PERRA performed during Sled Island on Friday June 19th at Palomino (Main Floor).

Interview Audio:

Interview Transcript:

Willow (CJSW)
I’m Willow Pflueger with CJSW 90.9 FM. I’m here at Sled Island 2026. I’m talking to the band PERRA. Could you guys each introduce yourselves and your roles in the band?

Helen
I’m Helen. I’m the front person of the band.

Yvanna
I’m Yvanna. I play guitar in PERRA.

Kaleigh
I’m Kaleigh. I play bass.

Jerdyn
I’m Jerdyn. I play the drums, and this is Syd who plays guitar and also front person. Oh, wait, I’m supposed to read it.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
My name is Syd “Uncle Girl” Merchant, and I’m the supporting guitarist, and I fucked up my voice yesterday performing, so Jerdyn is talking for me.

Willow (CJSW)
Awesome, thank you guys so much. Alright. So, for my first question, I wanted to ask, how did each of you get into, start getting into playing music? Like, just individually.

Helen
I got into playing music by going to music shows, and just going to see bands. I’m not very musical person, so it wasn’t like, I mean, I asked for a guitar for Christmas, but I don’t play guitar. But yeah, it was mostly just being involved in a scene and wanting to, like, be part of it in a significant way,

Yvanna
Yeah, I kind of feel pretty similarly, but the way that I started playing guitar, my family, like, used to go to church a lot, and like I used to be really exposed to like worship music, and kind of like that, like gospely, like I don’t know, like new age Christian kind of thing, and that’s what I was exposed to, and that’s what really like I started, like playing in, like the band at church, so yeah.

Kaleigh
I feel like I’ve always just really like enjoyed music and felt it like in my body in like a very special way, and I’ve always wanted to play music kind of my whole life, but have been in environments that I didn’t, like, really nurture that, and I really started playing bass when I was kind of like really frustrated in my life, and like it was kind of an outlet for me, and I wasn’t really that good when I started and knew what I was doing, but just having it as like an outlet to learn and like to see myself progress is something that I really am like passionate about, and then also how it connects to other people, just as a whole, I think makes it so important to me, and yeah.

Jerdyn
I feel like I’ve always loved playing rhythm games, anything just rhythm-based. I loved being in band class for school, and I got to play drums because in high school I was asked if I could play drums for Helen’s band, and I was like, “Sure, I’ve always wanted to play drums,” and now I really love playing drums. So, yeah, forever will play drums.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
I grew up in a small town in rural Alberta in a musical family. I started playing music as a kid in band class, then got into guitar on my own because I was always bored in my small town. I got into punk music as a teenager because I was queer and hated rednecks.

Willow (CJSW)
Thank you. In another interview, you guys said that the name of the band pays homage to Latine culture, while also reclaiming the word. I wanted to ask, how do people usually react when they hear the band name?

Helen
I feel like in Calgary, a lot of people don’t right away get it, because most people don’t speak Spanish here, but it’s always fun telling it to, like, Spanish speakers I meet that I’m in a band called PERRA, because they’re then they’re like, “oh, wow!” And then that actually has impact there, like my parents reacted to it pretty strongly, because they’re Latino, they’re like nobody’s gonna respect you with that name, which is kind of the point, like you don’t have to respect me, like I like, it’s a word that has these connotations, but like using it in this way is what gives it power.

Yvanna
Yeah, I feel like with PERRA when you like say that to Spanish-speaking people, they have like a very visceral reaction, because in, I guess, like our culture, it’s very like I don’t know, you’re not saying that every day to people, it’s very like insulting, so to like hear that, just like as a band name, where people are very like affected by that, and like impacted by it as well.

