YumCha!
»
Feature Articles
Browse
- ycec Editor's Picks By Category
- esid Editor's Picks - By Editor
- yca Feature Articles
- ycpc Professional Reviews
- Awards & Festivals
- ppid Music Pop Chart
- yceb Entertainment News
- About YumCha!
10 Hong Kong Singer-Songwriters You Should Know
Written by YumCha! Editorial Team
Tell a Friend
Cantopop is dying? Not anymore. Cantopop may not be as widely known and popular as it was in the 90s and early 2000s, but it's made a comeback in recent years thanks to the rise of not only popular Hong Kong idols like MIRROR but also talented singer-songwriters who deserve more recognition from pop music audiences. Let's take a look at ten Hong Kong singer-songwriters that you should know!
Yoyo Sham began drawing notice in the early 2010s for her airy, soulful vocals as a backup singer. She earned the endorsement of pop titans Jonathan Lee, Eason Chan and Sandy Lam early on in her career, and released her first self-penned Mandarin EP 4-6pm in 2011. Her first full-length album Here in 2015 garnered her a Best New Artist nomination at the Golden Melody Awards. For her following album Nothing Is Under Control in 2018, Yoyo was nominated for Best Mandarin Female Singer and Producer of the Year, making her one of the very few Hong Kong singers of the past decade to make a mark in the Mandopop scene. While Yoyo is known more for Mandarin songs – such as the hit ballad "Light Chaser" and the Better Days ending theme fly that won Best Original Film Song at the Hong Kong Film Awards – she has also put out many quality Cantopop singles over the years. This year, she will finally release her long-awaited first Cantonese record.
Just by looking at his stage name, you may think Tyson Yoshi is a Japanese artist, but he's actually an indie hip-hop artist from Hong Kong. Mostly rapping in Mandarin and English, Tyson Yoshi made waves with his breakout hit Christy – a song lovingly dedicated to his girlfriend – in the Taiwan indie music scene before his rise in Hong Kong. Following his appearance at Music is Live 2021, the rapper-producer successfully introduced himself to more local mainstream listeners, and his candid, playful personality has made him a unique presence in the Hong Kong music scene. Despite his "bad boy" image, Tyson Yoshi pulls off his romantic character through melodic rapping in his self-produced plugs. From love songs To My Queen, Christy and That Guy to emotional jams like Stressed Out and Growing Up, Tyson Yoshi connects with listeners through relatable stories expressed in straightforward lines performed in his laid-back and husky tone.
From composer to singer-songwriter, Terence Lam has risen to stardom in a short period of time and swiftly become one of the most promising Hong Kong male singers of the generation – as evidenced by the number of trophies he's received at year-end ceremonies in the past two years. Prior to his singer debut in 2019, Terence was already composing for top Hong Kong singers like Joey Yung and Hins Cheung. Now as a singer-songwriter, he also takes charge of lyrics, arrangement and music directing for the majority of his own releases. His first album Major in Minor, with self-composed ballads like "NEXT" and "Solitude," displayed the style of music he's known for as a singer. Expanding his music spectrum, his second album SEVEN brought more creative, genre-blending works – like chart-toppers "Wonderland," "Pills," "Virgo" and "Moment" – that unveil his artistry and musicality. This year, on top of released singles "Etude of an Out of Body Experience" and "Regression," Terence is expected to reveal more of his music palette through collaborations with other Hong Kong musicians and artists!
Known for her whimsical and refreshing style with a touch of both irreverence and lyricism, Serrini started her music career a decade ago with charming indie pop confections observing daily life and matters of the young heart. Her compositions and themes have grown richer since, particularly in the 2019 album Songs of Experiences that took her sound in an intriguingly dark direction, but she has retained her playful sensibility and poetic urbanity throughout her musical transformations. In 2021, the chameleon Hong Kong singer-songwriter, who holds a PhD in literary and cultural studies, took on the alter ego of Gwendolyn for a fun album that counters the worries of the times with funky and danceable retro bops. Changing the mood again, her latest single "Tree" released in January is a classic ballad melody that overflows with emotion.
