In true Music Month tradition, I wanted to feature a band that’s near and dear to our hearts. A face that may seem familiar, Qualms is a band containing our very own Jared Ipsen of Nexus News fame. Sitting down with his band, we wanted to get a better understanding of who they are without getting too serious and technical. Bunch of lads that I’m sure you should keep an eye out for.
Nexus: How are you lads doing? How are we holding up at the moment?
Tom: QUALMS aye, holding up is probably a stretch at the moment. Probably more holding down. Keeping the lights on. Keeping the fish alive. Ringing grandma once a week. Necessities. We look good though. And that’s what really matters.
Nexus: Where does the name come from? QUALMS, does the vibe match the definition?
Tom: Mate, when you’ve got QUALMS, you know it. It comes from the ancient Gaelic word quallmucllwyrp, meaning, if you want it, you got it, baby. The same goes for vibes. Like breakfast, you get out what you put in.
Jared: I don’t believe in breakfast. I mean, I know that it exists, but I could never get behind it.
Nexus: If you had to explain your sound, how would you do it?
Tom: Explaining sound in writing is tricky. I would say just listen to it.
Jared: Gabe has famously described our sound as “Straight Ahead Rock.” If I had to explain it though I’d probably go “eeeeeoooooouuuughhhhh.”
Tom: Use those grossly huge ears of yours to do what your mother intended them to do on you. Get laughed at. While listening to QUALMS.
Nexus: What would be your dream lineup for a festival? Who would you bring in?
Tom: Dream line up? QUALMS headlining. Warm up act would just be Jared crying alone on stage for about twenty minutes to get everyone moving.
Jared: Usually I cry in the toilet before we play so this way is kinda two birds, one stone.
Nexus: If you could collaborate with any artists, alive or dead, who would you love to create with?
Tom: Collabs. I personally would love to see what GG Allin could not only bring to our sound, but also our stage show. Would probably help with Jared’s crying too. Vibes aye. Just vibing.
Jared: I’d go back in time to find the CEO of music to find out why they only made 12 notes. We need something else to work with. Maybe society is finally ready for a 13th note?
Nexus: Who are you currently frothing from local sounds?
Tom: Froth. Got a lot of froth for those new P.H.F singles. Melodownz. RIP Dead Beat Boys too. But nobody else. Qualms just has enemies.
Jared: We have no friends in the scene and every band is our enemy. If we are ever nice to you we are just pretending. QUALMS froths for no man.
Nexus: Is there anything coming up at the moment for you guys? Anything for everyone to look out for?
Tom: Coming up we got a whole schmear of goodies. Mostly a practice next weekend to get some new jams going. It’s been too long. We missed each other over lock down and isolation and all that hiff. We missed you guys more though. Haha nah jokes, we missed each other way more.
