Cathy Swain Bates

Pearl (subtitled An X-traordinary Origin Story) is a 2022 psychological slasher film directed by Ti West, and co-written by West and Mia Goth, who reprises her role as the title character. David Corenswet, Tandi Wright, Matthew Sunderland, and Emma Jenkins-Purro feature in the supporting cast. A co-production of A24, Mad Solar and Little Lamb Productions, it is a prequel to X (2022) and serves as an origin story for the villain.Pearl had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2022, and was released in theaters in the United States on September 16, 2022, by A24.

GRAMMY Award winning American Roots artists Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer join with Chinese classical hammered dulcimer player Chao Tian in this folk infused world music exploration. Chinese and American songs are accompanied on yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer), gourd banjo, five-string banjo, ukulele, guitars, dumbek, cello-banjo and mandolin.
The group’s repertoire includes traditional Chinese and Appalachian music as well as contemporary and traditional music from around the world. Unusual combinations explore new arrangements to old music, such as “Dark Eyes.” Ukulele, yangqin and guitar create a new pallet for this Russian folk song turned jazz manouche tune. Cathy and Marcy join Chao in singing a Chinese lullaby, “Nani Wan” and Chao easily adds her love of American Old-Time music to fiddle tunes and songs.
“From China to Appalachia brings together disparate musical traditions in the spirit of thoughtful inquiry and free artistic collaboration.” Greg Reisch, PhD, Director, Center for Popular Music, MTSU