[Cover photo credit to Darian Zahedi]

Carré Kwong Callaway, aka Queen Kwong, has released a new EP titled Strangers in which she covers a selection of songs specifically chosen because they were the work of male artists originally. The EP arrives via Sonic Ritual.

She shares:

I specifically covered songs by men because I wanted to take a bigger risk creatively. I’m always down to take risks and stick my neck out.

The four-song EP contains unconventional reimaginings of classic songs from The Rolling Stones (“Sympathy for the Devil”), Bruce Springsteen (“State Trooper”), Chris Isaak (“Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing”) and The Velvet Underground (“I Found A Reason”).

This was a specific response to the male-dominated music world.

She adds:

This EP serves as both a personal reconciliation and a way to honor the complicated legacy of rock n roll, even as I continue to push for a future where women have equal footing in the genre. 

She gives a fuller explanation:

As much as I love and admire the work of my favorite female musicians, like PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Kim Deal, Beth Gibbons, Bjork, I don’t believe I could bring anything new to their songs—those works feel perfect to me just as they are. I didn’t want to try to interpret something that, in my mind, already exists in its best form. Instead, I wanted to see how I could transform some of my favorite songs by famous men, by bringing a female touch and gaze to their music.

At first, I wanted to make an entire LP of covers. But I quickly realized that so much of the material I wanted to record was by men who had a history of mistreating or abusing women. I literally could not fill an album’s worth of songs by men I’ve been influenced by without running into this uncomfortable reality. So, I eventually stopped and ended up writing a big essay about problematic men in rock on my Substack (The Rockstar Must Die).

Now in London after living in Los Angeles, CA for a number of years, Carré is moving ahead with future projects.

She comments on her current outlook:

I’m nearly finished with a new full-length Queen Kwong record that will be released next year. I recorded it at Roger O’Donnell’s (The Cure) studio in the middle of nowhere England. Because I was using his studio and his gear, it’s synth heavy. I co-produced with Darian Zahedi (CRX) and it’s very me but also a big departure from previous records. As per usual, many great musician friends of mine contributed parts including Nick Valensi (The Strokes) and Pete Holmström (The Dandy Warhols), and Tchad Blake (The Kills, Fiona Apple, The Black Keys) is mixing it. It’s going to be a banger.

STRANGERS Tracklisting

1. Sympathy For The Devil (Rolling Stones)

2. State Trooper (Bruce Springsteen)

3. Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing (Chris Isaak)

4. I Found A Reason (Velvet Underground)