Dummy Toys—the fiercely energetic all-female punk band from Qingdao, China, made their first-ever visit to Vietnam, lighting up the stage at the Tôi Tồn Tại Là Punk Tồn Tại Bro show. Known for their unapologetic sound, raw presence, and commitment to DIY punk ethos, Dummy Toys have built a strong reputation across Asia and Europe. With two releases under their belt and an upcoming album in the works, they are one of the most active and fearless punk bands on the scene today.
We had the chance to sit down with them after their set for a heartfelt and wide-ranging conversation about the band’s journey, their place in China’s underground, their life as mothers and punks, and what it means to stand out in a world that still expects you to conform.
Ethos:
Can you tell me first about your origins? How did you guys start?
Dummy Toys:
Actually, our guitar player and bass player were classmates. And other girls knew each other for many years. The band was formed in 2015 and I joined in 2018, and all of our husbands played in bands as well, so in a way, we knew the same group of people always play together. That’s why we had a chance to play a band together.
E:
So, were you on both of the albums that you guys released?
DT:
Yes, the band made two full-length albums with me, but the original vocalist also made an early demo that was released.
E:
Is there a symbology behind the name of the band?
DT:
The girls just choose some simple words, so it doesn’t actually have any meaning. It just sounds good, sounds easy to remember, and the meaning is not bad.
E:
When it comes to your hometown, Qingdao, what’s the scene there? And do you notice any difference from when the band started to now?
DT:
Yeah, there are many different kinds of rock bands in Qingdao, and I think there are more and more young people who are into this kind of music and playing in a band. I was also once one of those youngers who started to listen to punk. But I still think it’s not enough, since there’s such a huge population in China, it’s still a long way to go.
E:
Could you paint a picture for our readers of how the scene works there? As you know, most of the information coming out of your country is kinda filtered, skewed. Also, did you ever have any problems with what you’re doing?
DT:
Yes, there is some sort of control, and it’s becoming strict lately. I don’t know if it’s the right way to describe this – when you are nobody, they don’t care. They don’t even give a shit because you are nobody. But when you get a little bit famous, they will keep their eyes on you. So, for us, we want to be just nobodies, and we can just keep doing this.
E:
From my experience in Asia, most countries are still pretty strict and not too open for people who don’t fit the “cultural standard”. Dyed hair and Mohawks are definitely not a standard. How did you guys get to this look? Have you ever had any issues in your daily life?
DT:
For me, I don’t think it’s a big problem, because I don’t care. But yes, with the way we dress and do our hair, walking on the street is already a different experience. Everyone keeps looking at you because you’re strange, you’re different. And yes, everyone judges you. But I think maybe nowadays, more and more young people are starting to have a more open mind. When you walk on the street, people still look at you, but compared to saying ‘You are strange’, more and more people are starting to say ‘ You look cool’. So even if they don’t really understand what punk is, they still show respect. I think people are now learning how to follow their hearts, be whatever they want.
E:
How about being an all-female band in a predominantly male scene? Were there any prejudices or “show stoppers”?
DT:
You know, actually, for me, I think more people really showed us their kindness. Especially in the punk scene. Everyone was taking good care of us. I think I’m really appreciative about this. Meanwhile, there are still some who watch us with prejudice; they just want to see what those girls can do on the stage, and after the show, some of them come to me to say, ‘ Hey, you girls are so cool, even cooler than men!’ Haha, yes, so that’s what girls can do! On the other side, it is a bit hard for the rest of the girls because all of them, except me, are mothers. We really have to plan to fit our time we come out for more than one month. It’s really hard to make a balance with the band and family.
E:
This was your last show of the tour. You just toured Europe. Could you give me a comparison between the European scene and the Asian scene?
DT:
The tour was very great, it’s our fourth time having a tour in Europe. But it’s the first time to been here in Southeast Asia. And I think the most obvious thing is the audience. Here in Southeast Asia and also in China, I think there are more and more young people, yeah. Here, the audience rushes out to go and jump. In Europe, shows can also be wild, but the audience has a very wide age range, with many older people from the punk and hardcore scene. Maybe because there was the beginning of punk culture that there were more older generations who listened to this kind of music. But I still appreciate them because I can feel they really did their best, they still wear their leather and boots, with their mohawks, to come to see our show and support us. It’s not easy to always keep doing the things we love, I really respect them.
E:
Do you think that every culture has its way of doing punk rock?
DT:
Yes, I think so. Compared to Asia, you can really say or do the things you want to in Europe; it’s more open. But each culture has its own peculiarity, and people in different cultures can always find their own way to fight against injustice.
E:
Did you ever experience backlash or any kind of censorship for the things you’re saying?
DT:
Not really. All of our lyrics are in English; that is the reason why. In China, you have to get approval to do a show. We had to cancel one of our small tours in China because of this. But after that, we just changed some words, like “fuck” into “dog” or something else. We just found a way to change, and I don’t think all of them will read our lyrics very carefully.
E:
Let’s turn it up to the lighter things. What do you think is the most punk rock thing to do now?
DT:
I think just keep doing it and taking part in it is punk enough. I think if everyone comes to the same spot to support not only the touring band, but also the local bands is the most important thing. We want to write more good songs and I also hope, more and more young people come to listen to this kind of music and participate in the scene.
E:
Since you’re mentioning young people, what is your advice for someone who’s just starting now?
DT:
Don’t listen to too much “advice”; it’s your life. Don’t think too much. Just do it! If you want to do it, you can make it.
E:
One last thing is, what are your plans for the future?
DT:
We have four new songs in our song list this time, and we always want to write some more as we’re making our new album already, so just wait for that.
E:
Any estimates? When will the new release drop?
DT:
We want to record a new album this year and release it as soon as it’s done.
As Dummy Toys continue to tear down stages and expectations across borders, we’re excited to see what comes next—from new releases to future tours. No matter where they go or what they do, one thing’s certain: they’ll do it their way.
Much love and respect to Dummy Toys. We’ll be cheering you on from here.
