"Swerlk" was released in conjunction with GLAAD and proceeds from the sales benefited the Contigo Fund, a non-profit organization for LGBTQ individuals.

[1] In an interview with iHeartRadio, MNDR explained that the song is about "celebrating life, dancing, individuality, differences, fierceness, and sometimes 'Swerlk' is even a shoulder to cry on".

Commenting the release, Rich Ferraro from GLAAD stated, "Music has the power to uplift and unite people and the Scissor Sisters and MNDR have always done that for the LGBTQ community.

[9] It was directed by Kevin Tachman and Drew Levin, with a choreography by Brad Landers, who previously worked with Scissor Sisters on the music video for "Let's Have a Kiki" (2012).

[9] Justin Moran from Out magazine found the song a "proud declaration of queer power, choosing to remember the Pulse victims in a celebratory light on the shooting's one-year anniversary".

[11] Taylor Henderson from Pride named the song "a heart-pounding, house-beat anthem begging you to swirl it, twirl it, twerk it, swerve all the way to the dancefloor".

[12] Samantha Manzella from NewNowNext described the song as "an EDM anthem for the ages, packing dance-worthy beats and catchy lyrics into an infectious 5-minute jam".