Queen Cult - Stop Calling Review
By Andy Portou
Queen Cult’s newest single Stop Calling is a raging banger with a twist. While it initially appears to be a groovy, danceable pop-punk anthem with hilarious lyrics, the song actually holds a much more serious conversation about consent, boundaries and finding catharsis through dancing.
With the blunt delivery of lines such as ‘you’re taking the mick’ and ‘Shut the fuck up, no caller ID’, Stop Calling is unapologetically abrasive and funny. Throughout its verses, the song bounces between several relatable stories of unwanted attention, such as cold callers, advertisements and untrustworthy salespeople. What’s particularly interesting is how the phone is the common source of these bombardments, which causes us to reflect on the sheer level of boundary violation that is unfortunately so common in technology. Queen Cult are able to bring up these serious conversations while writing a catchy tune that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is the best of both worlds: a song you can dance and thrash to that then sticks in your mind for a while after.
What I love most about the track is its production and just how replayable it is. The mix is brimming with creative production choices that I appreciated more with every listen. The guitars are often engulfed in waves of cacophonous reverb and the bass riff is blown out and crunchy, which really emphasises the physicality of these performances, such as fingers plucking the bass strings, and strings hitting the body of the guitar. I love how sinister the abrasive distortion and stomping beat feel, and this contrasts fantastically against the song’s poppy vocals and structure. There is so much personality to be found here and it’s exciting to see the band move in this direction.
Front-woman Maisie Johnson explained her process writing the song:
‘It came about when I witnessed someone receiving unwanted attention and they felt frustrated that their boundaries were being constantly crossed. I had the riff for ages so it all just started to come together. The stomp came from wanting to give people something to dance to. Dancing after all does relieve stress!’
Queen Cult are carving a strong identity for themselves and I can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us.
