In The Spotlight
An Interview with Rose Perry
Singer/Songwriter, Actor, Model/Spokesperson, and CEO of HER Records

Rose Perry
What is your name? Rose Cora Perry

What are your instruments? Voice & guitar

What styles of music do you perform and write?
Rock-Alternative a.k.a. "Angry Bitch Rock" & Acoustic-Alternative

How would you describe your music and shows to people who are not familiar with you? Full energy--on and off stage--a "crotch rocking" affair as called by many, REAL rock music not watered down by any cheesy overdone harmonies or keyboards, and a promise that by the end of the set whether or not the music appeals to your particular tastes, you will at the least have been to one of the most entertaining shows you've ever seen. I love getting the crowd involved as well!

Who are your major influences? Veruca Salt, Alanis Morissette, Aerosmith, The Sex Pistols... literally anything from 50s doo-wop to modern rock alternative except no rap, no country, and no techno!

What is your background, musically speaking?

· 14 years of vocal training in the following styles: opera, broadway, classical, jazz, musical theatre, and celtic;

· A year and a half of guitar, self-taught;

· Performing live onstage since age four;

· Previous lead singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist, and manager of an all girl rock alternative band; and

· CEO of HER Records - The Artist Run Indie Label for Canadian Talent, currently managing the hugely talented 3-piece punk band 3 Dog Funhouse from Guelph, ON.
Do you have any formal musical training, certifications, or professional affiliations? I have grade seven in vocal music and grade two in theory rudiments from The Royal Conservatory of Music. My extensive musical background made picking up guitar by ear quite simple.

How old were you when you decided you wanted to be performing/making music? Since I was developing in my mother's womb.

Who inspired you to get into music?

· Madonna - due to her genius in regards to marketing herself - she's had a career of over 20 yrs which is impressive enough let alone the fact that she's actually a dancer by trade, not a singer;

· Alanis Morissette - because of her powerful voice and incredible range, as well as her bare bones type lyrics. She's extremely well spoken and intelligent, and in this day and age, that's not usually what you find in the entertainment business. Also, she didn't make it as a result of having overwhelming sex appeal; she's a very attractive woman, but is modest about her physicality, and I totally respect that;

· The Beatles - they will never be forgotten and in my opinion are the greatest rock and roll band to ever exist. They remain influential still to this day, and their songs are continually covered despite most of the members have past away; and

· Aerosmith - similar to Madonna and The Beatles, I look up to Aerosmith because they have lived and rocked through so many generations of music and continue to impress me with their new material.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t in the music business? I wouldn't be living.

Who have you played with? The most memorable bands I've played with are: LiveonRelease, Lillix, Candyass, Ruth's Hat, The Gore Gore Girls, The Weekend, The Black Saturdays, The Tissues, Chubbie, and 3 Dog Funhouse.

Who are you currently playing with? I just recruited members for my new band--drumroll please--we go by the name Anti-hero. It's definitely an interesting combination of influences and talent. I'm very excited to get out there playing shows again with a band mentality in mind. Another cool twist that we have going for us is that we have two lead singers; depending on the song, Kat and I will alternate with the vocals as we both have very powerful lead voices, and there will instrument swapping as well as most of us are multi-instrumentalists.

The members of Anti-hero are:

· Rose Perry (vocals, songwriting, guitar) - previously of HER;

· Jesse Tomes (lead guitar, songwriting) - Jesse was the previous lead guitarist of the local industrial/metal band Eliminate the Body. He has been playing the guitar for six years. His major influences include: The Distillers, Mindless Self Indulgence, Boy Hits Car, System of a Down, and Alice in Chains;

· Kat Cameron (bass, vocals) - Kat was the previous bassist/backing vocalist of the Toronto metal band The Forge. She has been playing the bass for four years prior to bass, she played the guitar and has been a singer all her life. Her influences in regards to vocals include: Janis Joplin, The Stones, The Beatles, her mom (a celtic singer/harpist), and Led Zeppelin. Her influences in terms of bass are: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Guns'n'Roses, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Iron Maiden;

   and last but not least...

· Matty Cole (drums) - Matty previously of the local rock band The Shifted. Matty has been playing for 12 years. His influences include: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Tool, and Smashing Pumpkins.

The Official Site

More details on my new band will be posted very shortly on my website. Also, in about a month we will be launching the official band website!!!

Where have you played? Call the Office, The Rockit, The Pottahawk Pissup, The Honest Lawyer, Raxx Lounge, Club VIP, Zaphod's Beeblebrox, The Stonehenge, Westmount Mall, Molly Bloom's, The Derby Inn, STA, Oakridge Secondary School, The Lost Navigator, The New PL, TV Western, 106.9 Fanshawe Radio, 94.9 CHRW Western Radio, FM 96, The Pourhouse, Roger's Daytime, First Local, Galleria Mall, and The Aeolian Hall.

