Sweat, Chaos, and CARSEX

Band names come in all shapes and sizes, sparked by every kind of inspiration. Some carry deep meaning, some aim to provoke, others are little more than clever in-jokes. And sometimes — well, sometimes a name is just a name. With CARSEX, I’ll let you decide where they land. For me, it conjures up frosted windows in a dark parking lot.

For this interview, I connected with CARSEX’s bass player Jeremy Schott, who walked me through the band’s origins, process, and the chaos that fuels them.

CARSEX crashed out of the Long Beach underground in 2018 with a sound that’s equal parts menace and release. Built from the wreckage of past projects, the five-piece [Members: Nigel Burk (vocals), Shane Lausch (lead guitar), Justin Jolley (rhythm guitar), Jeremy Schott (bass), Jason Blaustein (drums)] pulls together desert rock grit, punk fury, and unfiltered weirdness into songs that feel like a late-night brawl between instinct and intention. Their latest EP, Human Interest, recorded with Steve Evetts and mastered by Alan Douches, sharpens that edge — blasting through themes of cultural decay, personal unrest, and the small moments of catharsis that keep us moving. On stage, CARSEX turn that noise into ritual: sweaty, unhinged, and unforgettable.

Origins / Name

SNQLX: CARSEX – it’s bold, blunt, and hard to forget. What’s the story behind the name, and how has it shaped people’s first impressions of you?

CARSEX: Nigel came up with it. He was listening to the morning show on KROQ in Los Angeles and they were talking about car sex. He thought it would be a cool name for a band, something catchy to remember us by. I haven’t really noticed it shaping people’s opinions of us. I look at it like Pearl Jam – it’s just a name.

SNQLX: You’re all veterans of other bands. What did you want CARSEX to do differently from the jump?

CARSEX: I think CARSEX is a nice mixture of all of our other bands. We have the stoner desert rock of Nigel’s past band, Shane and Justin bring more rock and roll riffage and I think I bring a little bit of the weirdness and anger.

Sound & Creative Process

SNQLX: Your music pulls from punk, sludge, and alt-rock but feels uniquely your own. What’s the secret sauce when you’re writing together?

CARSEX: Shane or Justin usually present a riff or sketch of a song, then Nigel scribbles lyrics for it in his notepad. I try to help meld it together until we come up with a cohesive song.

SNQLX: How much of your writing is instinctual chaos versus intentional commentary?

CARSEX: I’d say it’s 50/50, at least as far as the lyrics go. Nigel and I usually work on the final lyrics together. He usually comes up with the initial ideas and then I try to help him edit them, and come up with the hooks that will fit. Sometimes the ideas just come out in the moment, and others are inspired but cultural ethos of the insanity in the world today.

SNQLX: “Human Interest” feels both feral and focused. What was the headspace going into the studio with Steve Evetts?

CARSEX: We were very much ready to record. We’d been really working hard on these new songs. Since we can only have so many days in the studio, it’s very important to have a really focused idea of where the songs are going. You don’t want to waste time being unprepared. Steve helps us hone the songs to where they need to be, and we’re really happy with the results.

Performance & Energy

SNQLX: People call your shows ritual-like, almost unhinged. How do you harness that energy without it swallowing you whole?

CARSEX: 2-3 beers and a quick stretch! But after that, it’s autopilot for me. We try to be as in-the-moment as possible – cry havoc and let loose… Kinda like a controlled explosion.

SNQLX: What’s the most unforgettable moment that’s gone down at a CARSEX show so far?

CARSEX: That’s a tough question – the shows are usually a blur… 30-35 minutes of being “blacked out” – just going with the flow of the music. We’re just in it, until the last note. I think the best moments are when we’re done, people are sweaty and smiling – that’s how we can tell it was a good show.

Themes & Intent

SNQLX: A track like “Sitting Ducks” feels like cultural critique, while “Stella” borders on myth. Where do you pull your themes from?

CARSEX: When Nigel and I work on the lyrics there is generally a theme to begin with – they spring from his ideas. We often write about subjects that really resonate with us and the members of the band. He’ll usually have most of the lyrics written – but then I’ll dig into my notes and ideas to add to them. We write about things that move us, or piss us off about the world and society in general. Cultural critique seeps into what we write.

SNQLX: Do you see yourselves as storytellers, agitators, or just a band trying to survive the chaos?

CARSEX: We definitely think of ourselves as agitators, and we want to draw attention to the things we see happening. Our songs more often than not do have social commentary. I prefer the art we make to have a message.

Community & Context

SNQLX: Long Beach has always had its own musical identity. How has the city shaped who you are and how you sound?

CARSEX: I think just being in a city in America and seeing all the problems in society shaped our sound. I like to think our sound isn’t just Long Beach centric – we hope that it’s relatable to a broad spectrum of people, especially the ones living in a big city/urban environment. We obviously don’t have a big Sublime-type influence that is very focused on an particular area of Southern California. I think a lot of people in other areas can relate to what we’re saying.

SNQLX: You’ve shared bills with legends and modern heavyweights. What have you learned watching those bands from side stage?

CARSEX: I think the main thing we’ve learned is how to be professional. Don’t get sloppy drunk until after the show. We want to put on the best performance we possibly can. We leave it all on the stage and in their ears. We want people to talk about our music, not something else that would take away from our performance.

Future & Reflection

SNQLX: If someone’s first taste of CARSEX is a live set versus a record – what do you hope they take away from each experience?

CARSEX: We just want people to have fun, to move and be in the moment. Forget about the bills and the job, and all the other problems of life and just have a blast for a bit.

SNQLX: Five years from now, what do you want people to say when they hear the name CARSEX?

CARSEX: “Damn – that band is awesome – can’t wait to hear what they put out next!”

SNQLX: You’re handed a budget to cover any song, no irony allowed. What track are you claiming and why?

CARSEX: Doing a cover song has always been a big argument within the band. We’ve never been able to agree on anything outside of jamming “Detachable Penis” by King Missile at practice. Also, we’ve always wanted to speak with our own voice and not use someone else’s. If I had to pick something, I’d go with “No One Left” by Failure. That bass line is rad!

SNQLX: What’s the most mundane, un-punk thing about each of you?

CARSEX: I listen to more country/americana music than punk these days.

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