Stephanie Pearl

Doctoral Student

PEARLIE the PhDJ is a part-time PhD researcher at the Royal College of Music (RCM), where she is the first DJ in the institution’s history and one of only two PhD students in her year. Representing the 1% of working-class women in UK postgraduate study, her doctoral research examines the underrepresentation of women-identifying and marginalised artists, particularly in electronic music.

Building on her MSc in Performance Science at the RCM, PEARLIE’S interdisciplinary approach bridges psychology and musicology to explore how gendered experiences in music-making reflect and resist socio-political inequalities. Her distinction-awarded MSc dissertation focused on the psychological and wellbeing experiences of women and non-binary artists working in DJ practice. She also observed and analysed participant engagement in hypnobirthing classes through music psychology, working with a facilitator who is a former midwife with years of experience in Nepal.

PEARLIE is an experienced producer, reporter, and music journalist with credits across the BBC, TED Talks, and major UK festivals. BBC Gold Standard qualified in videography, presenting, production, and journalism, she has produced for BBC West, BBC Bristol, BBC 6 Music, Radio 2, BBC Introducing, and documentaries with Sir David Attenborough. Her portfolio includes a self-produced multimedia project culminating in a 14,000-ft skydive with The Apprentice finalist Brittany Carter. She has also interviewed the first British woman to climb Mount Everest and the only Obstetrics & Gynaecology consultant in the British Military, and writes on gender, sound, and culture across broadcasting and print media.

As PEARLIE the PhDJ, she produces shows and presents at conferences featuring only women and non-binary artists. She holds credits from the University of Glasgow in Playwriting and Dramaturgy, a Distinction in Production awarded by the BBC Academy and Bauer Academy, and First Class Honours in Political Performance Art from the University of South Wales.

Faculties / departments: Research