What’s your favourite venue to play? Call the Office

What venues would you most like to play that you haven’t yet? The Horseshoe Tavern & The Opera House

Do you have a favourite song or part of the show to perform? It depends on if I'm playing solo or with my band. My favourite solo song to perform is "Vise Versa"; my favourite band song to perform is "Departed". My favourite part of the show is the second last song; I usually plan the setlist to go out with a bang (the last song is almost always a very well-known cover that people love) so the second last song builds up anticipation amongst the band members and the crowd.

Do you have any pre-gig rituals? Mad makeup sessions, choosing the right apparel, and attempting to tune my guitar without a tuner!

What’s the strangest or most memorable thing that’s happened at one of your gigs? Someone did a stage dive into the crowd and no one caught him! That must have hurt.

What makes a gig a success for you? If I reach at least one person with my music and words.

What’s been your biggest achievement so far? Finding my passions in life and pursuing them wholeheartedly. It takes courage, determination, and perseverance.

What goals do you have for yourself/your band? To take on the world!

Is getting signed a goal for you or is remaining independent more important? I feel that artists are better off remaining indie these days because they will have more say over their image, their music, the way in which they are presented, etc. However, if one is to remain indie but still wishes to reach a worldwide audience, getting a distribution deal with a major label is very important.

If offered the opportunity of a recording contract, what conditions would have to be met?
I would not want to be made to feel as though I was being compromised in any regard to my image, my presentation, or my music. I would not want others writing my music for me, or telling me I had to dress a certain way in order to achieve a sex icon status. I would rather be respected as a musician and not considered attractive at all as opposed to only being loved for superficial reasons.

Do you have any current projects you would like to mention such as other bands or solo projects?
Besides working on things with my new band, I'm currently writing a screenplay and doing some modelling when opportunities arise.

Do you have any hobbies or interests, outside of music? Music and writing - that's my life.

If you could play live with any band or artist from the past or present, who would it be and why? This is such a difficult question. I love so many bands from so many various musical eras. I don't think I can answer, but I can tell you a concert lineup that I wouldn't want to miss: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, The Beatles, and Joan Jett. That'd be a riot!

If you could have been there to witness any specific moment in music history, what moment would you choose and why? Woodstock – even though it was a near miss, it was such a great festival with some many extraordinary talented musicians that have remained detrimental to the development of rock 'n' roll. I believe I was born in the wrong era; I wish I could have been a hippy (minus the "doing drugs" part).

What do you like most or least about the Southwestern Ontario music scene? There are not enough decent venues in which indie artists can play and the music scene (at least in London) is so monotone and conservative. Almost everyone is doing either punk or metal, there is no diversity. With only two venues that regularly host rock and roll bands, once you've been accepted to play at those venues, where can you go from there? Canada's best music scene lies on the coast in B.C. because it's right next to Seattle (where grunge spawn with the late Kurt Cobain & Nirvana) as well as Los Angeles (celebrity central!).

What bit of knowledge or advice do you have about the music business to pass on to others? Indie artists often miss out on how beneficial gaining media exposure is and instead play oodles of gigs with small turnouts that leave them burnt out and disenchanted with the entertainment industry.

The more media attention one can obtain, the bigger one's name will be. If you strategically plan gigs with an article, interview, or a radio/tv broadcast, you are more likely to play shows to larger audiences which will in turn create a bigger fanbase, get your name out there to a larger degree, and it's more likely that "the big wigs" you want the attention from will notice you.

What would you like people to know about you? Appearances can be deceiving; I'm never what people assume me to be.

Anything else you would like to add?

"Never laugh at another's dreams, without our dreams we are nothing." - anonymous

"For girls to pick up guitars, scream their heads off in a totally oppressed fucked up male dominated culture is to seize power." - Riot Grrls

Cheers & Chickrawk,

Rose "like the flower" Perry

Checked out Departed and Why...both are damn good tracks, doesn't even sound like the same person. Departed is a realy hip rocker and Why is an excellent accoustic track. Visit our site if you'd like radio airplay on Why at Pop radio.
Thanks, Rick www.yoursongontheradio.com