Kaleigh
I feel like whenever I tell people like what our name is, and then tell them like what it means, they usually kind of like giggle or get like a little like, I guess, like it’s a bit of like a shy response that I think comes from like the violence that can be associated with the word, so I’m like, this is what like PERRA means, like, bitch, they’re like hahaha, how, like, how could you like say that, but it’s like kind of reholding the power and what that word means, and not having people see it as like a bad word to, like, be used against people. I think it’s very interesting that people kind of shy away in, like, a giggly way, not to, like, address it. And, yeah, and they usually really like it when I explain it, and then explain the meaning. They’re like, that is so awesome, but I think it’s interesting that a lot of, yeah, a lot of people giggle.

Jerdyn
Yeah, a lot of, lot of gigglers over here. I love saying the word PERRA. I don’t know, I just feel very powerful. I don’t know, actually, I don’t really know what to say. I feel like you guys said a lot already. Syd really loves the one word, she thinks that it’s a really important reclamation, and feels the same as I.

Willow (CJSW)
Yeah, because I know, I speak Spanish, and so, like, when I first heard of you guys, I was like, “okay, okay…” and then I saw I was like an all-girl or like all femme presenting lineup, and I was like, “okay, like, okay!” Like, I just thought it was a cool name. Yeah, I liked it.

Helen
I feel like it also has so many different meanings, even in, like, the realm of music. Like, perreo is a whole, like, music genre, and, like, to perrear means to, like, twerk, which is fun to, like, lean into that, and also that, like, genre of, like, perreo, and, like, reggaeton has like a lot of like femmes that are like reclaiming sexuality, and yeah, that’s a huge thing I think that we like to lean into as well.

Willow (CJSW)
I wanted to talk a little bit about Sled Island. I know you guys played a show last night. How are you guys feeling about that?

Helen
Yeah, we were like, I think going into it, we were like a little nervous because we had played a show at Palomino upstairs like a few weeks ago, and it’s really hard to get the vibes right up there, like, even it’s, it’s even hard to like get the sound right, and like to be able to hear yourself, but at least we like came into it, and we’re like, we’re gonna sound check before we’re gonna like make sure we feel right, we’re gonna make sure our gear works too, because we wanted to be ready and like locked in, and I think it was worth it. There was a lot of like friends there too, so it felt very good and fun.

Yvanna
Yeah, I feel like also like the crowd determines like if it’s gonna be like a good show or not. Like I really love when like a lot of like women or girls or like femme people show up to our shows, because then you know it’s lit, and it’s going to be like ass twerking music. It’s going to be really fun. Yeah, that’s what we like kind of aim for with all of our shows, is to like have everyone like up and dancing.

Kaleigh
Yeah, I really enjoyed. I had a lot of fun while playing the show. There was a lot of people there yesterday, it was really like really bustling, and lots of other good bands. So I really, I really enjoyed.

Kaleigh
Honestly, I was glad that it was a free show, because they didn’t have to pay to see us, and then they can pay our merch.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
I received a lot of love after our set. I had a lot of friends in town who showed up, which really filled my heart. After our second song, I told all of all the photographers to go away because they were taking up so much space and not making space for the girls to dance and have fun. After the photographers went away, they listened very well. So many girls came up and danced.

Jerdyn
Yeah, I was really glad to see a lot of the girls just coming up, like slowly. I’m like, “Yes, fill up the space in front of there.”

Willow (CJSW)
Yeah, the band photographers, I swear, sometimes… No, they’re awesome. I love to see the photos. As an audience member, sometimes they get in the way… Syd says they just need to know their place. Yeah, what’s your favorite song to perform live?

Helen
I feel like, I don’t, I don’t know. I like the first song that came to mind was PERRA / Ruin, because it, it’s like I feel like we just have that song so on lock that whenever we play, we like get into the zone and something happens, and then we’re ready, like to do the whole set, but I like LA LA LA, that’s a good one, because everyone dances to that one. It’s very easy to dance to.

Yvanna
I also really like PERRA / Ruin. I feel like it’s a really fun song, because we all like transform into like art musician personas. Yeah, like Helen literally turns into a werewolf, like that’s what happens, and I really like our new songs that we’re cooking up, we’re cooking up and playing, so those are really fun.

