Art School Girl Gang Gets Aggressive

PERRA is turning heads in Calgary’s punk and metal scene.  The band’s imagery is steeped in bright colors, flowers, and stars, which contrasts with the raw aggression of punk and metal, genres often dominated by mostly male-driven ideas and imagery. The visual liveliness creates a presence that’s not to be ignored. They’re carving out a space of their own through music and art. PERRA consists of Helen Arias on vocals, Kaleigh Bailey on bass guitar, Yvanna Menjivar on guitar, and Jerdyn Dionisio on drums.

“The name PERRA means b★tch in Spanish and the word has a lot of connotations. I mean, I am really into dogs and dog imagery, so obviously, there’s that, but then also in Spanish, it can mean prostitute or someone who is promiscuous. I feel like there’s a lot to work with within that name,” Helen explains. 

“Punk means DIY and building a community from scratch. It’s also about leftist politics, mutual aid, and caring for the people around you.”

Often, PERRA begins their set with a cover of Strawberry Switchblades’ “Trees and Flowers” before transitioning into their more abrasive punk style. This mix of tenderness and rage embodies PERRA’s approach to music.

“In the ‘80s, Strawberry Switchblade was so out there for, like, the scene in Scotland,” Helen explains. “It’s a good song to start the set with because we usually play it first and then hit the audience with something really heavy after.”

The band draws heavily from feminist punk influences, which have historically rejected the idea of women as passive figures in music. Throughout the late 20th century, bands like The Slits, Bikini Kill, and others began to reshape the narrative of what it meant to have women in bands. They refused to be reduced to eye candy on album covers or sidelined as supporting acts. For PERRA, the spirit of defiance continues to inspire them today. 

“The Slits…they’re like a band that were so themselves, and they were brutalized for it. One member got stabbed in the street for dressing the way they did, but they still did it anyway,” says Kaleigh. 

PERRA sees punk as more than just about rebellion against external forces, it’s about self-expression and creating a space for voices that are often silenced. 

“Punk means DIY and building a community from scratch. It’s also about leftist politics, mutual aid and caring for the people around you,” Helen says.

“It is also kind of big ‘f★ck you’ to people who want to bring you down or want to make you feel bad about yourself,” Yvanna adds. 

PHOTO: M. GRONDIN

PERRA’s songwriting process is distinctly unique. Helen writes the lyrics, and then the band collaborates to create a song. 

“People call it ‘jazz-punk’, but we’re more just like… punky!” Jerdyn says. 

Their lyrics, sometimes written in Spanish, often involve themes like torturing boys, which has become a fan favorite. “It goes ‘Hey baby, I eat boys for breakfast, rapists for lunch,’” Helen shares.

This blend of influences extends to a zine club, a DIY art space Helen founded. Helen has created a “collaborative sketchbook” under the name “Volatile Sex Pill” which involves people coming together to make art.

“I started VSP because when I started art school, I was getting rejected by a lot of galleries and stuff, and I felt like I couldn’t get into these things… because it was like an exclusive club. And I also wanted a way to give other people that felt the same way a platform and it was a way to meet other people. I started where by collecting my friend’s artwork and distributing it. So it kind of worked as a gallery for myself,” Helen says. 

PERRA will continue to push the boundaries of creativity and make space for themselves. They hope to release an album by the end of November. Until then they have a show at Loophole on November 21, 2024 with bands Cat Piss, Guttrot and Solar Plexus.