At just 20 years old, Joshua Pearlstein already has the instincts of an artist who refuses to play it safe. His latest single, “Just The Feeling,” out August 15th, is a blistering introduction to the world he’s building—one where pop polish collides with raw grit and vulnerability. Born in Atlanta and now splitting time between Boston and Los Angeles, Pearlstein has already crossed the million-stream milestone while still studying at Berklee College of Music. With this release, he delivers not only a track designed to shake the dance floor, but also one that digs beneath the glitter to confront obsession, self-destruction, and the dangerous highs that blur the line between love and addiction.
Musically, “Just The Feeling” pulses with a mechanical heartbeat. The production, handled by Pearlstein and his collaborator, leans on grimy synths, thick bass lines, and a groove that feels throwback and futuristic. There’s a clear nod to Y2K-era pop, with shades of Justin Timberlake and early The Weeknd woven into its DNA, yet the sound is unmistakably his own. The dirty textures contrast beautifully with Pearlstein’s high, almost delicate vocals, giving the track a duality that mirrors its lyrical themes. Every element is calculated to pull you in and keep you moving—even when the story being told is far darker than the beat suggests.
Lyrically, Pearlstein positions “Just The Feeling” in the space where desire and destruction overlap. Lines like “You only call me when I’m solo / when I’m so low” cut straight into the emotional core, revealing a relationship that thrives on instability. There’s an almost cinematic tension in the way he blurs love with the intoxication of the high—whether that’s a person, a substance, or the euphoric chaos of nightlife itself. It’s an anthem for the moments when you know something is bad for you, but you chase it anyway because of the rush it brings. In that way, Pearlstein captures a universal truth: sometimes it’s not the person you’re addicted to, but the feeling itself.
What makes the track work is how it embraces contradiction. The chorus is stadium-ready, the kind you can imagine thousands chanting back in unison, yet beneath that surface energy lies a darker narrative of temptation and codependency. The synths grind, the vocals soar, and together they create a soundscape that feels both celebratory and cautionary. This duality is what makes “Just The Feeling” resonate—listeners can dance to it, but they’ll also feel the weight of its words long after the song ends.
“Just The Feeling” is the opening statement of Pearlstein’s debut era. Backed by a full visual rollout and creative direction led by the artist himself, the release sets the stage for a larger body of work that promises to be just as daring. If this track is any indication, Joshua Pearlstein is carving out a space in pop that’s bold, raw, and unafraid to dive into messy truths. With over a million streams already under his belt and a vision that blends instinct with precision, he’s chasing hits and building a world. And with “Just The Feeling,” he invites us all inside.
For more information, follow Joshua Pearlstein:
Website – YouTube – Spotify – Soundcloud
