Inside “Excuses”: Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold on Rebirth, Raw Emotion, and Rock Without Apology
- STAFF
- May 30
- 9 min read
By: Staff
We came across “Excuses” by Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold, and we knew we had to find out more.
The track hits with precision, moody, intense, and emotionally unfiltered. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t just play; it confronts. Layered with meaning and delivered with power,
“Excuses” blends hard rock grit with cinematic storytelling, pulling you into a world where truth isn’t just told, it’s demanded.
And the video? A high-stakes visual ride that feels part courtroom drama, part personal reckoning. From the first frame, it grabs hold and doesn’t let go.
Naturally, Cage Riot reached out to the band to dig into the story behind the music, the message, and the minds that brought it all to life. What we got was a candid, fascinating look at artistic transformation, emotional resilience, and what it really means to bare your soul on record.
We got together with Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold for an exciting interview to delve into the stories and happenings behind the making of this and learn more about the artist in "The Cage" Music Blog and we are excited to share it with you!
Hello Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. What inspired you to choose the name Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold as your artist persona? How does it reflect the connection you want to build with your fans, and what personal significance does it hold for you?
A. The Truth Untold is a reference to a lyric from one of my songs entitled, “Curtains Close” which talks about having to come to terms with “truths” you wish you hadn’t been “told”. In other words, the lyrics of that song discuss the concept of “ignorance being bliss” and the challenge of becoming an adult and having to come to terms with losing your “childhood innocence”.
The reason I felt that this was a good choice as a band name is because I have a tendency not to hold back when it comes to my artistic expression. LOL. I’m a very authentic songwriter in that I write “what I know”, based off of my own lived experiences and in doing so, my aim is to resonate with listeners in a very real and relatable way: get them thinking about their own life.
Music is such a powerful way to reach people and the greatest compliment I can ever receive as a songwriter is knowing that my music has made a difference in the lives of our fans.
Q. Can you describe the type of music that you play and the genres you represent? Are there different styles within your genre?
A. I consider us a hard rock / alternative band with heavy 90s influence. However, music is really subjective and I think listeners “hear” elements of what they are familiar with so we’ve gotten some wild comparisons to bands that do not fall within my listening catalogue whatsoever but hey that’s cool – as long as you’re digging it!
Q. We love the music video. The costuming is next level, and the acting from you and the band was outstanding. The location settings and editing gave us serious Law & Order vibes. Who helped produce this incredible video? Who directed it, and who was involved in bringing those visual elements to life?
A. The best part is that literally it was just me and our lone but reliable videographer, Emanuel Benyamin of Mystery Man Photography. It’s amazing what a small but mighty crew can accomplish. I wrote the plot and Emanuel and I co-directed as well as co-edited the final project. We make an incredible team – this is our 9th video collaboration - and I feel like they just keep getting better!
Q. Your voice is incredibly powerful—such a perfect fit for this heavy rock sound. When did you first realize you had this talent, and was there a defining moment that pushed you to start recording and sharing your voice with the world?
A. I have been singing since I was four years old. I think my parents must have intuitively known that I was meant for the stage as they enrolled me in vocal lessons which I studied diligently for 14 years.
My first recordings as a rock musician didn’t happen however until I was a teen and it definitely took me a couple different configurations to find my footing as a rock musician with a classical background.
However, I’m tremendously proud of The Truth Untold and feel like this is by far the best project I’ve ever had the privilege of creating.
Q. Can you tell us the story behind “Excuses”? We understand your alter-ego, “Kathryn Gunn,” symbolizes rebirth and resolve. Can you dive deeper into her role and what this transformation meant for you personally and musically? Also, we were struck by the lyric, “I used to believe…that you were good for me.” What does that line mean to you, and what message do you hope listeners take from it?
A. Kathryn Gunn was borne in The Truth Untold’s first single, “Not My Time” (released 2022) which was meant to be a commentary on the divisiveness created by the pandemic. Since creating that character she’s expanded from being seen as a ‘singular’ conspiracy theorist to there being more than simply what’s on the surface (ie: whose side is she actually on? And is she fighting for good or is she in fact devious?). In our next video, we’ll actually be diving into her origin story but I don’t want to give away too much just yet!
In “Excuses”, Kathryn once again proves her resilience and sneakiness along with her comradery to collectively fight against authority. I was never much of a conformist myself so as much as I portray Kathryn Gunn, she also is a reflection of a lot of parts of me.
As for the lyric? I think it’s a very thinly veiled way of saying I wrote this song to make a statement about standing up for myself by exiting a situation that was no longer positive. We should all be so brave to be able to do so.
Q. Can you walk us through your songwriting process? Which instrument typically anchors your compositions, and how does that influence the mood and direction of each song?
A. Vocals, vocals, vocals. Everything starts with a melody I hear in my head, then I put pen to paper and see where it leads me. The mood and direction is exactly what I’m feeling at the time of composition.