Since coming in fourth in the first season of Asian Million Star in 2009, Panther Chan has taken a long and varied journey in the music industry to keep her dreams alive. She appeared on the first season of Sing My Song, signed briefly with Amuse, and even appeared in the films Sisterhood and Tracey. In 2017, she teamed with Mr.'s MJ and Tom to create an independent label and make music on her own terms. Her efforts and talents finally paid off with her first Best Singer-Songwriter (Bronze) award at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards in 2018. Equally comfortable with gentle ambient and spirited alternative numbers, she released her first album 1029 in 2019, a full ten years after participating in Asian Million Star. Panther, who has since joined Warner Music, further illustrates her distinctive and expressive musical style in her second album Honesty featuring ten completely self-written and self-composed songs.
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada, Jay Fung started composing music in his teens. In 2011, he participated in the third season of The Voice and finished in second place. A year later, he released his debut album Brand New Start. The Cantopop singer, who performed a self-composed song on the finale of The Voice, has shown both his vocal and songwriting talents from the very start. Jay has released eight albums to date, all of which lead with his compositions blending Cantopop sensibilities with mellow melodies, relaxed rhythms and tender, detailed vocals that are easy on the ears. Since moving labels to Media Asia in 2018, he has further grown his musicality and chart presence with songs like "Last 7 Days" and "Beyond the Stars" from the Awaken album and "Miss Somebody" from last year's Life / Line. Jay won Best Singer-Songwriter (Silver) at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards in both 2020 and 2021.
From being a member of the Hong Kong men's volleyball team to a member of the sensational idol group MIRROR, no matter what Ian Chan does, he reaches great heights of success. After claiming 2nd place on ViuTV's 2018 audition show Good Night Show – King Maker, Ian retired from sports and joined 11 other show participants to form MIRROR. He made his solo debut with the song "Phase II Building" in mid-2019. Since then, Ian has focused on composing and performing mid-tempo ballads that go perfectly with his mellow, velvety voice. He notched his first songwriting credit with his second solo single "Another Nobel," and has continued to showcase his music talent with "Whale Fall," "Snail," "Betrayal" and the latest "A Day To Breathe With You," which are all solely composed by him. Collaborating with other composers in "Another Nobel," DWBF and "Don't Understand" has also allowed him to explore more genres, styles and possibilities.
Gareth.T is "not the type to be noticed" as he's not typical Boyfriend Material, but you'll fall for this up-and-coming R&B talent once you listen to his songs. Born and raised in Hong Kong, the fresh-faced singer and music producer – also a Berklee graduate-to-be – began as an indie artist in 2018, mainly with hip-hop and R&B tunes in English. Since joining Warner Music in 2021, he's had more opportunities to share his diverse music, and his collaborations with MIRROR and Keung To raised his profile in the mainstream pop music scene. Gareth.T's first Cantopop single "Hyperromantic," an easy-listening number with cute and colloquial lyrics written by Wyman Wong, hit #1 on different platforms. His duet Honest with musician Moon Tang, the sexy and sensual dinner in bed (English version of "Hyperromantic"), and his singles with Tyson Yoshi and Trial & Error's Jessica, have all shaped a distinctive, soulful music style.
Cath Wong, who has a degree in Journalism and Communication, started learning to sing and compose music with her acoustic guitar during her university days. In 2017, she won a competition held by Emperor Entertainment and released her first single Music Dai Tong, but her official debut happened a year later after meeting a Sony Music representative by chance at a performance in Taiwan. Blending her sweet and soothing vocals with tranquil, self-composed ballad melodies, her debut album CATH garnered three newcomer awards. In her sophomore release Nine Traces of Life, the singer-songwriter co-penned almost all the tracks, recording her views on changes and growth while working with more musicians. The album includes "Cracked Wall," her first try at edgy alternative rock, as well as the folksy "The Late Bird Catches the Worm" and the genuinely bittersweet "The Yet Unbroken Part of My Heart."
