“It’s Punk With Strings!” An interview with THWACK!

by Gigi Daniels

SMASH! BANG! WALLOP! THWACK!

This isn’t the start of a superhero graphic novel but an interview with the onomatopoeic project THWACK! Formed in 2022 via JoinMyBand.com, this vibrant group is redefining punk on their own terms, infusing it with queerness and a heavy dose of DIY creativity. Inspired by Drag and Cabaret, they craft life-sized models of Margaret Thatcher, produce music in a Toyota Yaris, and bring biblically accurate angels to life.

Citing influences from Bowie, Blondie, the B-52s, and ELO—with unexpected nods to Slade, Fall Out Boy, and Against Me—Charlie (vocals) and Chlo (bassist, backing vocals, producer), and Blake (drums), Mal (cello and vocals) and Natalia (violin), embody theatrical, campy, and high-energy chaos. With their new single Three Angels dropping February 7th, we met to discuss their journey.

Making Space for the Freaks and Weirdos

Gigi: Thanks for meeting me in Camden! Is this a dream gig location for you?

Chlo: It’s more about the vibe and the bands we play with rather than a specific venue. But Camden is cool—I’ve always had my eye on the Underworld.

Charlie: Are we dark enough for that place? We might be too cute, but we are definitely a band for the Freaks and Weirdos.

The Art of DIY Punk

Gigi: What are you most proud of in your role in THWACK!?

Chlo: Producing all our singles! Even after upgrading my headphones, I still mix in my car—it’s my perfect sound booth. Though, my neighbors definitely give me funny looks.

Charlie: Our DIY ethos is inherently queer—crafting posters, cover art, and outfit mood boards to create a story outside narrow norms. There’s a long tradition of queer artists building spaces in Drag and Cabaret. For our last single, we collaborated with two iconic performers, building a universe where self-expression thrives. It’s about making the art we want to see.

Chlo: Sometimes I think about how much Thwag-min (THWACK! admin) we do—models, outfits, cover art. I can’t imagine Keith Richards doing all this! But we love it. It’s about immersion, not just music.

Charlie: Right now, I’m deep in the music video. It’s a dream to create this, but let’s be real—it’s a financial challenge. We’re all balancing jobs, and being a self-funded band is no joke. Bands like Lambrini Girls have talked about this—daddy’s not rich! Many voices don’t get heard because they lack resources.

Queer Joy as Resistance

Gigi: There’s a real philosophy behind what you’re doing—art, identity, and community.

Charlie: It’s our first interview! So much to say!

Chlo: We believe in Queer Joy as resistance. The ‘tortured artist’ trope sucks. While our songs stem from strong emotions, we want to lift people up, not drag them down.

Charlie: Hopelessness is easy. But if you lose hope, you’ve already lost. If you keep it, you might win. Three Angels is about removing yourself from despair, recognizing agency, and embracing change.

Chlo: The song title might make us sound like a Christian Rock band, but it’s more about messages. Angels can be a song, a conversation, a bird in the sky—

Charlie: That’s so ELO-coded.

Chlo: Exactly. And the song asks: What angels have you seen today?

Writing Three Angels

Gigi: When I first saw your announcement, I thought, Is this an homage to Robbie Williams?

Chlo: Haha! I did see Take That on a first date once. Stick him on our inspiration list!

Charlie: There’s something inherently queer and trans about making a decision that shifts your life’s trajectory. It’s terrifying and liberating. Three Angels is my love letter to that moment.

Gigi: Was there a specific moment that inspired the song?

Charlie: I was in a rough place, feeling trapped. Then, within days, I came across Kate Bornstein’s writing, a Lana Del Rey song, and a medical prescription. These became my ‘three angels.’ At the time, I was living in a tiny, coffin-like Limehouse flat. Everything felt suffocating. But those ‘angels’ helped me push through.

Gigi: So you witnessed something painful and created something powerful in response.

Charlie: That’s exactly it. It was the first song I wrote specifically for THWACK!, and the band helped bring it to life in ways I never imagined. It became our shared reason to keep going.

The Future: Festivals, DIY Spectacle & Community

Gigi: What’s next for THWACK!?

Chlo: We have huge things coming. I spend my Mondays and Tuesdays mixing in my car if that gives you any indication! Our single launch gig is at New River Studios in February, and we’re applying for a ton of festivals.

Charlie: And by ‘a ton,’ we mean fourteen.

Chlo: The more noise we make, the more opportunities we get. Word of mouth is still huge, alongside TikTok and Spotify.

Gigi: Until they get taken offline…

Chlo: Which is why my stacks of glittery cardboard will never die!

Charlie: I’m a bit nervous about this release. Our Thatcher-inspired track gained traction, but Three Angels is quite different. Still, we believe in it, and hopefully, the politically charged energy behind THWACK! will continue to bring us to new audiences.

Chlo: And we’re still going to be making absurd, neurodivergent-fueled art. Like, what if Margaret Thatcher was a blood-sucking vampire? Or what if Evanescence’s Fallen and Britney Spears’ In the Zone characters were in a sapphic love story? That’s how Blue Ray was born! We love throwing unrelated concepts together—it’s chaotic but so us.

Charlie: At its core, THWACK! is about unapologetic existence. In a world where malevolent forces try to erase us, building community—creating small, tangible change—is how we survive.

Thwack! Will be releasing their latest single ‘Three Angels‘ on Friday 7th February. To celebrate, they are playing at New River Studios for a night of Radical, Queer energy. Witness this band in person, you won’t regret it.

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