# QUEEN KWONG Reclaims Her Strength and Power in Provocative Video “The Mourning Song”

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/queen-kwong-reclaims-her-strength-and-power-in-provocative-video-the-mourning-song/
- Published: 2023-03-27T16:00:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/b5e95f64-
7bfd-a06d-70ec-190087bc207a.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)

“Callaway is clearly channeling her recent physical and mental traumas, resulting
in what sounds (and looks to be) her most visceral work yet.” – **The A.V. Club**

“Her vocals, which range from snarling to waif-like, loosing emotional carnage over
often-harsh guitars, heavy synths and feedback, delicate one song and doomy the 
next. That her creative process is stubbornly stream-of-consciousness make Queen
Kwong’s releases especially challenging” – **Buzzbands.la **

“Carré Callaway’s tough-as-nails attitude mixes oddly with her esoteric innocence.
You wouldn’t expect the freckled-face singer to lead a ‘visceral rock’ band named
Queen Kwong.” – **LA Weekly**

“Singing through a stinging lyrical letter, it borders the delirium and darkness
of divorce and finding a way out.” – **Flaunt**

“… an absolute shiver-inducing stunner, with its haunted, slow-build introduction,
jarringly jagged grooves, and thundering, industrial-punk sonics.” _– _**BlackBook**

“Carré Callaway’s latest is a brilliant testament to human endurance, to battling
extreme adversity, to keeping going when you really don’t want to.” – **FLOOD**

#### **“… a rejection of shame and the mass cultural gaslighting women endure.”**

### **QUEEN KWONG⏎ RECLAIMS HER STRENGTH AND POWER⏎ ⏎ IN SEDUCTIVE AND PROVOCATIVE VIDEO“THE MOURNING SONG”

#### **Filmed and Assembled By All Female/Non-Binary Cast and Crew**

**MARCH 21, 2023 (Los Angeles, CA) – **“‘**The Mourning Song**’ is probably the 
most personal and blunt song on the record, so I wanted the video to be equally 
as bold and vulnerable,” says the defiantly fearless **Queen Kwong **a.k.a. **Carré
Kwong Callaway **about her latest single and provocative video.  Taken from her 
universally acclaimed third album, [_**Couples Only**_](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=f3c78ca690&e=615f2b8493)(
out now _via_ **Sonic Ritual**), the slinky and empowering track finds Callaway 
at her most emotionally raw and pointed, exposing herself not as a victim but as
the one with the last laugh.

Queen Kwong - The Mourning Song (Official Video)

[⌊Queen Kwong - The Mourning Song (Official Video)⌉⌊Queen Kwong - The Mourning Song(
Official Video)⌉
Watch this video on YouTube

**QUEEN KWONG – “The Mourning Song”**

Directed by queer director **Tammy Sanchez**, the video is sensual and alluring,
portraying Callaway as a dancer in an exotic club. “I was a dancer in my early 20’
s, and though I felt like it was incredibly empowering. Many people tried to make
me feel ashamed for it,” she explains. “This video concept was born as a rejection
of that notion. Originally, it was a rejection of shame and the mass cultural gaslighting
women endure.”

It’s important to note that the cast and crew were non-male identifying. “Alongside
director Tammy Sanchez, a queer, femme visionary, and an all-female and non-binary
crew, we removed the male gaze and replaced it with pride,” she explains staunchly.“
We shot the video at Hollywood’s famous bikini bar _**Jumbo’s Clown Room**_ last
summer, but its release was delayed because of [recent legal action](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=9d30874d13&e=615f2b8493).
Now that I’m on the other side of that, this video release means even more to me.
It represents women’s power, artistic expression, and refusal to be quiet. It’s 
time to be fearless and proud.”  

