Rose Cora Perry Battles the Pandemic in Latest Song & Video, “Not My Time”
Rose Cora Perry has never been shy about making statements: whether it’s through her raw and relatable lyrics, mental health advocacy, or thought-provoking music videos. Her band, The Truth Untold’s latest banger, “Not My Time,” unapologetically tackles the pandemic head-on, speaking to those who have both physically and psychologically taken a toll these past two years.
Written directly following Perry’s own triumphant battle against the virus, the song strongly exclaims in no uncertain terms it’s “not” her “time” to die, and she means it both in the literal and metaphoric sense.
Like so many fellow artists, due to border restrictions, social distancing, and the like, The Truth Untold was forced on an unintended hiatus since 2019. What’s worse is that they had just released their debut EP that November with plans for their first-ever European tour…only for the world as they knew it to be canceled.
Admittedly, Perry says this was a dark time for her – not only as a result of being isolated from her loved ones and unable to fulfill her artistic expression but further because she suffered personal losses through the death of her only brother, a lifelong friend, and her beloved 17-year-old Siamese cat, who was appropriately named after Smashing Pumpkins’ bassist, D’arcy Wretzky.
But as she has long demonstrated throughout her varied career, Rose Cora Perry is resilient. Whether as the fiery guitar-wielding frontwoman of one of her rock projects (ex Anti-Hero and HER) or the delicate singer/songwriter who pulls on your heartstrings, Perry continues to spread a message of hope by turning her sorrows into songs.
Troubled by the growing divisiveness created by opposing covid views, the band’s video calls its viewers to question “which of the facts are true” and whether there’s a “truth” that’s not being “told,” a clever play on the band’s name.
The storyline follows an FBI agent’s (played by co-founder/drummer Tyler Randall) pursuit of the elusive “Smoking Gun” (depicted by Perry), a controversial 1984-inspired conspiracy theorist whose mission is to spread doubt, disruption, and the questioning of authority figures.
As Perry maintains, “there are – at least – two sides to every story, and the truth is there – somewhere in between.”
The band is clear about not taking sides nor villainizing either party. They do, however, want listeners and viewers to think for themselves, understanding each and every one of us has our own “truth.” What is yours?
Watch the video for “Not My Time” below and learn more about the band via our Five Questions With.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Well, hello there! I’m Rose (yes, like the flower), and I’m the singer, songwriter, and guitarist for an award-winning Canadian rock band, The Truth Untold.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
Written the day I personally recovered from a nasty battle against covid, our new banger, “Not My Time,” was inspired by the pandemic and how it’s affected us all in a variety of ways: from our social interactions to our employment situations, our physical and our mental health.
I know many – myself included – have felt lost, alienated, and depressed over these past couple of years. What’s even more troubling is the divisive dialogue that has unraveled between those who are “pro” vs. “against” the lockdowns, the vax passes, etc.
This is a time when we should be coming together, supporting one another, and acknowledging our shared plight, irrespective of our differences. I’m hopeful that our song will resonate with people giving them a sense of hope and love rather than feeding into the frenzy of fear and hate.
Where do you tend to pull inspiration from when writing?
There’s this great line from one of my favourite 90s Drew Barrymore movies where the main character (portrayed by Barrymore) is told that “to write well, you have to write what you know,” and I think that rings true.
I write about real experiences that have hit me on a visceral level with the aim of making my music and songs authentic and relatable.
Listening to my favourite artists has gotten me through some very dark times. I hope to do the same for our fans – give them a sense of hope, a sense of connection, and a way to think about things differently J
Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?
As practical Canadians (i.e., driving in blizzards is not a good idea!), we will be hibernating for the winter, BUT we are hopeful that we can come back with a vengeance in 2023.
What’s your goal for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023?
You’ll just have to wait and see.