Signed under Universal Music since her debut in 2013, AGA has always performed her own compositions, and most of them have been well-received by the public. Known for her collaborations with Stephanie Cheng, Fiona Sit and Kary Ng even before debut, AGA arrived strong as a singer and songwriter in 2013, sweeping newcomer awards with her self-titled debut album. Her melancholic and heart-breaking love songs, like the chart-toppers "One," "If" and "Fullness," earned her several singer-songwriter awards early in her career. AGA's songs have only kept getting better, with hit singles like 3AM, "Far Off," Tonight and Two at a Time from her two most recent albums Luna and So Called Love Songs. She was recognized as Best Singer-Songwriter (two Silver and one Gold) at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020.
Related Articles:
Published April 28, 2022
Cantopop is dying? Not anymore. Cantopop may not be as widely known and popular as it was in the 90s and early 2000s, but it's made a comeback in recent years thanks to the rise of not only popular Hong Kong idols like MIRROR but also talented singer-songwriters who deserve more recognition from pop music audiences. Let's take a look at ten Hong Kong singer-songwriters that you should know! YOYO SHAM
Yoyo Sham began drawing notice in the early 2010s for her airy, soulful vocals as a backup singer. She earned the endorsement of pop titans Jonathan Lee, Eason Chan and Sandy Lam early on in her career, and released her first self-penned Mandarin EP 4-6pm in 2011. Her first full-length album Here in 2015 garnered her a Best New Artist nomination at the Golden Melody Awards. For her following album Nothing Is Under Control in 2018, Yoyo was nominated for Best Mandarin Female Singer and Producer of the Year, making her one of the very few Hong Kong singers of the past decade to make a mark in the Mandopop scene. While Yoyo is known more for Mandarin songs – such as the hit ballad "Light Chaser" and the Better Days ending theme fly that won Best Original Film Song at the Hong Kong Film Awards – she has also put out many quality Cantopop singles over the years. This year, she will finally release her long-awaited first Cantonese record.
TYSON YOSHI
Just by looking at his stage name, you may think Tyson Yoshi is a Japanese artist, but he's actually an indie hip-hop artist from Hong Kong. Mostly rapping in Mandarin and English, Tyson Yoshi made waves with his breakout hit Christy – a song lovingly dedicated to his girlfriend – in the Taiwan indie music scene before his rise in Hong Kong. Following his appearance at Music is Live 2021, the rapper-producer successfully introduced himself to more local mainstream listeners, and his candid, playful personality has made him a unique presence in the Hong Kong music scene. Despite his "bad boy" image, Tyson Yoshi pulls off his romantic character through melodic rapping in his self-produced plugs. From love songs To My Queen, Christy and That Guy to emotional jams like Stressed Out and Growing Up, Tyson Yoshi connects with listeners through relatable stories expressed in straightforward lines performed in his laid-back and husky tone.
TERENCE LAM
From composer to singer-songwriter, Terence Lam has risen to stardom in a short period of time and swiftly become one of the most promising Hong Kong male singers of the generation – as evidenced by the number of trophies he's received at year-end ceremonies in the past two years. Prior to his singer debut in 2019, Terence was already composing for top Hong Kong singers like Joey Yung and Hins Cheung. Now as a singer-songwriter, he also takes charge of lyrics, arrangement and music directing for the majority of his own releases. His first album Major in Minor, with self-composed ballads like "NEXT" and "Solitude," displayed the style of music he's known for as a singer. Expanding his music spectrum, his second album SEVEN brought more creative, genre-blending works – like chart-toppers "Wonderland," "Pills," "Virgo" and "Moment" – that unveil his artistry and musicality. This year, on top of released singles "Etude of an Out of Body Experience" and "Regression," Terence is expected to reveal more of his music palette through collaborations with other Hong Kong musicians and artists!
SERRINI
Known for her whimsical and refreshing style with a touch of both irreverence and lyricism, Serrini started her music career a decade ago with charming indie pop confections observing daily life and matters of the young heart. Her compositions and themes have grown richer since, particularly in the 2019 album Songs of Experiences that took her sound in an intriguingly dark direction, but she has retained her playful sensibility and poetic urbanity throughout her musical transformations. In 2021, the chameleon Hong Kong singer-songwriter, who holds a PhD in literary and cultural studies, took on the alter ego of Gwendolyn for a fun album that counters the worries of the times with funky and danceable retro bops. Changing the mood again, her latest single "Tree" released in January is a classic ballad melody that overflows with emotion.
