DUMMY TOYS - Definitely Not Your "China Dolls" ! (China - Punk/HardCore - Interview with Xiaoniao, Qingqing, Huanzi & Quin).

Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music? 
Xiaoniao: Hi, I’m Xiaoniao, the guitarist for Dummytoys. 
My story is pretty simple. When I was 13, I knew absolutely nothing about rock music. Out of pure curiosity, I walked into a record store and just asked for a rock cassette. The owner gave me Metallica’s Kill 'Em All. That became my very first album. I loved it, so I kept going back for more recommendations. That’s how I fell into the world of rock 'n' roll. Later, I met many friends through music, and we’d go to live shows together. Moving from cassettes to the live scene felt like my hearing had finally collided with reality. It wasn’t just about listening to songs I liked anymore; it was about real, breathing people performing with soul right in front of me.
Slowly, I developed my own style, and at 16, I started my first band. To be honest, it didn’t take some massive "leap of faith." I felt that the freedom, the anger, the sorrow, and the act of speaking up for those at the bottom were the core emotions of this music—and that’s the most captivating part. Being in a band is addictive; once you start, you can’t stop. I think finding something you love and having people to do it with is true happiness. So for me, being in a band wasn’t about "determination"—it was about finding happiness and refusing to let it go. 

Do you remember the first bands that changed your life? I mean... that moment when you said to yourself, “This is what I want to do with my life!” ...
Xiaonoia: For me, it’s Cheap Sex and their song "Launch off to war." It gave me that heart-pounding, "falling in love" kind of feeling. Even though later I got into Hardcore, D-beat, and Crust, I still listen to Cheap Sex and Monster Squad from time to time. That’s why I’ve always felt that the songs I write will always have that Streetpunk foundation, haha.

Which albums do you consider essential to the genre? Which ones would you take with you to a desert island? 
Xiaoniao: Man, that’s a tough one, haha. There are so many I love. For example, I’m constantly spinning Crude SS’s Killing for Nothing, D.R.I.’s Thrash Zone, Tragedy’s Vengeance, Mutant Strain’s self-titled, Framtid’s Defeat of Civilization, Disfear’s Live the Storm, The Accüsed’s Grinning Like an Undertaker, His Hero Is Gone’s The Plot Sickens, and Beton’s Konsky Kokot. If I were stranded on a deserted island, I’d want to take them all with me...

Which ones would you recommend without hesitation to someone who wants to learn more about the style? 
Xiaoniao: Tragedy’s Vengeance, His Hero Is Gone’s The Plot Sickens, and Disfear’s Live the Storm. In my opinion, these are the kind of albums you just fall in love with instantly, haha.

Now that we know a bit more about you, personally, can you us about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Qingqing: Hi, I’m Qingqing, the drummer for DUMMYTOYS (Welcome Qingqing, nice to meet you ! Ed) Back in 2015, a punk beast was born in Qingdao, China—that’s our collective: DUMMYTOYS!
My original vision was to start an all-female band. I believed that kind of connection would allow for a deeper, heart-to-heart exchange. At that time, Xiaoniao was also looking for musicians. Later, we found Huanzi and our first vocalist, Dingdang. In 2018, Dingdang left, and Quin became our current lead singer. That’s how the DUMMYTOYS lineup was finally set in stone.
It’s such a stroke of luck that we all met at the same time, sharing the same vision! If you ask me why I started this band, I’d say it’s because I want to use a heart as kind and tough as a diamond to shatter injustice and ugliness! I also want to call on more girls and boys to bravely start their own bands—to at least offer the world some positive, sincere dialogue. Besides, being in a band is just a joyful, healthy, and incredibly badass thing to do! It’s beautiful, so why the hell not?

Is PUNK music something popular in China? Was it easy to form a PUNK band - especially, an ALL-GIRL punk-band? How is a girl band perceived in China? Is this important to the audience? I mean, is it more “music first” or do you think that being an all-female band can generate more curiosity than a male band? 
Qingqing: Punk music isn't mainstream in China; the market is mostly dominated by pop-rock bands. Starting a punk band is easy—the hard part is sticking with it. I’m glad to see more and more punk bands emerging with real vision and skill. I hope they keep going, keep evolving, and never give up!
All-female bands are rare worldwide, so four women standing on stage is powerful. But what people truly value will always be the music first. People who love punk and rock 'n' roll are thinkers; they reflect on self. Things that are superficial and deliberately ingratiating, no matter how beautiful they look, are not sincere. We don’t want to rely on gimmicks to grab attention; we just want to play our hearts out and create a truly deep, raw resonance with our audience!