Kaleigh
I agree on the PERRA / Ruin, I feel like, yeah, it feels like kind of like a transition that I like go into like an alternate state while performing, and it like really happens during that song, like it’s a bit, it’s like a transformation. I really also like playing LA LA LA, because, yeah, it’s really dancey, and the bass line is really fun to play in that song. I also really like playing Kathy Acker, I think it’s very emotional, and I feel like I like just close my eyes and like feel connected, which is a nice feeling to have when you’re playing a song.

Jerdyn
I also really like PERRA / Ruin, just because when we were first making the song, it felt like that song was, we finally made like our own style in a way playing when we were making that song, but I also really like playing our new song, No Heart. I think I think that one is a really good song. You should listen to it.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
I like PERRA / Ruin because it is our anthem. I also don’t play guitar or do vocals on that song. I just get to lay down and writhe around on the floor.

Jerdyn
I love seeing you writhe around on the floor.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
I also love performing our song LA LA LA, because I think it’s when people get the most dancey and me and Helen get to dance together.

Willow (CJSW)
It seems like there’s some clear favourites. You guys mentioned Kathy Acker. I wanted to ask, like, why did you choose to name the song after her?

Helen
Well, the song is literally plagiarizing Kathy Acker. My song writing method is a lot of the time I like read books, I highlight parts that I like, and then I write them down in a journal, and then like mix them up and see what goes together, and I did that with a lot of Kathy Acker books, like last summer and recently, and what came was the song Kathy Acker, but also it’s like dedicated to her, and she had a very similar technique too. She was also like a plagiarist, and I think that there’s like a lot of, like, I think that plagiarism is like collage, as in that there’s also like intention behind it, like kind of going against the idea of like that there’s original ideas and yeah, there’s more to say to that, like I could write a whole essay, but Syd just showed me her phone and says the best kind of art always involves stealing, which, yeah, bars.

Yvanna
I think that’s a very Helen question, but I, I really love Kathy Acker. She’s like a huge icon to, like, queer community and women. She’s sick. Rest in peace.

Helen
Read Blood and Guts in High School, or don’t, because it’s really heavy, but it’s a good book, and that’s what Kathy Acker rips from. The song Kathy Acker rips from Blood and Guts in High School by Kathy Acker.

Willow (CJSW)
I wanted to move on to asking about playing shows. I know you guys played at Palomino the other day and just a few weeks ago, what is your favourite venue to play at in Calgary?

Helen
Well, we played the Palomino upstairs recently, but we really like playing the downstairs, so that’s a big one when we get asked to do that. Loophole is fun because it’s just like warm and tight, and I don’t know, the BLOX is nice because they have their own back line.

Yvanna
I would say I really like to play in Loophole because it’s so like small and intimate that you can just like really, I love being on like the same level. As people, and just like playing, but like also like seeing the crowd, and like I like when people mosh into me, which is like, I don’t know if that’s like a strange thing, but I think it’s fun.

Kaleigh
I like Loophole as well, just because the atmosphere feels very like comfortable, and like it’s very small, and it’s also like kind of unassuming, because it’s like a coffee shop, and like has like art displayed, so it’s once you step out of the like room where the show is being made, it’s almost like a whole different like world, like it’s much more lighter, and then you go into like this like dark, dark, dark like cocoon, yeah, a dark cocoon, and then, like, there’s like a whole different environment in there that just feels a lot different. It’s really great for, like, sorry, I got lost on my train of thought, but yeah, I feel like they kind of covered, like, I like the Palomino downstairs, and the BLOX has a great back line. I love playing outdoor shows, too. It’s really nice to play outdoors, and I feel like people like really get moving outdoors sometimes. I don’t know, you can jump around a lot outside.

Kaleigh
Yeah, I want to play in the Firehall again outside. It was really nice. We need more shows for that.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
I really like playing DIY shows in community centers and playing outside, because I find they’re the most accessible, and all ages is always a plus.

Willow (CJSW)
I wanted to ask about all ages, because I know I saw that you guys are going, touring kind of around BC, and are all of the shows all ages?