Q. Where do you usually start production? Is it in a home studio, or do you work with an outside producer? How do you finalize the mix and master—do you keep it in-house or collaborate with others?
A. I’ve actually only just started to get into some home recording this year for solo acoustic work. Everything for The Truth Untold has been recorded at professional studios and then myself and our producer, the incredibly talented Brett Carruthers, collaborate as far as mixing and mastering.
Q. What was the creative process like for “Excuses”? Was it a lightning-bolt moment of inspiration, or did it evolve slowly over time?
A. It was a “lightning-bolt” moment as is everything I write. I simply hear melodies in my head and my songs come together usually within minutes.
Q. How long have you been working with your current bandmates—Jessie Taynton on bass and Steve Skrtich on drums? How did this lineup come together?
A. Jes and I have been touring bandmates for two years now and I absolutely adore working with her. She’s my second-in-command. Steve joined the project last summer mid-tour and has been incredible as far as making some amazing contributions to new material we’ll be recording this Fall. I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention our new lead guitarist John-William Kostecki who has just joined us this year and despite breaking our tour van, we think we’ll keep him.
Q. Do you see “Excuses” as a natural evolution in your musical journey, or was it shaped by specific experiences or changes—either personal or artistic?
A. Both. I think with everything I write, it forces me to explore different sides of myself and my songwriting process. I never try to write or work in a specific style – it’s just whatever flows out of me naturally in the moment.
Hilariously, “Excuses” almost didn’t make the cut on our EP as I felt it was good but maybe too “simplistic” of a “punk” song…BUT we started to get a tremendous response from performing it live so it became pretty clear that it needed to be released as a single.
Q. Which instrument typically serves as the foundation for your songwriting process, and how does that shape the emotional tone or vibe of your finished work?
A. Once I’ve established the vocal melody, I chord everything out on acoustic guitar to figure out the song’s arrangement. From there, we jam the songs out as a band, hear each other’s contributions and set the overall tone collectively.
Q. Is there a song from your early years as a music fan that you'd love to cover in the studio—something that still resonates with you as an artist today?
A. Yes – “Earth Song” by Michael Jackson! It’s just CALLING for a heavier rockified version. It’s such a powerful song already as it is but I’d love to add some distortion and heavy drums to it.
Q. We feel like we’ve learned so much about you from just this one song, which is such a testament to its emotional depth. What’s one surprising fact about you that fans might not expect?
A. I am tremendously flattered that I’m perceived as a very strong and confident frontwoman – that’s a hell of a compliment. But as an artist, I’m also ridiculously sensitive. I think people would be surprised by how often I cry and how little things can really affect me deeply. However, I guess that’s part of being an artist right? Everything serves as inspiration.
Q. On both a business and emotional level, the music industry can be incredibly tough. Have you ever had moments where you questioned whether to keep going? What motivates you to keep pushing forward?
A. 1000%. My motivation exclusively is that even if I wanted to turn off the music in my head, I can’t. I believe I was given this gift for a reason and I don’t take it for granted. I feel tremendously blessed to be able to write songs and share a piece of my heart with the world knowing that it’s made a difference for others.
Q. What are your top three dream venues or festivals where you'd love to perform one day?
A. Well I’ve already played two: The Whisky-a-Go-Go and CBGBs. But I’d LOVE to rock Milwaukee Rockfest…maybe one day.
Q. What part of the music-making process is the most stressful for you: writing, recording, or release day? And why?
A. Release day for sure! Because I’m not a social media person at all and you have to be all over that stuff anymore. It’s a lot to coordinate and organize. The video has actually been done for months but we needed a minimum of six weeks lead time for the release.
Q. What’s something unusual or unexpected about you that fans might be surprised to discover?
A. I find it empowering to listen to my own songs when I’m feeling sad. Is that weird? Maybe but it’s true. I give myself back power by appreciating my own work and being like, damn, I wrote that? I guess I’m kinda cool. LOL.
Q. What’s the most touching or inspirational thing a fan—or even a stranger—has ever told you about your music?
A. That my music changed their life. That hit hard.
Q. If you could appear on any late-night talk show, which would it be—and what would you want to talk about based on where you are in life right now?
A. Oh man, easily it would’ve been on Craig Ferguson’s Late Late Show. He was hysterically inappropriate and I loved watching that program. I’m sure the conversation would have gotten out of hand and I likely would’ve said something to feed the fire.
Q. We can’t thank you enough for opening up and sharing these behind-the-scenes insights. So… what’s next? Can you give us a sneak peek at what fans can look forward to? We’d love to help spread the word!
A. Absolutely! We’re currently on tour between now and the end of October so we definitely want to see as many of you as we can on the road! AND come Fall, we’re headed back into the studio to record a whole new EP. We cannot wait to share more tunage with you in the future.
Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
make sure to playlist, stream and share “Concave” by Jazzcat.
