Still So Fab: The Pinholes Ride The Wave Of ’60s Surf Rock On Their Comeback Single

Long live rock & roll with The Pinholes (Credit: Courtesy of The Pinholes)

Few Singaporean acts commit to the retro aesthetic as religiously as The Pinholes. Formed in 2002, the quartet has been touted as our city’s very own Fab Four, complete with bowl cuts, matching outfits and a rock & roll sound that proudly rehashes the ’60s. Much more than a flash-in-the-pan novelty act, The Pinholes have been cruising on a rock-solid legacy that remains beloved by those in the scene. They are charismatic showmen with sunny dispositions, bearing jovial original material with hot-rod grooves and laissez-faire lyrics; “My life has been so wonderful and miracle!” from 2013’s “Preferably” will always be a winner for me. Essentially, The Pinholes are a stoic reminder that rock will never ever die.

The Pinholes have a loyal fanbase in the region (Credit: Courtesy of The Pinholes)

Even against the sucking blackhole of the pandemic, The Pinholes are keeping their chin up. They’ve just released “Don’t Bother Me”, their first new single since 2020’s re-release of seminal anthem, “Bring Back The Vibe”. “Don’t Bother Me” is a song about snapping out of the spiral of heartbreak, and they explain this cool-headedly in their press release. “The song is all about being grateful towards your current life stage even when there are times you are lost and things start to crumble. You just need to keep your head high up and believe you will find calm.”

The track is inspired by vintage icons, taking cues from the likes of The Monkees and pop yeh-yeh figure, Fatimah M.Amin. The throwback tune is propelled from a reverent affection for ’60s surf rock, darting forward at full throttle with shredded guitars, staccato riffs and spritzy harmonies a la The Beach Boys. A muffled lo-fi filter slapped onto the lead vocals furthers the reminiscence, giving listeners the illusion that they’ve tumbled back in time; a parlour trick that The Pinholes have effortlessly made their forte.

This is a Pinholes that sound like they haven’t aged, and that is precisely the magic of their music.