Many years ago there was a Phnom Penh band called Holliday in Cambodia, named after their singer Jenna Holliday. Time passes, bands come and go, the scene retains its ability to inspire newcomers to make a splash. One quick splash has been the similarly named Men of Faith, featuring Faith Quinoes, who are playing a fourth and final gig on Friday night at Hometown Hangout. LengPleng sat down at The Deck with Faith to talk about the past, present and future.
LP: As an introduction, who are your favourite artists?
Kate Bush, I’m obsessed with her. And Blood Orange, I think they’re amazing. Growing up it was David Bowie, Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Queen’s Greatest Hits, music videos on VHS. That was the only thing I had to watch, so I’d just watch them on repeat. And Weird Al Yankovic, and Ween is one of my favourite bands of all time. The Pixies are a big inspiration for our band, and there’s some Sublime influence, I was obsessed with Sublime when I was a kid. Emily Haines and Metric – super poetic, really sad girl music but it’s just epid. And Mars Volta, I think Mars Volta is Led Zeppelin reincarnated.
LP: When did your Cambodia adventure begin?
I came to Cambodia in 2019, in November, right after Thanksgiving. So December, normal, this is what Phnom Penh looks like, all chill. Then everything changed with COVID. We had just got here, really liked it, didn’t want to go back to America, so we stayed, we had faith in Cambodia. We rode through it – so glad with that decision. But then in September 2021 my job was gone without warning, after not being paid for four months, so I went back to the US, where I lived in a van, travelling back and forth between California and Ohio, which was great. At the end of 2022 I came back to Cambodia, and lived on the island for a while with my bestie as jungle girls, then I came back to Phnom Penh and started teaching again.
LP: Is writing a new thing for you?
I’ve been writing my whole life – mostly just my own facts, some poetry, and I always loved making songs. Weird Al was a really good inspiration – not just recreating other songs that already exist but just being a freak. My songs are not serious – I don’t want to make people feel, I just want them to laugh and be happy and dance. I wouldn’t be able to perform live if I was trying to be really serious. If Kate Bush sang punk – I want that, I try to fit that niche. Men of Faith we call sloppy garage punk rock.
Men of Faith debut at The Tin Hat. Photo: supplied
LP: So how did the band get started?
One night at The Deck I was having a conversation with Jack Dodd and he said we should start a band. Jack, you’ve never heard me sing, what are you talking about? That’s a lot of faith to put into somebody. I always felt like I wanted to be a rock star, but I’m lazy and it’s a lot of work. I was in a band in my early 20s with my brother, we actually made an album, it was really fun and I still love listening to it. I already knew that I loved writing and making music. I’d already been working with some people, like Jesse Ricketson, just me and him chilling and making music. He’s brilliant, great to work with. He can make every wish you have just happen.
Then Jack was talking to Jee, who played bass in Australia for a bunch of bands, touring and playing festivals, kind of a sleeper. Eventually one night we met up with Felix McFadden on drums at Japan Guitar Shop [The practice room, not the band named after the practice room – Ed.], and jammed to see what would happen. Jack started playing guitar, Jee comes in, they start jamming, and Felix is on it – within ten minutes I was already writing our first song. Wow, that feels really good, this is going to be fun.
People began to ask us if we’re going to play. At our first show at The Tin Hat we only had five songs. Do another one! We don’t have anything more! So we replayed one. That was our show, super well-received, and people were having a lot of fun. And that was my first live show ever, singing my own songs that I had written and in front of an audience. Beforehand I was having a huge panic attack – I get really bad stage fright. After The Tin Hat we played Dave Fest on Koh Rong Samloeun, and Nesat Village on New Year’s Eve.
We were musical soulmates from the very beginning. We’ve not had a single argument in a year, which says a lot for a band. Nobody’s competing. I think the fact that we’re punk really helps, because you can screw up and it doesn’t really matter. Now we have ten songs – a tentative 12. And I’m leaving, so it’s just going to have to be what it is.
LP: Is this a permanent move?
I’m going to say yes, but I don’t know. I want to come back and visit. We’re moving to Papua New Guinea, so not far, but kind of expensive for travelling back and forth. It would be nice to come back and to play a show this year. Maybe start a band in Papua New Guinea! Who knows what that would sound like?
Men of Faith are playing a fourth and final (but who knows?) gig on Friday night (with Wind-Up Mice in support) at Hometown Hangout.
Potential album cover. Photo: supplied