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost? 
Quin: Hi, I’m Quin, the lead singer of Dummy toys (Nice to meet you Quin ! Ed). When we write songs, we don’t want to limit ourselves to just "love and romance." We prefer to focus on the social phenomena and issues we see around us—writing about war, environmental protection, education, AI, domestic violence, animal cruelty, and more. We tackle these topics from a female perspective, viewing these problems through our own lens and channeling our reflections into our music. After hearing all that, don’t you just want to give our songs a listen? Haha!

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences? How important are the lyrics for you? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics? 
Xiaoniao: Musical inspiration is hard to pin down. It might come from humming while walking, a sudden spark from hearing someone else’s song, or a melody written in a dream. It strikes whenever it feels like it.
As for lyrics, a lot of my inspiration comes from the news. This world is so chaotic—sometimes I feel like people have just gone mad. To me, some lyrics aren't just "inspiration"; they are stories that make my blood boil. I feel like we’re using our lyrics to speak our minds directly. Some events are forgotten so quickly, but if you put them in a song, maybe one day someone listening will remember. People are forgetful. I don’t believe things should be erased just because time has passed. By writing them down, we can constantly remind ourselves that the anger and sorrow we felt in those moments should never be forgotten.

Can you tell us about the subject matter of songs such as “Not A Puppet”? I think the answer will actually tie in with my previous question about how an all-female band is perceived in China... 
Quin: Our album “Not A Puppet” is more like an attempt born from a girl’s initial awakening. She begins to develop a sense of autonomy, refusing to conform to today’s complex patriarchal society, and starts thinking for herself. We’ve gradually come to realize the multifaceted complexity of human nature. As an all-female band, we’ve faced immense pressure and skepticism, but we’ve also received a lot of support and care. This album captures the period where our collective female power was slowly gathering and surging.

On closer inspection, your lyrics are explicitly humanistic. Is social engagement part of the band's identity? What positions does the band defend?
Quin: Absolutely. We stand against all forms of discrimination and bullying, and we oppose all forms of war. We advocate for universal love and true equality. No one should ever face unfair treatment because of their skin color, race, appearance, gender, sexual orientation, or social status.

About the band's discography... Two albums so far... "Not A Puppet" in 2020 and "War Is Nightmare" in 2023... The first one seems much more “punk rock” to me, while the second one has a much more hardcore vibe... Do you agree with this assessment of your musical evolution? In your opinion, what does explain this evolution? Did you feel more pissed-off, angry when composing the 2nd album? 
Xiaoniao: I agree. For us, Not A Puppet is really a transitional album that bridges the past and the future. It features songs we wrote with our previous vocalist before 2018, as well as tracks we created after Quin joined us. It’s both a tribute to our history and a brand-new start.
With War is Nightmare, we made some changes—it’s a reflection of where we were as a band from 2020 to 2023, carrying a much heavier sense of anger and sorrow. I believe every album captures the band’s state of mind at a specific point in time. For our upcoming release, we’ve been experimenting with some different directions again.
 
Can you tell us about the recording conditions? They both sound pretty good, I like the raw production a lot! And yet, it's pure DIY style if I understand correctly.... (Congrats!)
Qingqing: Thank you! Those two albums sound so great, and we owe a huge thanks to our friends who supported us with so much patience and love along the way! Our first album, Not A Puppet, was recorded in the rehearsal space at Canned Bottle Bar. The second, War Is Nightmare, was completed at Zhongyu Studio in Huangdao. What’s even more exciting is our third album, THE POINT OF NO RETURN, which is already recorded but not yet released. It was tracked at Xiangshi Studio in Laoshan, and the production quality and equipment for this one is on a whole new level! We do everything with a DIY mindset and attitude, which makes the music feel more alive and authentic! Huge thanks to our friends and family—flowers nourished by love will always bloom the brightest!

How to proceed if people want to purchase your releases? Do you have distributors in the world?  sadly, "Not A Puppet" seems to be sold-out. any plan to repress it?  
Huanzi: You can pick up our records at our live show merch tables, and both CDs and vinyl are available on Bandcamp.
Our global vinyl distribution partners include Laibixi Records, United Punk Solidarity, Bomb-All Records, DIY Kolo, Katabomb Records and Genjing Records. Also, unfortunately, there are currently no plans for a repress of Not A Puppet. By the way, I’m the bass player Huanzi. (Nice to meet you Huanzi ! Really cool to have the WHOLE band answering here - Ed.)

OK - let me know... What is a DUMMY TOYS concert like? What does this moment—on stage—mean to you? What is your general state of mind when you go on stage? 
Huanzi: For every Dummy Toys show, the four of us give it our absolute all. We bring our best energy to the stage every single time—it’s pure passion.
The moment I step on stage, I know I must lose myself in the music to create that real chemistry with the crowd. It’s all about connecting with the audience through the sound and the raw energy of the live show. When I’m up there, I do my best to shake off the nerves and just stay loose and natural.

