Rose Perry, frontwoman of Anti-Hero, solo songwriter and card-carrying member of ‘Chicks with Picks’, wants to challenge convention, propel female artists forward and inspire others to dream big!

mym: Can you tell us how your solo stuff differs from the music that you generate with Anti-Hero?

Rose: My solo music is not only different in genre from my band ANTI-HERO, but as well in mentality.

With my acoustic writing, literally, it's just me and my guitar, while ANTI-HERO, although I write the song structures, I have three other people lending their ideas and opinions into the flow and writing of the material.

As well, while both my solo and my band's material is very raw and very powerful, I feel that acoustic music tends to demonstrate a sense of emotion that can't be portrayed the same way in any other musical genre.

"Anti-Hero... raw and very powerful"

mym: You just played at Vans Warped tour with ANTI-HERO at Molson Park. How was that experience for you?

Rose: It was by far the best experience I've had in my life to date. I have in the past had the opportunity to play to large numbers, but the whole atmosphere of Vans Warped Tour and especially being on a stage devoted strictly to women trying to make it in the rock'n'roll world was very meaningful and exciting for me. We reach a whole new level of fans with our music, and I only hope that the future continues to look bright for us.

mym: When did you know that creating music would be how you would spend your life?

Rose:  I've literally been performing since I was four years old and I wrote my first composition at age seven. Music and performing has always been a driving force inside of me from the get-go, it was just a matter of choosing the genre. While I have experimented with anything from opera to punk to jazz to pop, my band and my solo material fulfill two very different halves of me musically. However, like any other artist, I continue to write and grow and with every new song, new elements are introduced and new influences that sometimes I really didn't think were that apparent, come into play.

My ultimate goal is to inspire others with my words and music. Whether or not, I become the next biggest selling recording artist is irrelevant. I love music, I love art, and I just hope to be able to reach out to people and maybe make a difference in their lives by offering what I have to say.

mym: What/who Inspires You?

Rose: I am inspired by those who aren't afraid of following their dreams and doing what makes them happy in life and I'm inspired by those who set out to make a change and become a leader of forward thinking. Far too many people these days simply settle into the mold that they have inherited or do what is expected of them, rather than striving to find personal fulfillment and happiness which I find very sad. And there are others that would rather blend into the masses and accept what has been spoonfed to them instead of thinking for themselves. If everyone were to act this way, no new inventions, or innovations would ever occur and everyone would remain miserable leading monotonous existances that didn't drive them to really have a sense of care for accomplishment or really even for living. I look up to those who are not afraid of being themselves. I look up to those who are strong, and are not ashamed of being different or saying what is on their mind. Most importantly, I look up to those who want to make a change and who stand up for what they believe in.

mym: How has creating music impacted your life?

Rose:  Writing music for me begun as a facet to let out emotions that I was not able to put into words or discuss with others. A lot of my songs touch on very personal issues and I find myself revealing maybe a little too much at times, and although initially my writing was more of a personal cathartic experience for me, I have people telling me all the time how much my words mean to them and honestly, there is nothing more meaningful to me than knowing that I've touched someone -- that they too could relate to my experiences and/or underwent the same thing, and that hearing my songs really helped them deal with their feelings on the matter.

Performance wise, music has been invaluable for me. I love being on stage, interacting with the crowd, singing my little heart out knowing that it not only entertains people, but it provides a release. They can let loose, dance, mosh, and just have fun getting into the music. They can take their minds off any dilemmas that they have been dealing with lately, and just let go without having to resort to other means which can often do more harm than good.

mym: Reaching out for help can sometimes be a difficult thing to do for young people for a number of reasons. Some find comfort in listening to their favourite band. Musicians, artists can create comfort and a sense of belonging for youth who are feeling that no one seems to understand their pain. Can you sense that you have that effect on your fans?

Rose: Absolutely. As I previously mentioned, I get emails or fans coming up to me after shows all the time telling me how much my lyrics mean to them and how it really comforted them knowing that I could relate to how they were feeling.

One of the saddest things that happens to many children or teenagers is when their parents/authority figures can't relate to them and as a consequence, they become depressed or even worse rebel. Many of them turn to the media for someone to look up to and in today's state, well that could turn out to be not the greatest idea.

I think the world is seriously hurting for rolemodels and I hope to try and offer something of substance.

mym: How do you cope when times get tough and what can you suggest others do?

Rose: I'm definitely the kind of person who needs to vent their emotions whether it be through speaking with a friend or writing a song, I need to get my feelings out. I think that finding a means to express oneself is essential -- you cannot contain your emotions within, especially if you are upset or hurting. It's all a matter of finding what works best for you -- some people write down their thoughts in a journal/diary, others write music, some prefer to talk to someone etc.

mym:  Tell us a little bit about the Alesse Sponsorship?

Rose:  An outside marketer for Alesse actually approached us about using one of our songs for an upcoming campaign for their prescribed patient website. If you are sexually active, it's important to take precautionary measures, and we are proud to be supporters of a company that promotes safe sex.

Join Anti-Hero for their Official Video Release Party! Check out www.anti-hero.ca for more details.