The Qwarks Highlight Existential Freedom in, "Terrible Boo Boo"
- BUZZ LA
- May 10, 2021
- 3 min read
Soaring in from Brighton, UK, the psychedelic rock/proto-punk trio, The Qwarks, takes us on an upbeat and lively journey with the release of their latest single and music video, "Terrible Boo Boo."
As the pandemic struck and all were forced into their homes, the likes of Phil Johnstone, Simon Young, and Nick Flowers felt compelled to form their rocking trio. Now known as The Qwarks, the trio steers away from musical norms through their comedic lyricism and versatile rock approach, piercing our speakers with heavy guitars, loud wardrobes, and natural charisma.
Gearing up to release their forthcoming debut album, 'The Qwarks Are Cancelled' this July, the trio is currently making tidal waves with their recent single and music video, "Terrible Boo Boo." While the song blasts through our speakers with a significant 60s psych-rock appeal, the song's music video takes on a more comedic approach to an important concept.
Listening to the single itself, "Terrible Boo Boo" opens with Phil Johnstone's beaming electric guitar riffs, Simon Young's thumping bass licks, and Nick Flowers' upbeat drum breaks. As the witty and charismatic Phil Johnstone makes his warm vocal appearance, he begins letting listeners into a conceptual story of pondering existential freedom abound his journey to the seaside. The Qwarks' instrumentals are truly exhilarating as they pour through our speakers with boundless life and energy.
Taking a peek at their music video for "Terrible Boo Boo," The Qwarks hit up Brighton's seaside with their comedic monkey masks while jamming away to the grit and power of the song at hand. While emphasizing themes of fighting to free zoo animals into their natural habitats, the video comes to a spirited close.
Find The Qwarks' latest single, "Terrible Boo Boo," on all streaming platforms, and watch the comedic/conceptual music video on YouTube.
We applaud you for taking needed concepts and fusing them into your songs/videos, similar to the concept within "Terrible Boo Boo." What inspired the lyrical content within this piece?
'Terrible Boo Boo' is an English phrase used to describe an ignominious faux pas engendering social approbation. We are a class-based society and embarrassment is the glue that keeps it together. The band was interested in the concept of a monkey, representing our primal selves, attempting to navigate delicately constructed mores and etiquettes without the benefit of a classic British education with all its corrective punishments and humiliations. Also, we wanted to dress up as monkeys.
What did you want to get across to your audience through your monkey masks and seaside performance within the music video for "Terrible Boo Boo?"
We wanted to tempt them. Tempt them with the notion of lost freedoms, of unabashed joy and rapturous expression. Through our dances and gambling, we hoped to give them a vision of a long-buried atavistic ritual, a sublime truth beyond words, the antic soul made flesh. We hoped they would cast away their cheap lager, threatening scowls and cold derisive cackles to join us in the sun. This didn't quite go to plan of course, but luckily they didn't know who we were 'cos we had masks on.
Considering that your group is known for your comedic/charismatic lyricism and 60s/70s psych-rock appeal, do you frequently touch on needed and necessary topics within your music? Similar to "Terrible Boo Boo?"
Frequently, but mainly by accident. You can't go anywhere these days without treading in a necessary topic. Everything is grist to the mill of judgment when seen through the lens of delusion. Some bloke saw me eating a marmite sandwich yesterday and became incandescent with rage when I neglected to wipe a stray smear from my chin. There are songs about Lizards, nosey parkers, timid sexual adventuring, furniture, and Buddhists, etc, so we do touch on many topics, much like a goldfish with a scattergun might.
Should we expect to hear "Terrible Boo Boo" on your forthcoming album, 'The Qwarks Are Cancelled?" How does the single get us ready for the entire album?
I'm afraid that yes, you must expect to hear TBB on the album. There's no point in optimistically assuming that it won't be on there. Faint heart never won fair maid, so just brace yourself and it'll all be over before you know it. The single contains many of the notes that appear on other songs from the album, although they will be in a different order, and sometimes played at a different speed. I don't think I'm blowing our own horn when I say that ALL the notes are used somewhere or other across the playlist. (But if I did blow our own horn, that'd be even more!).
