With their latest surf meets rock-and-roll single titled “Don’t Bother Me”, The Pinholes prove that consistency in concept can be quite radical.
The Pinholes — consisting of Famie (“aka Fam and the instigator of the group”), Didi (“the guitar player, 2nd vocals and the cutest”), Wando (“the designated bassist”) and Sandro (“the designed drummer”) — are not interested in correctness or the commonplace. The former is a reference to the somewhat infrequent grammatical errors in their songs (“We are not English educated people but we love to express ourselves through music more than knowing the actual meaning of the words. In short, we “hantam” as long as it sounds good to us”) and the latter is their dedication to a look.
If we may quote Didi, it is “a bit here and there like The Beatles”.
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Sure, one can point out the close resemblance to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (“The fastest way to look like a unit is to have uniforms. We all have our own fashion sense but when it comes to the band, we become one and we dress to impress!”) but this rigidity in the uniformity is what makes their music golden.
The alchemy in the sunshine of their sound comes from a specific era — the ‘60s where ingenuity inspired innovation. The economic and baby boom was underway which led to a period of prosperity that brought about the concept of common cultural references. The radio and television were tools to unite people across vast geographic divides and the one group that united all were The Beatles. Their gift of charisma, ambition and talent, however, was not just what propelled them. Simply put, they could make people happy all within three minutes. There are no repetitive chords, lengthy 16-bar solos or portions of the chorus on loop.
“For me, it’s a feeling you get from that specific ‘60s… I don’t really know how to put it in words. You know how a specific genre fills you up with a specific kind of emotion? I think this kind of music is very versatile and fits any occasion. Just plain ol’ feels if you get what I mean.” says Sandro, a fact reiterated by Didi, “It’s a very unique beautiful feeling that makes us want to dance.”
The layered harmonies, upbeat music photos, pop-art graphics and jangly guitar solos are present in whatever The Pinholes croon to since they debuted 19 years ago with commendable consistency. “We do whatever we feel is best for ourselves and makes us happy. Ultimately we make music to entertain ourselves and share it with others!” says Sandro.
What makes them different from their idols of the 1960s then? Didi reckons “their accent and the way they sing” makes our sound.” The magic manifests when one trawls through their discography because there is aural proof that regardless of what language a song is sung in (The Pinholes records some songs in Malay), its melody transcends cultures and language barriers.
Since ease and positivity are synonymous with the tunes of The Pinholes, why is their latest single titled “Don’t Bother Me”? “It was just a random thought at a random time,” says Famie as a sweet shortener for Wando to elaborate. “I believe the song was inspired by goodbyes and thoughts that have been trapped for too long which stops an individual from moving forward. This could apply to most listeners out there but at the same time, we want them to have fun and move forward.”
“But if tomorrow says there’s so much to live than dead, I will try to forget yesterday” and “Maybe we’ll meet someday across some place far away” are just two lyrics that telegraph some trouble (aurally, the clashing of drum symbols punctuate their point) in “Don’t Bother Me”. Unsurprisingly, the members each have their point of view that undoes the uniformity they have with their outfits.
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“It is not a typical heartbreak song because there’s a metaphorical thing going on. I see it as our current situation in the world. With the pandemic and all, I hope we can get back to our daily life without the COVID-19 situation bothering us,” Famie, Didi and Sandro goes on, explaining that “everyone has a dark side and sometimes we just need to let it out” and “It’s not a heartbreak song. Instead, it’s more of an ‘I’m irritated to please insert song title’ kind of vibe.” Are The Pinholes really infuriated with their current circumstances?
Well, not really. “I think about Gigi Hadid dancing the chacha with ten uncles in an obscure kopitiam in Upper Thomson Road when I hear the song.” says Famie, “Board shorts and a Hawaiian shirt!” says Didi and “All I can think about is Stephen Chow right now… and only Famie knows why” says Wando. Most comical of all is Sandro’s answer: a simple “?” that perhaps, best sums up what makes The Pinholes a motley crew of lovable song-makers: their comical honesty and constant curiousness.
Once you’re done with this story about The Pinholes, click here to catch up with our November 2021 issue.
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