If you read this or my posts over at Ford&Ching you’ll know I’m not-so-quietly impressed by Carre Callaway and her band Queen Kwong. You may remember last year when the band headlined our Dwell on Design after-party and impressed the typically nonplussed design crowd with their powerful mini-set of rock songs.
QK at the Kim Sing Theatre's Dwell/Vice Party
Carre Callaway doing her job.
Well, her new EP was just released on Sugar Baby and can be downloaded here for only $2.75. “Love Is A Bruise” is full with Carre’s exceptional storytelling, musical arrangement, and deft guitar playing (and keyboards and other instruments on the record…she pretty much does it all except for guest appearances by a selection of music industry heavies). I’ve watched QK numerous times and something remarkable happens when Carre plays music. The normally quiet and withdrawn young woman opens up to reveal a unique voice that is beautiful, unique, and unerringly human. Her lyrics are nasty, mean, and vindictive yet somehow sweet and melancholy. I’m doing her a major disservice with the above description, but just know her skill and talent combine into something worthy of your attention. Do yourself a favor and download “Love Is A Bruise” now and visit her website for more information.
Love Is A Bruise
I’ll be at her Spaceland show tonight at 9pm sharp, quietly wishing I could do anything half as well as Carre Callaway plays music.
I’ve been following Queen Kwong for a bit now. Carré Callaway (car-ray) is the talented and beautiful front-woman. She plays multiple instruments, and writes all the lusic and lyrics. She’s smart as they come. And she loves cats. Follow her to the top.
I just recently started listening to music again after a very long break…maybe 15 years give or take a few months here and there to listen to old Elvis records. Like Rip Van Winkle I awoke after a long slumber. I should have stayed asleep. Last week I encountered the picture above as representative of what “music” is today. I guess you can say I’m not impressed. This is the “DJ” at a local restaurant that I love. They have great sausages and beer which appeals to my Teutonic leanings, but a computer mixing songs is the biggest bullshit I’ve ever seen. I know I’m coming off as an old Scrooge, but WTF! I went to a concert the other day at the invitation of a friend. It was Imogen Heap. She sang and played the piano, but most of the work was done by a computer. Maybe musicians do this now because there’s so little money in the business and they don’t want to split it with a band. To be fair, I walked out of the show after two songs, but the opening act was more of the same. He sang a little and worked his computer, but it was a far cry from a Merl Haggard concert. It wasn’t even DEVO or Run-DMC. I would have preferred schlocky entertainment by crooners Robbie Williams or Rod Stewart. If this is what we have to look forward to then it’s over. One more sign the Apocalypse is upon us (to borrow a theme from Sports Illustrated).
Been knowing Daz for about 15 years. Worked on a few projects (Tokion, Clive, Subfreakie collabo circa 2001) to name one. Daz You would never think an English fellow had a nose for such eclectic American soul, but he does it as good as anyone…Fell out of touch a while back, but it’s all good. If you like deep soul, rare groove, and super chill vibes check out this pod cast. Spark it up, sit back and enjoy. Word up Daz, maybe see you soon, I’m watchin’ ya. Check his myspace.
Representing true So-Cali-Hip-Hop, PAC DIV seen here in this latest video…Oh Snap! sporting the LUDWIG x BARRACUDA “Elgar” Jacket. Clean looking!!! Good looking out to the crew, sorry folks we SOLD OUT of the grey color a while back, but we have some of the BLACK colorway in stock now, it has killer green bias tape on the the inside seams! - (This Jacket was made in Japan by the same factory that makes all the Nom de Guerre, and Comme des Garcons product, so it is top notch!) GET IT HERE. Next time don’t sleeeeep. Check the photo/videos below.
Been listening to Speech Debelle for a minute. I’m down with female rap artists esp. from the UK. I think they put a special twist on the lyric with the accent and all…Ms. Dynamite included. But speech is on another level i think, this girls got talent AND style, peep it.
Had to post this up. This Track and video is so fly!, and this beat (OG From a previous Grace Jones post) is so fat, and fresh. You gotta love the lyrics too. Cool J is Doin it and, doin it, and doin it well…
Class is back in session kids. This weeks track comes to you from the spectacular Grace Jones 1981 release “Nightclubbing”. “Pull Up to the Bumper” has been a long-time favorite of DJ’s the world over, and nothing says dance, music, sex, romance like this track. There is only one Grace Jones. With her ‘new-wave’ style, pop-art inspired persona, she was a real deal on the 1970’s and 80’s dance club scene…all the while playing muse to Andy Warhol. Visually stunning was her look (she was a successful fashion model before a performer) and it was all New York ala Studio 54. Enjoy!