How are the crowds when you play in China? Is it also easy to perform live in your country? What about the conditions? Is there a real underground circuit/scene that allows bands like DUMMY TOYS to play regularly? Or is it more a case of everyone fending for themselves? 
Qingqing: Compared to other places, the audience in China is much younger, and they really throw themselves into it—the punk scene is definitely getting better and better! Generally, the hardware in Chinese Livehouses is pretty solid. However, shows do get delayed or canceled sometimes, mainly due to the strict performance approval system.
But because of this, more underground scenes are quietly emerging, giving us more opportunities to play without having to struggle completely on our own or be left to fend for ourselves. Punks have always looked out for one another, so there's still a lot of hope!

So far, your BEST & WORST concert - and why? 
Qingqing: Hahaha, I think every single one of our shows is incredible! We’re definitely a "live band"—we leave everything on the stage every night, and the energy is absolutely infectious! Everyone is welcome to come out and experience it for yourselves! Let’s get loud and tear it up together!
Quin: To me, there’s no such thing as a "best" or "worst" place to play, but a few shows have left a deep impression on me.
One was at a location in Hof. The conditions were tough—the gear was as basic as it gets, and we all had to crash together on these old, worn-out mattresses. But despite that, the organizers were so thoughtful. When people came in, the promoter just walked around with a small donation box—you could pay whatever you wanted. If you had extra, you gave more; if you were tight on cash, you gave less. It didn't matter—everyone was there to see the music they loved and support the bands they believed in. That really moved me. It felt like everyone was doing their absolute best for something they loved. I felt so much inclusion and love there. (That's the right spirit - love it ! Ed.)
Another one was at a squat in Switzerland. It was an old house. We played the very first show there right after they took over the space. Later, when the entire street of old houses was forced to be demolished, we returned to play the very last show ever held there. It made me realize how incredible and unpredictable "fate" can be.

Talking of live-performances... The upcoming schedule is pretty busy, interesting, and exciting... But before we talk about that, let's go back to your first European tour in 2024... What memories do you have of it?  Which countries have you visited? Do you have any stories to share? Are there any places or “customs” that you particularly enjoyed, and others that you found strange or even bizarre (a culture shock, as they say)?   
Huanzi: Our first European tour actually kicked off in 2023. In 2024, we completed two more rounds in Europe, and in 2025, we did another tour including Southeast Asia. We’ve been to so many countries: Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, and more—over ten countries in total.
The strongest impressions from our first tour were from two places in Switzerland: Zurich and St. Gallen. We formed deep friendships with the locals there. Interestingly, during our first European tour in 2023, we were the very first band to play at a specific squat in Zurich. When we returned in 2025, we ended up being the very last band to perform there before it took away from local government. Our arrival marked both the beginning and the end—a full circle, like it was meant to be.
What moved me most was seeing friends who cross borders to watch our show for the second or even third time. Some were even high schoolers who had to catch the last train back and wake up early for school the next day. Seeing the effort they made just to catch our set was truly touching.
One cultural difference we noticed during the tour was that friends at the squats would cook for us—mostly all-vegan meals. I remember eating a lot of rice during last year's tour; I heard the venues specially prepared it for us, which was so thoughtful. Also, shows over there aren't usually promoted online. It’s more like the old days—handing out flyers and small-scale word of mouth. Many punks don't even use social media; they avoid over-socializing and keep things pure. It’s admirable.
 
How was the audience reception on this 2024 tour? Were there places where it was hot as hell and others where it was freezing cold? Or were the receptions generally similar? 
Quin: To be honest, we received the most incredible, high-energy passion I could ever imagine at almost every single stop. No matter the size of the venue, it was packed nearly every night. Every time after a show, when the audience comes up to us and says, "Thank you so much for coming," I’m always so moved and incredibly proud. I just want to say back to them: Thank you all for being there too! 

So, you're getting ready to embark on a new tour... where will it take you and how long will it last? 
Huanzi: As we all know, our new round of touring will bring us back to familiar places like Germany, France, Denmark, the UK, and Austria. But what’s really got us stoked this time is adding Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Croatia—places we’ve never been to before! In 2026, we’re gearing up for our longest European tour yet, spanning a full month and 10 days. The sheer intensity of this schedule is going to be a massive challenge for us, but we’re ready.

