Biography
Los Angeles native Piper Kaplan had shown no prior interest in making music when she headed to New York City in 2009 to DJ a concert alongside her idol R. Stevie Moore. Once there, Moore invited her to lay down vocals for lyrics he had already begun shaping. The experience altered her outlook completely. Long a dedicated collector of vinyl since turning 15, she came back to her Hollywood base determined to form a lo-fi indie band alongside her younger sister Skylar. Though only 13, Skylar already played guitar with notable skill, and the siblings quickly began collaborating. They soon added Cody Porter, also a member of the psychedelic fuzz pop outfit Animal Style, on second guitar, thereby establishing Pearl Harbor.
The group drew from 1970s pop outfits including Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan while incorporating the dreamy sheen associated with the Beach Boys. Their debut EP, Something About the Chaparrals, appeared on Mexican Summer in 2009 and spotlighted the hypnotic track “Luv Goons.” That song captured the band’s initial style through its bright guitar figure and relaxed vocals, yet the underlying wistfulness in Piper’s poised delivery gave the early recordings added depth.
Throughout most of 2009 the band performed regularly in the Los Angeles area. For live shows they were augmented by former Mika Miko bassist Jessie Clavin and drummer Matt Correia. This activity placed them within the emerging wave of female-fronted lo-fi indie acts that also featured Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls, Nite Jewel, and Vivian Girls. In March 2010 the Kaplan sisters and their colleagues traveled to Texas for South by Southwest, then issued the atmospheric single Slivers of You on Big Love in early April. By June they had adopted the name Puro Instinct and embarked on a tour supporting Ariel Pink.
The group drew from 1970s pop outfits including Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan while incorporating the dreamy sheen associated with the Beach Boys. Their debut EP, Something About the Chaparrals, appeared on Mexican Summer in 2009 and spotlighted the hypnotic track “Luv Goons.” That song captured the band’s initial style through its bright guitar figure and relaxed vocals, yet the underlying wistfulness in Piper’s poised delivery gave the early recordings added depth.
Throughout most of 2009 the band performed regularly in the Los Angeles area. For live shows they were augmented by former Mika Miko bassist Jessie Clavin and drummer Matt Correia. This activity placed them within the emerging wave of female-fronted lo-fi indie acts that also featured Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls, Nite Jewel, and Vivian Girls. In March 2010 the Kaplan sisters and their colleagues traveled to Texas for South by Southwest, then issued the atmospheric single Slivers of You on Big Love in early April. By June they had adopted the name Puro Instinct and embarked on a tour supporting Ariel Pink.
Singles