PANTHER CHAN
Since coming in fourth in the first season of Asian Million Star in 2009, Panther Chan has taken a long and varied journey in the music industry to keep her dreams alive. She appeared on the first season of Sing My Song, signed briefly with Amuse, and even appeared in the films Sisterhood and Tracey. In 2017, she teamed with Mr.'s MJ and Tom to create an independent label and make music on her own terms. Her efforts and talents finally paid off with her first Best Singer-Songwriter (Bronze) award at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards in 2018. Equally comfortable with gentle ambient and spirited alternative numbers, she released her first album 1029 in 2019, a full ten years after participating in Asian Million Star. Panther, who has since joined Warner Music, further illustrates her distinctive and expressive musical style in her second album Honesty featuring ten completely self-written and self-composed songs.
JAY FUNG
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada, Jay Fung started composing music in his teens. In 2011, he participated in the third season of The Voice and finished in second place. A year later, he released his debut album Brand New Start. The Cantopop singer, who performed a self-composed song on the finale of The Voice, has shown both his vocal and songwriting talents from the very start. Jay has released eight albums to date, all of which lead with his compositions blending Cantopop sensibilities with mellow melodies, relaxed rhythms and tender, detailed vocals that are easy on the ears. Since moving labels to Media Asia in 2018, he has further grown his musicality and chart presence with songs like "Last 7 Days" and "Beyond the Stars" from the Awaken album and "Miss Somebody" from last year's Life / Line. Jay won Best Singer-Songwriter (Silver) at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards in both 2020 and 2021.
IAN CHAN
From being a member of the Hong Kong men's volleyball team to a member of the sensational idol group MIRROR, no matter what Ian Chan does, he reaches great heights of success. After claiming 2nd place on ViuTV's 2018 audition show Good Night Show – King Maker, Ian retired from sports and joined 11 other show participants to form MIRROR. He made his solo debut with the song "Phase II Building" in mid-2019. Since then, Ian has focused on composing and performing mid-tempo ballads that go perfectly with his mellow, velvety voice. He notched his first songwriting credit with his second solo single "Another Nobel," and has continued to showcase his music talent with "Whale Fall," "Snail," "Betrayal" and the latest "A Day To Breathe With You," which are all solely composed by him. Collaborating with other composers in "Another Nobel," DWBF and "Don't Understand" has also allowed him to explore more genres, styles and possibilities.
GARETH.T
Gareth.T is "not the type to be noticed" as he's not typical Boyfriend Material, but you'll fall for this up-and-coming R&B talent once you listen to his songs. Born and raised in Hong Kong, the fresh-faced singer and music producer – also a Berklee graduate-to-be – began as an indie artist in 2018, mainly with hip-hop and R&B tunes in English. Since joining Warner Music in 2021, he's had more opportunities to share his diverse music, and his collaborations with MIRROR and Keung To raised his profile in the mainstream pop music scene. Gareth.T's first Cantopop single "Hyperromantic," an easy-listening number with cute and colloquial lyrics written by Wyman Wong, hit #1 on different platforms. His duet Honest with musician Moon Tang, the sexy and sensual dinner in bed (English version of "Hyperromantic"), and his singles with Tyson Yoshi and Trial & Error's Jessica, have all shaped a distinctive, soulful music style.
CATH WONG
Cath Wong, who has a degree in Journalism and Communication, started learning to sing and compose music with her acoustic guitar during her university days. In 2017, she won a competition held by Emperor Entertainment and released her first single Music Dai Tong, but her official debut happened a year later after meeting a Sony Music representative by chance at a performance in Taiwan. Blending her sweet and soothing vocals with tranquil, self-composed ballad melodies, her debut album CATH garnered three newcomer awards. In her sophomore release Nine Traces of Life, the singer-songwriter co-penned almost all the tracks, recording her views on changes and growth while working with more musicians. The album includes "Cracked Wall," her first try at edgy alternative rock, as well as the folksy "The Late Bird Catches the Worm" and the genuinely bittersweet "The Yet Unbroken Part of My Heart."