![Queen Kwong](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/
334f7e9b-3048-0060-cbf3-67df61ea3052.jpeg?resize=357%2C451&ssl=1)

**Queen Kwong – Credit: Karin Catt**

Adds director Sanchez, “Shame is a powerful tool used to silence people, especially
women. When you factor in race, class, disability, queerness, the baffles become
ever more oppressive. These systems rely on our shame and silence to exploit, abuse,
and capitalize off of our bodies, art, style, and labor. I’ve chosen to cultivate
a safe space for my voice and my collaborators by only working with women and non-
binary crew. My voice is queer, femme, non-white, and disabled. A critical perspective,
just like Carré’s. And just like her, I am not ashamed and won’t shut up.”

As mentioned above, the video’s release had been delayed by a court case well-documented
by Rolling Stone which was ultimately [dismissed without merit](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=8f6f1192d3&e=615f2b8493).
Callaway’s statement at the time got to the bottom of it by stating, “This was an
act of intimidation _via_ a court system with the intent of disrupting my career
and shutting me up. Which, unfortunately, is a common bullying tactic used by people
in positions of power to evade accountability and intimidate women into silence.”

A celebration of her record _Couples Only_, her voice, and female power, “The Mourning
Song” is the reclamation of her independence, her strength, and her vision. Described
as_ “_a moment of necessary catharsis_” _(The Line of Best Fit) and “a phenomenal
record by an artist at the top of her creative game,” (FLOOD), _Couples Only _could
be pinned as a divorce record, but it’s so much more. A fearless account of facing
the worst betrayals and learning to accept devastating loss, it’s the story of Carré’s
resounding resilience and unwavering talent.

The resulting record assembles a notable cadre of contributing musician friends 
including **The Cure**’s **Roger O’Donnell** (_keyboards_), **Swanssuzette Kristof
Hahn** (_lap steel_) and** Blood Red Shoes**’** Laura-Mary Carter** (_backing vocals_)
who appear intermittently throughout the LP – it’s Carré setting the record straight,
and this time around she’s taking no prisoners.  

**“THE MOURNING SONG”**

Give it up
What’s left to hide?Thought you said, “what’s yours is mine”Back it up,
back to your primeWhen was that, maybe 1999?You were onstage living a monkey-do 
lifeAnother day, another new disguise

![Queen Kwong](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984/images/
dc5a9cdb-dfd5-9f33-e155-1adb646d6b4f.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1)

**Queen Kwong – Credit: Karin Catt**

[Chorus]
Read the room, projectorFeed the roomRead the room, projectorRead the room

In a sense, yeah you’re right
I’ve only ever loved one man and you weren’t that 
guyBut I tried and I tried and I tried and I triedNow the tires lost air and Daisy
diеdThe house was sold with all our things left insidеYou said it would be the end
of my lifeBut at least I’m not dead inside

[Chorus]

Mourning will break
Mourning will breakMourning will breakMourning will break your
heartMourning will break your heartMourning will break your heartMourning will break
your heartMourning will break your heart  

[⌊Queen Kwong album cover⌉⌊Queen Kwong album cover⌉[

**Queen Kwong – Couples Only**

_**Couples Only**_** 
Tracklist

1. [I Know Who You Are](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2022/03/queen-kwong-releases-provocatively-visceral-video-i-know-who-you-are-via-flaunt/)

2. EMDR ATM 3. [Sad Man](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2022/09/johnny-knoxville-channels-harvey-keitels-bad-lieutenant-in-queen-kwongs-sad-man-video/)
4. Death In Reverse 5. [The Mourning Song](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=a575123589&e=615f2b8493)
6. No Rules 7. Stanley (RIP) 8. [On The Run](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2022/05/queen-kwong-releases-on-the-run-video-a-deadly-take-on-reality-dating-shows/)
9. Biggest Mistake 10. Giver Taker Faker 11. [Without You, Whatever](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2022/06/queen-kwong-shares-new-video-for-without-you-whatever-starring-laura-mary-carter/)

**Social Media:**
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| [Twitter](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=516630d5d5&e=615f2b8493)
| [Facebook](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=bc223f7b68&e=615f2b8493)
| [Instagram](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=f4f1f27f43&e=615f2b8493)
| [Spotify](https://reybee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f67b4587af2b2ef9aa80ed984&id=2412c11dca&e=615f2b8493)

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