also snowballing a following with her own ethereal, spiritual sound.

- by Katy Wheeler

Sunderland's Witch-Pop pioneer Shannon Pearl. Photos by Adam Kennedy.

(Adam Kennedy)

It has been a busy year for Shannon Pearl, from Southwick, who tapped into the healing properties of sound during lockdown and used the magic of it to conjure up her own distinctive neo-folk infused sound.

Realising she didn’t quite fit into any one genre, she coined the phrase Witch-Pop and draws inspiration for her performances from folklore, ancient tradition and nature.

Over the summer, she had a run of festival sets, taking audiences on a journey at Lindisfarne Festival, an event at Glastonbury, Hardwick Festival in County Durham and Sunplugged in Sunderland.

Speaking about performing at Hardwick, the 33-year-old said: “It was the first time I'd played that festival and it was headlining the second stage, which was mad.

“Olly Murs was playing at the same time as me and it was surreal as I could hear Olly’s tunes bopping at the same time.

“I got to meet him as well in the Green Room and he was really nice.”