Hey Rose,
I wanted to write to you to let you know after talking with you on messenger, I went through all your songs again. Heres what I thought of the seven I heard. Ive been doing this with my songs the last few days with my buddy from Project Wyze (helping prepare me for A&R)so I figured Id give a third person opinion for you.
My number #1 favourite of them all (right now) is ALONE- This may be because I just broke up with my band, to attempt a crazy stupid solo thing, but this song gave me a great feeling. Its the kind of song that will bring you back to something and that is very hard to come by as a song writter. The sound of your voice makes this song have that great feeling, and is the most beautiful part of the song. This song reminds me that losing a great band of best friends is worse than losing a girl and can make you feel more alone even. Your voice is perfect for this song and your ending is so good that it gave me goosebumps, the more I hear it the more I love it.
Now that one was an easy one for me and that just me but I like it when different people let me know about my shit so I figured Id let you know what I liked or what really stood out but that one was my fav for sure. The next couple are not in any real order.
WAKE ME UP - Love the arrangement between guitar and drums, it has a more rock type feel with a heavy guitar at times, which I personally liked alot. My fav parts again was the Melody of it all but more particularly the actual"Wake me up" Melodies those parts were awesome.
ESCAPING YOU - I liked this song cause I really can get into songs like this because of the emotion involved in it. Again the actual sound of your voice and emotion you exhube in your voice are what make the song so goo, but its also what gives this one so much more potential too. This song also lets you cut lose and display more of your vocal power in chorus.
WHY - Again I liked this one cause you used some more of your more powerful vocal ranges, it shows off your vocal creativity and talent more. This song also I feel, shows off more of your creativness in Song story, song structure, backup vocals, and overall song ideas. I love the Why the song itself cause I really love good stories. This song has a great story or should I say question that I fell into, which again has to do with the sound of your voice which is perfect for the song.
Anyways I liked all the songs but this is a little of what are my favourite ones and why. I also like VISE VERSA which I mentioned before I like the molody of the chorus and its a great live recording (good quality) But its the sound of the voice live that captures and gives me that Ani Defranco feel.
Hope that some of this is helpful in the whole process, and hopefully you can hear some of my shit and someday do the same,

Good luck this weekend, Ill really hope to make it

E.J.

Name: Rose

Age: 19

Hometown: London, ON

Describe your best date: First, he took me out for tea and a bite to eat. Afterwards, we walked through the street-lit park conversing about everything and anything - from moral objections, to philosophy, to career goals, to family life. We went back to his place and cuddled with each other while watching a movie which was the perfect ending to a beautiful night.

Describe your worst date: I went to a bar this one time with this guy that I had been seeing, and the entire time he was oogling girls and asking my opinion of them. It was ridiculous. Why was I even there if he clearly wasn't too interested?

What advice would you like to give to guys? I think that guys should just be themselves and not use dorky pickup lines that make them sound absolutely pretentious, if they want to get a girl that will actually be worth their while.

Does the type of car a guy drives improve his chances of getting a date with you? If the guy has the basic characteristics that I look for in a friend/lover, then he'll spark my interest. I don't consider myself materialistic at all. I have a little sports car myself, and although, I admit I have a weakness for muscle cars, especially Trans Ams and Camaros, I would never date a guy strictly based on his wheels.

What's your ambition/motto in life? Follow your dreams, and do what makes you happy in life.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Play guitar, sing, model, act, write poetry, screenplays, watch movies, listen to tunes, go road tripping, shopping.

Where's your favourite place in Canada? Toronto!!!

Who's your favourite Canadian celebrity and/or athlete? Neve Campbell (actress), Wayne Gretzky.

If you had a million dollars what would you do with it? I'd buy recording studio equipment, a 1987 Trans Am Firebird, move to Los Angeles, Hollywood, and most likely, go on an amazing shopping spree.

Tell us why you think you should grace the pages of UMM? I think that my appearance offers an image that isn't so typically seen in men's magazines and I would love to have the exposure as I'm an aspiring Canadian musician/model.

A sports question: What do the following mean? (If you don't know the answer....GUESS!!)

RBI: Runs batted in.

GAA: Goals against average.

Eagle: One stroke before a birdie.

In an NBA game, how much time do you have on the shot clock? 10 seconds.

We are back once again with a interview with the one and only Rose Cora Perry. Let's get to it.

MAM: When did you start making music?

Rose: I first began singing and performing when I was four years old. For fourteen years, I underwent extensive vocal training in the following styles: opera, broadway, celtic, classical, jazz, and musical theatre as well I studied theory rudiments. I achieved my grade seven in vocal music and grade two in theory rudiments from The Royal Conservatory of Music.

I composed my very first song at age seven -- at this point, I had no instrumental training other than my vocal training, so I wrote the melody and lyrics, and my teacher at the time assisted me with arranging the appropriate chords on piano to accompany the melody line.

