Sarah Pearson's emotional debut: 'Tainted Heart' sets the stage for FAUXstalgia

With a piano and a heavy heart, South Africa's latest emerging talent, Sarah Pearson, takes a significant step into the spotlight with her debut single “Tainted Heart.” Released on all major platforms, this emotional anthem sets the tone for her upcoming album FAUXstalgia, expected to drop in late 2025. The track showcases a captivating blend of ‘80s musical influences tinged with diary-style honesty, a testament to Pearson's artistic vision and raw emotional experience.

Written during a tumultuous emotional period, “Tainted Heart” unfolds like a confessional voice memo transformed into a powerful piano ballad.

“The song is about staying close to someone, even when you know they’re the one hurting you. It felt more like journaling than writing – it just poured out.” The rapid inspiration saw her craft the entire song in just 30 minutes before heading to her father’s home studio the following morning, where producer David Jones helped shape its lush, emotional core.

Lines like “You tell me that I’m young and I can’t be without your love / now I live with a tainted heart” balance youthful longing and self-awareness, striking a chord with listeners through their vulnerability. The lyrics possess an emotional weight that is both soft-spoken and soul-scorching, encapsulating a truth so relatable it resonates deeply. The song’s production, characterised by gentle piano riffs and haunting tension, enhances the track’s emotional journey, emphasizing the panic and longing intrinsic to the lyrics.

In conjunction with the single, a music video captures this same intimate confessional quality. Filmed overnight in a rented Airbnb in Pearson’s hometown of Cape Town, the visuals are designed to feel both natural and inviting. “I wanted it to feel super-natural and chill — like you’re stepping into someone’s world,” she explained. This DIY approach mirrors the authenticity of the song, merging a dreamy, faux-retro aesthetic with the reality of her lived experience.

As for her debut album, Pearson describes FAUXstalgia as “a nostalgic dreamscape of a time I never lived in,” drawing inspiration from the captivating sonic glow and emotional melodrama of the 1980s — an era she feels spiritually connected to.

“The word ‘fauxstalgia’ means nostalgia for something you’ve never experienced,” she reveals. “For me, that’s the ‘80s. So, this album is my take on what that era might’ve felt and sounded like if I had lived through it.”

However, Pearson is cautious not to merely play dress-up in ‘80s synthwave tropes. Instead, she channels both real and imagined memories through a vivid pop lens. Her musical heritage, cultivated by parents who owned a music college, fostered her fluency in piano, drums, and vocals from a young age. Early performances, backyard concerts, and whimsical Barbie pop star roleplay created the foundation for an artist destined to connect.

Now equipped with a diploma in music and a debut project rife with escapism and emotional grounding, Pearson is carving out a unique niche within the alt-pop genre—an evocative blend of retro romanticism and Gen Z intimacy. “Music has always been my safe space. It’s where I feel most like myself — important, free, and understood,” she expressed passionately.

“Tainted Heart” marks just the beginning for Pearson, as she plans to release several more singles prior to the eagerly anticipated launch of FAUXstalgia. With such an authentic and emotional debut in her arsenal, her journey is one that is bound to resonate with audiences, leaving them captivated. As she poignantly sings, “I miss my unbroken heart,” it becomes clear that in breaking it open, she has created something truly beautiful.