(By CIERA RAMIREZ)

It all began for Reece Herrera around age 5 when she opened the cabinets, took out the pots and pans, and began drumming on them with pencils.

The now 35-year-old Austin drummer, who was voted “Best Incubator of Musical Sisterhood” as part of the Austin Chronicle’s Best of 2019 series, sits back in a black sweatshirt with the Three of Swords printed on it, a black backwards cap, a dangling gold cross in one ear and a wooden stud in her other, ready to share her journey.

Reece’s family was so musically inclined as she grew up, they would play music during family gatherings. Her father observed her playing and decided to get her a drum set.

“I think when my dad saw me playing drums, he absolutely took that chance to encourage me further. It started with, ‘Let me take you to this drum shop to just look at drums.’ And I jumped on that set, and I did not stop playing. He ended up getting me a drum set on that day.”

While Reece had many musical influences growing up such as Rock and Tejano music, a major turning point was when she began listening to Pop Punk music.

“When I was probably about 15, I would skateboard and the first time that I heard Pop Punk changed my absolute life. I felt seen. It was emotional. I felt like that was soundtrack to my life,” Reece says as her eyes and smile widen.

Several years later, Reece began working as an associate in a mostly male-dominated drum department at Guitar Center. It was one magical moment that motivated Reece to lead women in music.

“I had this moment where this little girl walked in, and she was so skittish because she wanted to play drums. So, then I get on the drum set and I start playing a little bit. At that moment she looked over at me and she looked like a deer in the headlights. For me, that was the moment for sure.”

For Reece, recalling that moment is emotional.

“I think that for me, it was less about teaching music, but it was more so about teaching women to be confident. I knew that was what I wanted to do. It was more so, ‘Let me show this girl that she can do this and let me play really f—ing loud and at the best of my capacity and show her how f—ing great she can be and pump her up to do that.”

When asked about the challenges Reece has faced while pursuing music, she expresses how, as a drummer, she endures the doubts of her talents by cisgendered men. But Reece knows her worth as a queer female musician.

“There’s still a little bit of the patriarchy that can’t recognize that a masc queer person just like me is just as f—ing great, maybe even better [at drumming]. That is something I’ll feel the heat from sometimes even if I’m just trying to be an equal.”

With her mind set on building up women as confident musicians and already having a following of women, Reece began her organization, Femme Rock ATX. Femme Rock brings women together as a community to rebel against the societal expectations of what femininity looks like.

“I think representation is super important. Not only are we rebelling from creating our own space, [we are] playing some music, playing hard, having fun, and not apologizing. Also, to the
girl who is in the corner [at our show] who is shy, sees this group of kick-ass women everywhere doing this thing, that is where the power lies. That is the result of rebellion. That is what I want to happen.”

Reece has shown women that they have no limits in a male-dominated music world. Student and performer, Delia Rosado, says Reece and Femme Rock have been crucial to her development.

“I found Femme Rock at a time in my life where I didn’t think I could be creative again, and I’d let others’ opinions of me feed myself doubt. Femme Rock has been integral in building my confidence as a musician, song writer and woman. I’m super thankful for people like Reece, who I consider more than a coach, or instructor. Through her guidance and kindness, I’m finding my way back to music.”

And when it comes to Femme Rock’s future, Reece has a dream.

“My dream is to bring together a collective of women-owned music businesses under one roof, to help women feel empowered by playing, learning, writing, recording, or listening to music. Austin is a huge music city, but most music businesses in town are run by cis men. I plan to change that with Femme Rock. I also plan to branch out and have a few more Femme Rock locations.”

Reece continues to build a community of women musicians who are confident and like cisgendered men, are not afraid to rock.

“Keep being you, and don’t take sh–, and don’t apologize,” Reece says.

For more information on Femme Rock, you can visit their website at www.femmerockatx.com.