I began playing guitar just over a year ago. I initially had a guitar teacher in order to learn the basic chords, and string names. However, after a very short period of time (one month), I decided to go it alone. I practised six hours a day, every single day, for three months, until I felt I could confidently play and accompany my voice. After playing for about four months, I wrote my first composition for my band (the guitar, lyrics, and vocals) at the time, "Departed". From that point, writing songs became increasingly easier and I have been consistently writing ever since.

MAM: Where are you from?

Rose: I was born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada where I continue to reside in order to finish school.

MAM: Describe your musical style or sound ?

Rose: My musical influences literally range anywhere from 50s doowop to modern rock alternative grunge to jazz to singer/songwriters, so to categorized my "sound" is not a particularly easy task. I am clearly most influenced by female fronted acts or female rock artists like Veruca Salt, Alanis Morissette, The Distillers, Hole and Joan Jett so I imagine I'd fall into that catergory. If I had to classify myself, I would consider myself a rock-alternative-grunge artist.

MAM: So I hear you have a CD out were can people pick up a copy of it?

Rose: I have composed music for two full length cds. The first being the debut release of my previous band HER (who is no longer together) called "Straight From the Loft" which was released in the summer of 2002. My second album is an unreleased demo - strictly just me and my guitar and it's entitled Rose Cora Perry "Feisty".

Both albums can be purchased through me directly - please visit my website for my mailing address www.rosecoraperry.com or email me for more details rose_cora_perry@hotmail.com

As well, HER "Straight From the Loft" is available in London through Dr. Disc, Sounds Good Music, Speed City Records, and CDPlus on consignment.

MAM: Are you in the process of making a new CD?

Rose: I am currently seeking musicians in order to form a new band and am continually writing songs on a weekly basis. I have plenty of unrecorded material that I would like to put to an album, but due to the fact I would like other musicians to play with, I am at a bit of a stand still.

MAM: I know you do live shows so what was one of your best shows you did so far?

Rose: The most exciting show I ever played was without a doubt at, "The Pottahawk Pissup" which is an annual celebration for fisherman, boaters, and beach enthusiasts who gathered along Pottahawk Island in Lake Erie for a weekend of partying, and great live entertainment. My band and I were literally in the middle of the lake floating around on a barge with our gear playing to over 20 000 people. After our set, we jumped off the barge and went for a swim.

Another great live show that I enjoyed a great deal was when I played with LiveonRelease at Call the Office in London, Ontario. Those girls were a riot!

MAM: So you use to be a model are you still modeling or have you stopped Yes or no and why.

Rose: I began modelling around the same time I started my vocal lessons and I continue to model presently. I do hair, photography, and competition modelling - I have always wanted to do runway but unfortunately I am vertically challenged (I'm only 5'5)!

I enjoy modelling a great deal and would love to do more in the future. I haven't been able to do much in the last little while which is unfortunate but if you pick up a copy of the most recent edition of UMM magazine (www.umm.ca), you will see me in the "72 Hottest Canadian Babes" section - I'm the last one!

MAM: When you start to write songs what really gets you in the mood or inspires you to start writing?

Rose: As I mentioned previously, I wrote my very first song when I was seven years of age. One of my teachers once told me that the greatest songwriters are what he referred to as "hurting units", and I believe that is very true. I definitely agree that the best songs come from a place of pain, hurt, and suffering. I find that I write my best material when I am upset, or feeling depressed because I can connect deep down with my emotions when they are in their most primal state. I have attempted to write songs from a happier place, but almost always trash them because I feel they come out sounding insincere, cliche, and pretentious.

MAM: And last question would you sign to a major label? Yes or no and why.

Rose: I would definitely love for this opportunity to come my way and would be intrigued by the offer, but the thing I fear is that I would lose artistic control and integrity and may be put in a position that I feel is compromising to my beliefs, values, and morals.

I would never sign to a label (indie or major) if they manufactured my identity, and wouldn't let me write my own songs, or be myself -- I feel that being a musician is not being an entertainer or sex icon. A musician is someone who writes their own material, plays an instrument/sings, performs their own material, has their own identity, and they offer something original with their music - they establish their own "sound/style".

MAM: Thank you for your time Rose and just keep doing your thing because I believe you are going to bring a new movement to the music world.

Ground-breaking artists like Madonna and Alanis Morissette - daring, innovative, and fearless - changed the music world forever when they opened the door for a new generation of performers. Enter London, Ontario’s Rose Cora Perry, a young, vibrant, versatile performer who has not only taken the torch from the aforementioned superstars: she is creating her own destiny with all-around talent rarely seen in the entertainment world. In fact, Perry is already a role model to local performers.