There are some great dates, such as the OBSCENE EXTREME Festival in the Czech Republic, the BACK TO THE FUTURE Festival and OUTSIDE RODEO in Germany, as well as the REBELLION FESTIVAL in England? It's a chance to play in front of big audiences... how did all this happen? (Actually, I'm asking this question to highlight the work of your booker—frankly, it's huge ;-)  
Xiaoniao: I completely agree. Our good friend Rico who does the booking job all the times and Jing, some people call her Anita, she does our manager job globally out of China. They are just incredible! They deserve all the praise in the world. Without them, our tours simply wouldn’t happen. Rico puts so much time into our tours every single day, month after month. They aren’t some big booking agency; they’ve built everything from DIY punk scene. Like Rico's years of experience organizing shows, his own touring history with his band, and through friends and connections in the DIY punk community. Our upcoming tour is being built the same way, and they’ve been working tirelessly for the past few months. Huge thanks to Rico and Anita!
Regarding OEF (Obscene Extreme Festival), Rico and Anita reached out to Kaya, the vocalist of a Czech band Rabies, who toured with us in Southeast Asia last year. We received a lot of help from her. For Rebellion, Tony and Ian supported us all the way from the UK. About the Back to Future Festival, it was their invitation that made our first European tour in 2023 possible. Returning to Back to Future now feels like going back to where the dream all began. Rico is also one of the organizers there. We are truly lucky to have Rico, Anita, and so many other friends helping us. Every tour makes us feel so much love from everyone.


 
And tell me... this will be your THIRD time at the REBELLION Festival in England! Have you won over the UK so much that they invite you back every year? That's crazy! This festival is kind of like the high mass of Punk-Rock — how would you describe it? What comes to your mind when thinking about this event in particular? 
Huanzi: It felt like the "Punk Olympics"—punks from all over the globe gathering for this massive, world-class event with two or three hundred bands playing over four days. It was my first time seeing a small town completely taken over by punks; I felt like I saw a lifetime's worth of punks in one go. It was unbelievable!
The bands and the crowd were generally older. Since punk took off much earlier in the West, we seemed to be among the youngest bands there. Everyone was so happy to see that punk has a future—it felt like a true passing of the torch. I hope we can be like those legendary older bands: holding our thermos mugs, staying healthy, and rocking out until we’re old!

OK... I wish you the BEST of everything for the tour.. I guess you'll take a rest after it... but have you already thought about a third album? 
Xiaoniao: After the European tour ends, we’re planning a China tour, haha. Actually, our third album is already finished! Its title is THE POINT OF NO RETURN, taken from a song from Tragedy. We’re using the album title to pay tribute to Tragedy. The album will be released before this European tour kicks off, so this will also be our new album tour. Here’s a little spoiler: the final track on the album is a collaboration between Dummy toys and SS20. Its Rico’s D-Beat band. Haha! (Rico ! Wir müssen reden ! haha ! Ed.)
 
Are there songs already composed for it? Any ideas, indications you can tell us about this possible next record?  
Quin: Yes, our new album is fully recorded and is currently in the production stage. For this record, we’ve chosen to keep pushing ourselves to think critically and keep our eyes on society. We want to call for more attention to issues like animal cruelty, missing children, and all forms of discrimination. It also reflects our anxieties and reflections on how people should find their way in today’s social environment. We’ve also experimented with some new musical styles this time—so please stay tuned! 

Any other projects you'd like to talk about? 
Xiaoniao: We feel incredibly lucky to be touring Europe and experiencing the punk scene here. I used to think that being in a band was just about doing your own thing. But after coming to Europe, I feel a sense of responsibility like never before. I’ve seen the squats, the youth centers, and I’ve heard about people doing rescue and relief work. We want to bring the stories we’ve seen and the love we’ve felt back to China. It’s not just about the music. We want to bring that energy back to help the Chinese punk scene grow stronger and better.

Let's dream BIG for a second... What would be your most insane dream with the band?
Xiaoniao: My dream isn’t that insane—I just hope DummyToys can keep going until we’re all grandmas. I hope we can keep playing until we’re so old that our bodies can’t keep up with the tempo anymore, even if we can only stand there and maybe miss a beat or two. But we’d still play, haha. To me, the most romantic thing is growing old together while still supporting each other. That’s what gives you the courage to face aging, don’t you think? (Definitely - love, friendship, mutual help & respect - honesty ! Ed.)

Before we leave. can you say some words on your local scene in China - about bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
Xiaoniao: To be honest, there are so many incredible bands in China. For example, Demerit, Strikeback, PPT, Rustsucker and The Loud Speaker—they are all friends whose music makes my eyes light up, whether I’m spinning their records or standing in the crowd at their shows.

Thank you very much - the last words are yours... 
Quin: Thank you all for your support! I hope to see every one of you at a show someday!
(Thanks so much for the cool & interesting answers - definitely a pleasure to have you here in ROUGH TIMES ! Keep burning the stages !! 
非常感谢你们这些酷且有趣的回答。真的很高兴能邀请你们来 ROUGH TIMES！继续炸裂舞台吧！朋克不死 ! Ed)