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Coquitlam teacher makes 'dirtyprettychic' music

"Dirtyprettychic" is how Pinetree secondary drama teacher Natalee Fera describe her band's sound. "What's that?" she's asked. "Whatever you want it to be," Fera quips.

"Dirtyprettychic" is how Pinetree secondary drama teacher Natalee Fera describe her band's sound.

"What's that?" she's asked.

"Whatever you want it to be," Fera quips.

Officially, Marry Me's music can be classified as blues-punk-rock, a blend of the band members' backgrounds that include metal, pop/soul, punk and musical theatre.

The proposal for Marry Me happened about three years ago after Fera and guitarist and vocalist Danny Lovelock struck a friendship. Soon, Lovelock recruited two other students he met while at the Pacific Audio Visual Institute: drummer Kenny Dietrich and keyboardist and singer Adam Jeal.

And three months later, they were the winners of Supernova's Battle of the Bands contest.

They cut a self-titled EP in 2013 and toured B.C. and Alberta, and, in June of this year, released a full-length LP - featuring the rock 'n roll single Sexy & Suffering - under producer Travis Saunders.

Everyone inquires about the origins of the band's moniker, she says. "It's so funny. I thought we should make up different stories," Fera laughs. "Actually, it's really boring. Danny thought it would be a really cool name for a band with a girl and a guy. It's also something profound that you don't say very many times in your life."

As for Pinetree, the support from students, teachers and parents has been encouraging, "which is very nice," she says. Marry Me has played all-ages shows and at a school fundraiser. For its Ignite and Secret Santa videos, Pinetree students were involved (English teacher Debbie Bouska also had a part in the Christmas song penned by Fera).

"I feel like, as a drama teacher, it's the best thing that I can do because I teach them but I can also inspire them by living my own art and showing my passion," she said.

This past summer, Marry Me played 25 dates across North America, ending up at the Red Room in Vancouver on Sept. 6 for their homecoming. They won rave reviews on their tour, and Fera said she got special kudos from the women in the audience for her vocal and guitar chops. "I was approached by many girls my age or younger who liked that I played bass. It's not many times you see that so that make me feel really good."

Marry Me performs on Friday at the Media Club (695 Cambie St., Vancouver) with southern California punk-rock band Bristol To Memory. They also play on Saturday at the Edgewater Inn in Peachland. Tickets to the Media Club show are $10 in advance through Ticketmaster or Ticketweb, or $12 at the door.