Where do you start when recognizing this enormously talented woman’s long list of accomplishments and endeavours? Rose Cora Perry is an entertainer’s entertainer. She can do it all: singer/songwriter; actor; model/spokesperson; subject of print and broadcast media. Perry is also a skilled competitor, brilliant in business as operator of her own management company, Her Records, and an amazing martial artist and downhill skier. At work or at play, Perry feeds on competition. She’s a winner.

A black-haired, green-eyed beauty, Rose Cora Perry is wise well beyond her years. She has an old soul, but a fresh attitude, and a definite sense of where she is heading with her marvelous myriad of unparalleled skills and talents. A Leo - energetic, free, and independent - Perry is part of a family whom boasts world-class athletes and highly-successful business minds. An artist at heart, Perry has a realistic view of today’s world. But, no matter what stage she graces, Perry will undoubtedly succeed.

“I aspire to have a stable career of making music, in order to inspire others, provoke thought, and let people know that there is nothing wrong with following your dreams. Music and writing are my passions - the reasons I breathe. Being on stage is absolute euphoria,” says Perry.

Local audiences have embraced Rose Cora Perry as a professionally-talented vocalist, writer, and entertainer, and an unselfish leader who champions the causes of artists involved in all genres. There’s a larger audience ready to discover the many talents of this remarkable, multi-talented performer.

Rose Cora Perry first performed on stage at age 4, stunning audiences with her poise and charm, and she composed her first song at the tender age of 7. An A student throughout her high school and college careers, Perry pushed herself to new heights each day, setting goals and reaching them with uncanny and unseen regularity. Well-rounded doesn’t begin to describe her: she’s an overachiever, a workaholic, a perfectionist, a realist, and an enormously talented artist all rolled into one.

Musically, Perry lists everyone from AC/DC to The Beatles as major influences. Her own style and presentation borrows from the British punk movement, the Seattle grunge scene, and the contemporary singer/songwriter style. Perry’s music is without a doubt rock based, but with already 14 years of musical training, everything from ‘50s doowop to modern alternative rock has shaped her.

“In terms of business sense, marketing, and establishing an identity as a strong, independent, assertive female in a male-dominated, male-run industry, I definitely have a great deal of admiration for Madonna,” says Perry.

Perry has welcomed every challenge presented to her during her formative years, and she considers herself a life-long learner. Formal training has been a daily ritual for this tireless young lady. She has shone during vocal, dance, modeling, drama/theatrical, and academic training, grabbing the spotlight every time she expressed herself through her talents. Her insatiable appetite for improvement as an all-around performer has now given her the handle of self-taught guitarist. There’s no stopping her.

In fact, part of Rose Cora Perry’s local recognition stems from the all-girl alternative rock band, HER. As lead singer, lyricist, songwriter, rhythm guitarist - and manager - Perry was largely responsible for the release of the group’s highly-acclaimed debut album, Straight From The Loft (2002).

“A local favourite, HER.” - John Sharpe, Music Editor, SCENE Magazine
“HER, ChartAttack’s favourite new girl rock band.” - ChartAttack Staff
“In just one year, the band has gone from doing a high school show (their first live appearance) to playing gigs at popular venues.” - Megan Findlay, SCENE Magazine

HER fever spread like wildfire across southwestern Ontario. Well-known venues such as London’s Call The Office presented Perry and her band as a headline act. HER even performed in front of 20,000 fans at the famous Long Point Bay Pottahawk Weekend. When HER members decided to pursue individual opportunities, Perry instinctively evolved as a promising solo artist. During her budding career, she has shared the stage with artists such as Lillix, LiveonRelease, The Weekend, The Black Saturdays, Two Minute Miracles, The Peter Kyrie Band, Candyass, Ruth’s Hat, and The Tissues. Now, it’s Rose Cora Perry’s time to grab the spotlight.

“Perry is an emotional songwriter and vocalist who commands your attention with haunting, soulful sounds. Just listening to her for a first time, you sense her magic. She is a fearless, determined, talented young artist.” - London, Ont. entertainment writer, Jeffrey Reed

Preparing for the much-awaited release of her debut solo album, Rose Cora Perry defines her style: “I have songs that are very bare bones with acoustic guitar and vocals, others with a strong punk tone with palm muting and grungy guitar distortion, songs that sound more raw, very garage rock, as well as some instrumental guitar tracks with a Celtic/Spanish emotional feel.”

All of Canada will soon be familiar with Rose Cora Perry. With accolades ranging from Most Photogenic Model & Best Smile, Sunburst Canada (2000), to 2003 London Idol finalist, Rose Cora Perry, star of local stage, screen, print and broadcast media is ready for a prime time audience.