Turning Up the Volume: Reece Herrera and the Revolution of Femme Rock

In Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, not everyone has historically been handed a microphone. For many women and non-binary musicians, finding a place to learn, perform, and simply take up space in Austin's music scene hasn't always been easy. That's where Reece Herrera comes in.

As the founder of Femme Rock, Herrera has built far more than a music school. She's created a thriving community where women and non-binary adults can pick up an instrument for the first time, join a band, step onto a stage, and discover a confidence they may have spent years believing wasn't meant for them.

What started with a simple but powerful realization, that representation changes lives, has grown into one of Austin's most inspiring creative communities. Through band classes, showcases, open jams, lessons, and a fiercely supportive culture, Femme Rock is helping reshape who gets to be seen, heard, and celebrated in local music.

For our inaugural issue of The Newsboy Local, we sat down with Herrera to talk about the origins of Femme Rock, the transformative power of music, building inclusive spaces, and why sometimes the most radical thing a person can do is turn up their amp and take up space.

The Origin Story

Take us back to the beginning. What lit the match for Femme Rock, and why was it important to center women and non-binary musicians?

Before Femme Rock existed, I was teaching drum lessons and working in a drum shop. One of my earliest, most defining memories was a young girl walking into the shop—she looked terrified. Nervous, timid, like she wasn’t sure she belonged there. I jumped on a drum kit and played a little, just to break the tension. The look in her eyes completely changed. It was like something clicked for her—for the first time, she could see herself doing this. I definitely cried. That moment planted the seed. Femme Rock came from realizing how powerful it is when someone finally feels like something is possible for them.

Was there a “holy shit, this needs to exist” moment that made you realize Austin needed Femme Rock?

Yeah—honestly, it was going to shows and playing shows. I’d look around at the bands on stage and the bands we were sharing bills with and realize how few women were there. And when I did see women, they often looked uncomfortable, misplaced, unsure if they were allowed to take up space. I hated that. I wanted to create a place where women and non-binary people could mess up, be loud, learn, and own it without apology.

If you had to explain Femme Rock to someone you just met at a show, what’s your one-sentence elevator pitch?

Femme Rock is a no-bullshit music school for women and non-binary adults where you face the fear, take up space, and become the musician you’ve always been.

Who’s behind the scenes making Femme Rock happen, and what kinds of experiences can students jump into?

Femme Rock is powered by a small but mighty team—myself, Brittany handling marketing and design, Liv on video, and our incredible instructors who Femme Rock simply wouldn’t exist without: Cass, Andrea, Kelsea, Erin, and Brooke. Just as important are the students who volunteer at showcases and show up for each other in real, meaningful ways.

Students can jump into band classes, instrument lessons, DJ classes, open jams, karaoke parties, showcases, and special events. It’s not just classes—it’s a living, breathing community. Over the past year especially, we’ve seen that community take on a life of its own. One example is an activist riot crew formed organically from Femme Rock students who were angry about the state of the world and wanted to do something about it. They organized two fundraisers and raised nearly $4,000 for OutYouth and RAICES.

That’s the magic of Femme Rock—it keeps growing in directions we couldn’t fully plan for. We listen closely to what the community is craving and continue to expand alongside them.

Culture & Impact

You talk a lot about empowerment and confidence through music. What does that actually look like in real life at Femme Rock?

It looks like the student who wouldn’t turn their amp up on day one (or didn’t even know how to turn it on) is now playing in a metal band a few months later. That transformation happens constantly. It’s not just about learning notes; it’s about learning to trust yourself.

What’s a student moment that still sticks with you—the kind that makes all the hard work worth it?

One of my oldest students was 73. She told me she always wanted to play drums but was discouraged when she was younger because it was seen as a “man’s instrument.” So she settled for tap dancing instead. When she took class with me, she was shocked by how hard I hit the drums. But she stuck with it. Now she plays drums with her friends. That kind of full-circle healing? That’s everything.

Building a truly inclusive space isn’t always easy. What challenges have come up, and how have you worked through them?