Helen
Yeah, all the shows on tour all ages.

Willow (CJSW)
Yeah, I wanted to ask, I know people tend to have mixed opinions on all ages shows. I wanted to ask you guys’ opinions on what you think of all ages shows.

Helen
I think that in Calgary, all ages shows like I think that they have to be like handled with care, but I feel like the hardcore shows are usually like sober shows, so I think that’s best for all ages shows, because sometimes they can get a little too rowdy. There’s like underage drinking, and that, and that like leads to unsavory conditions, and people can get hurt. But I think that the crowd at all ages shows have a lot of energy. They’re willing to like actually mosh and dance and like let it all out, unlike in 18 plus shows, where there’s like people whose backed are hurting and don’t want to like go all out, which is fair, but I think that our show depends a lot on like audience engagement and like dancing and like catharsis, and it’s fun playing all ages because of that.

Yvanna
I think that’s a great question. I feel like all ages shows, especially here in Calgary, are like super important, super super important, and like what Helen was saying with like the hardcore scene here, and like the hardcore shows, a lot of like those people really prioritize that, and I think it’s important to like have all these kids coming in and like seeing shows, playing in bands, making their own shit, own merch, own like venues and stuff. They really like, I don’t know. I know a lot of kids that are like seeing, I guess we’re kind of old heads in this sense. We’re getting there, we’re getting there, we’re getting there, we’re getting unc, bro. We’re getting unc, but it’s like important to see like these 15 year olds like start their own bands and like make their own venues and make their own spaces, because like no one else is gonna do it for you, you just have to do it yourself.

Kaleigh
But yeah, I feel like all ages shows are important, because I mean, a lot of our crowd is like younger people, and I feel like the space that is being made is really important for younger people, and like to express themselves, and to also just see it as something that, like, that is available. I feel like, like making it less accessible to a larger group of people that like, like adults that like can go to like shows that are like 18 plus and stuff. I feel like having a community that’s available to younger crowds that doesn’t like… Sorry, I don’t have the words, but I just feel like that is important.

Kaleigh
I don’t mind all ages shows. I really enjoy all their energy in the crowd, and I love seeing all of them dance, and I think it is very important for the younger people to see and just like be in the community and create their own stuff, like Yvanna said, and especially, like empowering young women to just start their own band, and like starting out young.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
When booking the venues for tour, the whole all ages aspect was coincidental, but it turned, turned out to be a huge plus. Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a time and place for 18 plus shows. I love shows in bars, etcetera. but I think if I saw PERRA when I was under 18, it would have, would have genuinely changed my life. I agree, it would have given me hope for my future. I feel like kids look up to us and feel seen by our music, performance style, and art.

Willow (CJSW)
I would honestly agree. I didn’t want to be biased with my question, but I like all ages shows. I think it’s awesome. I think it’s accessible. I started going to shows when I was a kid, too, so. And I think it helped me get into music a lot more, and into the scene. And I think it… well, now I’m interviewing myself. Sorry. But I think it’s awesome to be accessible. Anyways, for my final question, it’s a silly little question. If you guys could switch roles with anyone in the band, who would it be?

Helen
Switch roles? Man, if I could drum like Jerdyn, like I would be like insane. I can’t drum though, so. I feel like it would just be so much fun. Yeah.

Yvanna
Yeah, I would also say Jerdyn, if I could drum like a beast, then I’d be unstoppable.

Kaleigh
I agree, to feel, to feel my hands moving at that speed and grace would be amazing.

Jerdyn
Well, I can’t be a drummer, I’m already a drummer, but I think I would play bass, since it’s similar to drums, and it’s like the only instrument that I like never tried so far. So that would be really fun.

Syd (Voiced by Jerdyn)
That’s such a good question. I would also switch places with Jerdyn too, because she is undeniably the most technically talented.

Jerdyn
Thank you, guys.

Willow (CJSW)
You’re so loved in this band. Well, thank you guys so much for talking with me. I really appreciate it.

Helen
Thank you.