Couples Only is a moment of necessary catharsis for Queen Kwong

Multi-instrumentalist Carré Kwong Callaway, known today as Queen Kwong, first emerged onto the scene in 2005 under the wing of Trent Reznor when she was just 17, and while she still carries those industrial origins today, her sound is far too elaborate to confine to one box. In the years since 2018’s Love Me To Death, Callaway has dealt with a divorce and a cystic fibrosis diagnosis; two life-changing events that inspired her most recent record, Couples Only.

The raw vulnerability of Couples Only makes it by no means an easy listen, but don’t let you put that off. The album’s eccentricities add an element of discomfort throughout, but it’s this grittiness that draws the listener in. The abrasive nature of the music and lyrics contrast the unshakeable cool of Queen Kwong’s vocal delivery, giving the whole experience a sense of unwavering confidence.

Unsurprisingly for someone who has been in the music industry for the best part of two decades, Callaway has seen the worst of it, and her observations of the scene are present throughout this album. "Sad Man" shows her cynicism towards the current state of the industry with “Paying rent by selling guitars / DJing shitty bars / I don’t want to be another sad man in another sad band dropping the same names”. We come back to this idea with the cutting track "Biggest Mistake", which presents us with the figure of the emotionally stunted rockstar: “You needed a crowd just to feel like you’re alright”. Her rage comes through subtly, not with overwhelming emotion but through her acidic lyrics.

The industrial, slightly gothic darkness of "No Rules" and "The Mourning Song" is heightened by Callaway’s use of hypnotic refrains to draw the listener in, such as the haunting “Mourning will break your heart”, with its similar effect to the mesmerising titular line of opening track “I Know Who You Are”.

Couples Only is, at its core, a moment of necessary catharsis for Queen Kwong. From a period of personal pain, she has created instances of emotional healing where hurt and fury are given their time in the spotlight with a backdrop of endlessly intoxicating, grungy sounds. It’s not always a comfortable listen, but it’s certainly a worthwhile one.