Staying unwavering in the mission has been the biggest, most important challenge. Femme Rock is for women and non-binary people, full stop. No matter how supportive or “cool” someone else might be, that boundary exists for a reason, and it’s not up for debate. I’ve learned to be okay with being misunderstood or even disliked. Protecting the space will always matter more than people-pleasing.

Inclusivity at Femme Rock also means the culture inside the room. We don’t tolerate mean-girl behavior, competition, or judgment. Our showcases are radically supportive. If someone messes up on stage, we cheer louder, because it means they got up there, faced their fear, and did the damn thing scared. That kind of encouragement changes people. It teaches them that they’re allowed to try, to fail, and to keep going.

At the end of the day, it’s about showing up for each other again and again and making sure everyone feels safe, supported, and comfortable taking up space. That’s how real confidence and real community get built.

Teaching & Growth

You’re a self-taught musician. How has learning the “figure it out as you go” way shaped how you teach others?

I teach students to focus on feel and flow instead of getting stuck in rigid rules or sheet music. Music is a universal language, but everyone’s brain processes it differently. I want people to trust their instincts and find their way in.

How do you dream up new classes and events—community-led, intuition-based, or a little chaotic magic?

Definitely chaotic magic with a lot of input from the community. Every session, students tell us what they want to learn, and we build directly from that. We have a Slack workspace with over 425+ students, and it’s constantly buzzing. People pitch band class ideas in our #dream-list channel, drop wild concepts in #random, form offshoot clubs in #unofficial-hangs, and even start new bands in #seeking-byob.

In 2025 alone, the community sent 19,644 messages back and forth, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know. Femme Rock grows by listening, responding, and letting the community help shape what comes next.

Fast-forward five years. What do you hope Femme Rock has grown into? What’s the big dream?

I see Femme Rock becoming its own universe. Maybe that looks like adding a recording studio, a label, equipment and retail shop, a skate ramp in the backyard, or even Femme Rock–hosted festivals. We’ll let the community guide us and tell us what they need next. Whatever it grows into, it will always be community-first, focused on supporting women and non-binary artists creatively, physically, and culturally.

Community & Culture

Austin loves to call itself the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Where does Femme Rock fit into that legacy, and how is it changing the scene?

We show up consistently. Through showcases, open jams, and community events, Femme Rock creates access points for people who were historically pushed to the margins of that scene.

Tell us about a Femme Rock open jam or showcase moment that gave you goosebumps.

Open jams are everything for community-building. I remember one jam where a group of women were meeting for the first time. It took a while for them to build the courage to play together—but when they finally did, they were laughing, vibing, completely locked in. That group eventually formed a band and now plays around Austin. Watching that happen in real time is unreal.

How important is community support—venues, audiences, fellow musicians—in helping Femme Rock bands thrive?

It’s crucial. Femme Rock won’t thrive in isolation—we thrive when we’re surrounded by venues, audiences, and collaborators who genuinely understand and respect the mission. Authenticity matters, and as Austin keeps growing, that kind of alignment can be harder to find. That’s why partners like Kick Butt Coffee and Rock N Roll Rentals have been such cornerstones for Femme Rock. They don’t just provide space or gear, they actively support what we’re building and help create environments where our bands feel welcome, celebrated, and taken seriously.

Have any bands formed through Femme Rock gone on to play regular shows around Austin? Who should we be watching?

So many. V-Ctrl, BOO85, Las Chicas en 512, Sea Hagzzz, Ms. Cool, Maiden Mother Crone, Keepsake, For Richie (I know I’m probably forgetting some). Honestly, it feels like new bands are forming constantly. This session alone, we have three new BYOB bands, which stands for Bring Your Own Band. It’s a format where students independently create and lead their own band, play whatever music they want, rehearse at the Femme Rock space, and then perform at the showcase at Kick Butt Coffee after eight weeks. It’s been incredible to watch people take full ownership of their projects and step into the scene with confidence and begin to write their own songs.

Anything exciting coming up we should have on our radar?

We have new classes starting all the time. Visit our website at www.femmerock.com to get involved. All levels are welcome! You can also follow us on Instagram @femmerock.