The Pinholes are finally making their long-awaited comeback with their debut at this year's installment of the Ombak Festival that will be taking place at Desaru Coast from 12 to 14 September. They’re ready to drench the crowd with their signature 60s tropical rock groove, really setting the vibe for the festival.
We hung out with "The Brown Beatles" at the Ombak Festival preview event that took place at the gorgeous Ember Beach Club, which will house the exclusive Ombak Festival after-parties.
The pioneers of Singaporean soul and rock and roll jumped into discussions on how their distinct retro funk fits into the Ombak lineup, teased the possibility of a new upcoming project that fans should keep their eyes peeled for, and let loose as they talked about their favourite pasar malam delicacies — and came up with fun and innovative answers to eccentric questions about what kind of scent a candle based on The Pinholes would have.
If your signature 60s groove was a candle, what would the scent be called and what would it smell like?
Didi: Okay. My one would be called 'La Obe' Ombre. Oh. So, you know, 'La Obe' from The Swallows? So it's from a sixties band. So Ombre is like a Gucci kind of wood smell. So there's a bit of psychedelic and wood smell ah.
Qush: Yeah, maybe for me, I can go for, like, Ob-La-Di Vanilla because I love the vanilla smell, like, a very smooth smell? Classic. Yeah. Ob-La-Di, I take it from The Beatles, for sure The Beatles songs. Yeah.
Desaru is all about good vibes and sunshine. It's literally sunny right now. Which Pinholes song best captures that “life's a beach” feeling?
Didi: Definitely, it's our song called Sunshine. We have a song called 'Sunshine'. It's the lyrics, like, “will you wait for me a while? I should be there.” So I think it's just the vibe, though, for the Ombak Festival. Yep.
What is one of the craziest experiences you feel like you've had during a live performance?
Didi: Okay. For me, we had a girl run to the stage. We were playing, though, like in Hanoi, Vietnam, for the Asian Pride Festival. So one of the girls just climbed up the stage and hugged one of our band members. So we're like, oh my god. Oh, that's cool. That's the best experience, yeah, we had, playing in Hanoi. Yeah.
Maybe we could recreate it at Ombak Festival? (Laughs)
Didi: (Laughs) Maybe we can try. Hopefully, hopefully there's someone from the crowd like, hey.
Qush: With? Bikini! (Laughs)
Didi: No, no, no, no. (Laughs)
If The Pinholes were a TV show or were in a TV show from the 60s or inspired by one, what would it be called? And which of your songs would be the theme song?
Qush: Okay. I think we’d call it, Lovely: The Brown Beatles. Yeah. We've always liked The Beatles, because a lot of people call us The Brown Beatles, then maybe the theme song will be our song called 'Long Live, Rock and Roll'. So maybe it suits that vibe, the TV show. Yeah.
If you guys could collaborate with anyone from the Ombak Festival lineup, who would your dream collab be?
Didi: Okay. For me, it'd be Joe Flizzow. Do you have anyone to collaborate?
Qush: I need to check who's there. (Laughs) No, for me, I'll go with Gerhana Skacinta, because they are a party band, ska party band. So mixed with us, the retro sixties vibe. That would be perfect.
Didi: And Joe Flizzow — maybe sixties and plus some rap or something, hip-hop. He rap a bit like, yo yo yo yo. (Laughs)
The Pinholes are known for their amazing retro vibes. What is one nostalgic slang word you guys would make a song about to carry it forward into the new generation of music lovers?
Didi: Yabba Dabba Doo. From The Flintstones, maybe. I think now the new generations don't know what Flintstones is.
Qush: I don't have any idea, but I think Yabba Dabba Doo is the best.
Didi: Because I think, but I think because it also feels quite right. I think since it's from the 60s or 70s. But yeah, I think Yabba Dabba Doo.
There’s been a four-year break since your last single 'Don’t Bother Me'. Are there any projects coming up that fans can look forward to?
Didi: Okay. This one, you guys need to watch this space. Maybe something is brewing. Yeah. Wait for it, guys!
What is one evergreen pasar malam snack that's guaranteed to give you a food coma?
Didi: For me, it's Muah Chee. You know what's Muah Chee? Yeah. So, like, Muah Chee, If you eat two packets, I think you'll be full, I guess.
Qush: Pasar malam food for me — even in Malaysia — I'll go for Ranke Ayam. Ranke Ayam is a whole chicken, one whole chicken without the meat, and it's only the frame. I mean, like, there's the bone, like a chicken. Yeah. With the neck, but then they deep fry it. Yeah. So not so meaty, but it can make you food coma, to be honest.
Didi: But Muah Chee is still a simple, simple snack. You come to Singapore, I will bring you eat Muah Chee. (Laughs)
What are you personally or collectively most looking forward to doing off-stage at Desaru? And why?
Didi: I think the after-party. Maybe have a barbecue, lepak with friends, santai, chit chat, then hang out with all the artists from Ombak Festival so we can get along. Yeah. Then maybe we can collaborate. Maybe we can also check out the food or what’s going on at Ombak Festival too!
Qush: For me, what — personally, I would like to do is, because I'm more of a people person, maybe I will hang out with crowds, meet new friends. Also, hang out with the artists. Maybe we're talking about something that we can work on together. Yeah.
I love it. That's so nice.
Purchase tickets for Ombak Festival 2025 here.
