Queen Kwong: She’ll break you… watch for her in 2010

Pet mp3 Queen Kwong

[This is the second in a series of guest reviews by my good friend Puppet Show, who has thankfully given in to my begging and agreed to help me out. He's found a wonderful artist that I really wanted to feature here and who hasn't received much coverage yet. Look for her EP in early 2010 and an LP soon after. She wrote: "I just finished recording my upcoming debut record and  I have some great people like Chris Chaney, Dave Navarro, Ysanne Spevack (Smashing Pumpkins), etc. who play on it." So we're pretty excited to have her first cuts here in the Shack! ... I think you'll also see from this post why Puppet and I are such good friends!]

Ok I admit it, I am in love with Carré Callaway – cats, guns, music and beauty, who could resist any of those. She is an aloof magical girl with creative ability and drive, eclipsed by few, …in a word amazing. But alas who is Carré Callaway? I came across Carré on Twitter by following Dave Navarro. I noticed him re-tweeting her and chatting with her. After seeing a few videos of guitar tracks for new song demos I decided to look further into her work.

Carré was discovered at age 17 and was given an opening slot on the NIN “With Teeth” tour where she would play on stage with only a guitar and a microphone and an amp. Four years later she was given the same opportunity on the NIN “Wave Goodbye” tour. I decided to give a link to Queen Kwong, Carré’s alias, to Tart who subsequently said, “Where do you come up with this stuff and get off my messenger!” (kidding really), she seemed intrigued but that was the last I had heard of the subject with her, until the other day. [Tart's editorial note: I promised to contact her for him, he was ecstatic! He just won't admit this, haha!]  I received an mp3 from Tart with no specific markings or titling to it. I blindly threw it into the AIMP player and clicked play, readying myself, because as much as I loves me some Tart she can send me some unusual stuff.

Anyway back to the task at hand… clicking play, I was greeted with an absolutely dirty bass groove with matching vocals. It was the first time I have ever wanted to lick my speakers. It was an onslaught of sensual, sexual, velvet reverberations. After wiping the drool off my ears I notice that I am listening to THE Queen Kwong playing “Pet.” I am speechless. Tart had sent me Carré to play with, and this made me happy. I was an even happier lad upon receiving the rest of the package that included an interesting video for the song “Pet” and four more songs for me to peruse. “Bitter Lips” and “Black Hearts” were more of the same, very solid. Carré’s voice lies beautifully with the raw guitar and strings in “Black Heart” and I wanted to be the one whose heart she broke. “Bitter Lips” mutitracking of Carré whispering in the background was delicious; the groove was an edgy layered montage of bass and guitar. The sound was simple but complex; an oxymoron in and of itself, … wonderful.

Queen Kwong has so much going for her, solid musicianship, solid sound, and a wonderful look, it’s the total package. If I were to make a band, this would be the band I made; it would damn near be the sound I made.  It’s fresh and yet familiar. Queen Kwong can be so delicate and beautiful at the same time dirty and harsh, basically a catholic school girl dressed up in her uniform singing like choir of angels all while giving a come hither look. Carré, I love you in that non-creepy, no restraining order way. Keep taking those videos clips of you saying nothing. Keep making music that is both sultry and sophisticated, and keep showing me those socks du jour… and call me… really call me… seriously at some point you have to make it to the east coast… call me…

Call me… really…

[don't worry Carré, he's harmless, I swear it ]