The Qwarks are a three piece punk-ish band from Brighton, UK. The trio of friends have been playing together for years but only recently decided to dip their toes into the music streaming world. Like working musicians across the world they found themselves without gigs in 2020. Taking advantage of the downtime they decided to kick out some original jams.
“Inefficient Bondage” is the debut single from The Qwarks, released worldwide to all major streaming services on February 3, 2021. The song’s unique vibe combines a 1970’s era American Proto-punk groove with a distinctly British sense of humor. If MC5 and Monty Python were to collaborate on a song, it may sound a bit like this. Over a wild Punk/Funk instrumental track, lead vocalist and guitarist Phil Johnstone recounts his fumbling and failed attempt to engage in some elicit S&M fun. It’s hilarious, and the band is killer.
Check out “Inefficient Bondage,” below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Dive playlist. We had the chance to chat (virtually) with The Qwarks about the band, the song and their plans (or lack thereof) for the future. Check out their answers to out 8 questions below, and follow the links at the end of this article to connect with The Qwarks.
8 Questions with The Qwarks
The Static Dive: Where are you from?
The Qwarks: Brighton, the home of ethical plumbing, rumoured to have the highest proportion of yoga instructors and spiritual healers of any major conurbation and located on the South Coast of a grim and rapidly deteriorating little island in the North Atlantic just South of Orkney.
SD: How long have you been making music?
TQ: Been making music since we were old enough to sign on to dole (welfare); The three of us have all been involved in various musical projects of various incarnations for decades.
SD: Who are the musicians involved in your project?
TQ: Phil Callum Johnstone (guitars, vocals) Nick Flowers (drums) Simon Young (Bass)
SD: Who are your biggest musical influences?
TQ: Gong, Can, Siousie Soux and the Banshees, Zappa, Hendrix, The Stairs, big guitar riffs, The modes of limited transposition
SD: What is your greatest non-musical influence?
TQ: Loud shirts; things that are irritating (music is a better alternative than Jail); false prophets; Carry On films and Brighton & Hove actually.
SD: What inspired you to create this project?
TQ: Started out as a covers band then in the midst of lockdown madness a furious writing process of our own material ensued. This particular song is inspired partly by a Stewart Lee sketch but more broadly Bondage and that kind of stuff has become very hip and fashionable these days since 50 Shades. Romance is complicated enough. No one ever gives any attention to the difficulties of knot tying and the administrative complications involved; or how to be horrendously rude and demeaning to someone who desires this if you are generally quite polite. These are important issues entirely neglected by the culture.
SD: What are your plans for the future (musically)?
TQ: Look out for our next single Lizard People coming out in March! Our album ‘The Qwarks are Cancelled’ will be out this summer!
Apart from that, well, a plan is pointless but planning is essential, someone once said. Unfortunately we have neither a plan or a planning process. Luckily the increasing levels of collective insanity pervading through the culture means there will continue to be a plethora of song writing material. You just have to walk out the door, or at least look out the window. We manage to do these two activities now and then, so we’ll keep trying to do that and see what sounds emerge.
SD: Is there anything else you would like to say?
TQ: If you’ve enjoyed our material, there are helplines and leaflets you may find useful. Don’t follow leaders, watch the bottom feeders.