INTERVIEW: Spending Time With Singaporean Oi Band THE BOIS – Back to The Roots

INTERVIEW | The Bois
Singapore Oi
https://www.facebook.com/theoneandonlytheboisterous

Our good friend Baba, vocalist of long-running Singaporean oi band THE BOIS, has relocated to London and so we got in touch to discuss some of the history of the band. The Bois have been around in some incarnation since 2003 BUT have just announced that the European lineup of the band is wrapping up their time this year. Baba states that he wants the band to go back to where it originally hailed from – Singapore. We discuss all of this in the interview below.

If you’re around this Thursday, The Bois are playing here here in London at NEW CROSS INN! Of course, we’re SUPER excited to see the revamped Singapore lineup someday soon!

Respect.

UA: Yo bud – super pumped to see you and The Bois next week here in London! For people who don’t know the band – let’s talk about how and when it started. What was the catalyst and original musical references for the band?
TB: It all began back around 2000, at a time when my previous band was winding down. Things hadn’t worked out as planned, and I was ready for a fresh start. That’s when I met two young skinheads—exactly the kind of people I needed to complete a new lineup. We were in the market for a drummer and a guitarist, and these two seemed like the perfect fit, bringing a raw energy and commitment that immediately resonated with me.

Our first rehearsal session was electric. We kicked things off with a cover of Suburban Rebels by The Business, a song that’s become iconic in the Oi! punk scene. Halfway through playing, I knew—this was it. This was the band that could make things happen. From that moment, everything seemed to click, and the foundation was laid for what was to come.

Fast-forward through years of hard work, sweat, and dedication, and we’ve come a long way. Together, we’ve recorded four albums and released a few EPs and splits, even collaborating with some of the bands we’ve looked up to since the beginning. We’ve toured across Europe and the UK, flying the flag for Lion City and representing our home on stages far from where we started.

Our sound has always been deeply rooted in classic Oi! punk from the 80s. Bands like Cock Sparrer, The Oppressed, Cockney Rejects, Angelic Upstarts, and The Last Resort are all major influences—these are the bands that shaped us and defined the scene we’re proud to be part of. Their raw energy, grit, and socially charged lyrics spoke to us, and we’ve done our best to keep that spirit alive in our own music.

“Their raw energy, grit, and socially charged lyrics spoke to us, and we’ve done our best to keep that spirit alive in our own music.”

Now, after two years of playing with a European lineup, I’ve decided it’s time to return to our roots and bring the focus back to where it all began. We’re going back to being a Lion City Oi! band, working and touring with our lineup from Singapore. This is a return to the authenticity and the community that defined us from the start, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next.

UA: How/why did you decide to maintain a European version of the band in the first place? It’s an incredible idea!
TB: Before I moved here, Chris the drummer from the European line up already got a line up for me and wanted the band to carry on playing/touring. We did that intensely when I first moved over but now with work and all it’s difficult.

UA: Oh so even prior to you leaving Singapore you had a Singapore lineup and European lineup going simultaneously?
TB: Nope. We only started the Europe line up when I moved over. I’ve known Chris for some time, and the guitarist he got first performed with us when we toured Germany before with the Singapore line up. So I kinda knew him as well. Once I moved over, after a few weeks I went to Hamburg for our first jam session and a small tour.

UA: That’s pretty cool that these guys wanted a European version of The Bois. Once that lineup started touring here after you moved over, what was the reception like?
TB: It was good. We played quite a lot of shows. Did a one week tour and all. Some big festivals. Some were quite surprised with the line up as we always have “Lion City Skinheads” with our band name. I just have to explain why this is happening.

UA: Hahaha yeah they must be like “I thought you were from Singapore? Why are their white dudes in the band?” Hahaha. As I’ve also only just moved to the UK, I’m actually quite surprised at how white the punk and hardcore scene is here. What has been your experience thus far especially at shows The Bois are on?
TB: Haha, exactly! We definitely get a few double-takes when people realize The Bois are repping Singapore but see a mixed lineup, especially with some white dudes on stage! Honestly, though, it’s been an amazing experience. Connecting with different musicians, especially from such diverse backgrounds, has added so much to the energy and perspective of our shows. The music has always been at the heart of what we do, and as long as we stay true to that, everything else falls into place.

The UK punk and hardcore scene is definitely more ‘white’ than what we’re used to back in Lion City, but that just makes for an even more interesting exchange of ideas and influences. The crowd reactions have been fantastic too—there’s something pretty special about sharing Lion City’s Oi! roots in a scene that’s both familiar and fresh. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world; every tour, every lineup shift, every unexpected collaboration has been part of what makes The Bois who we are.

It’s been a wild ride, and there’s no doubt that bringing Singapore’s punk scene to new places, while blending in all these different backgrounds, is part of what keeps us excited for every show. Here’s to breaking boundaries and making sure Lion City punk is heard far and wide!

UA: And now that The Bois are moving back to being a solely Singapore-based band; what does that mean in terms of shows and releases?
TB: For now, we’re gearing up for Rebellion Festival and a UK tour next year, and then when I’m back later in the year, we’ll hit a few spots across Southeast Asia to celebrate 25 years of The Bois! The band’s been rehearsing nearly every week without me and working on new songs. Our plan is to release an EP marking the 25th anniversary, with the guys recording their parts in Singapore while Nidge and I record ours in London. Nidge, who’s from Wales, will be sticking with us in the lineup—it’s easier for him to travel for next year’s shows. Exciting times ahead!