AGA
Signed under Universal Music since her debut in 2013, AGA has always performed her own compositions, and most of them have been well-received by the public. Known for her collaborations with Stephanie Cheng, Fiona Sit and Kary Ng even before debut, AGA arrived strong as a singer and songwriter in 2013, sweeping newcomer awards with her self-titled debut album. Her melancholic and heart-breaking love songs, like the chart-toppers "One," "If" and "Fullness," earned her several singer-songwriter awards early in her career. AGA's songs have only kept getting better, with hit singles like 3AM, "Far Off," Tonight and Two at a Time from her two most recent albums Luna and So Called Love Songs. She was recognized as Best Singer-Songwriter (two Silver and one Gold) at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020.
Related Articles:
- Road to MIRROR: Hong Kong's Biggest Boy Band
- Best Chinese Albums of 2021
- Best Chinese Albums of 2018
- Best Chinese Albums of 2016
- Editor's Pick: Terence Lam - MAJOR IN MINOR
- Editor's Pick: Yoyo Sham - Here
- Editor's Pick: AGA - Luna
- Editor's Pick: AGA - Ginadoll
Published April 28, 2022
Mentioned Products
-
1
Ginadoll Concert Live (2CD + 2DVD)
AGATHA (Singer)
US$39.29
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 7 to 14 days
-
2
Awaken
Jay Fung (Singer)
US$21.29
Notify Me
-
3
4-6pm (EP)
Yoyo Sham (Singer)
US$11.79
-
4
CATH
Cath Wong (Singer)
US$36.29
Notify Me
-
5
Sisterhood (2017) (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version)
Gigi Leung (Actor)
| Jennifer Yu (Actor)
| Fish Liew (Actor)
| Elena Kong (Actor)
12% offUS$20.99
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 7 to 14 days
-
6
So Called Love Songs (CD + DVD) (Deluxe Edition)
AGA (Singer)
US$33.29
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 7 to 14 days
-
7
Gwendolyn
Serrini (Singer)
US$63.79
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 30 days
-
8
Here (Regular Edition)
Yoyo Sham (Singer)
US$27.79
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 30 days
-
9
Why Prey'st Thou Upon The Poet's Heart? (2CD)
Serrini (Singer)
US$21.59
Notify Me
-
10
Home is... (EP)
Yoyo Sham (Singer)
US$47.79
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 7 to 14 days
-
11
2nd PRE EVOLUTION
Tyson Yoshi (Singer)
US$45.29
Notify Me
-
12
So Called Love Songs (2CD) (Special Limited Version)
AGATHA (Singer)
US$29.99
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 7 to 14 days
-
13
Tracey (2018) (Blu-ray + Bonus DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Kara Hui (Actor)
| Philip Keung (Actor)
| Huang Yi Hao (Actor)
| Chen Zhi Quan (Actor)
12% offUS$20.99
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 7 to 14 days
-
14
Panther Chan - 1029
Panther Chan (Singer)
US$21.59
-
15
Nothing is Under Control
Yoyo Sham (Singer)
US$32.29
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 30 days
-
16
So Called Love Songs (CD + DVD + Poster) (Deluxe Edition)
AGA (Singer)
US$39.29
-
17
Nine Traces of Life
Cath Wong (Singer)
US$62.29
Notify Me
-
18
Songs Of Experience
Serrini (Singer)
US$35.79
Notify Me
-
19
AGA (CD + DVD)
AGA (Singer)
US$14.99
Notify Me
-
20
Love & Loss
Jay Fung (Singer)
33% offUS$27.99
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 1 to 2 days
-
21
Honesty
Panther Chan (Singer)
US$44.79
Notify Me
-
22
Luna (CD + DVD)
AGA (Singer)
US$27.59
Notify Me
-
23
SEVEN (Random Cover)
Terence Lam (Singer)
US$48.79
Notify Me
-
24
Brand New Start (CD + DVD)
Jay Fung (Singer)
US$17.29
Notify Me
-
25
LIFE / LINE
Jay Fung (Singer)
US$35.79
Add to Cart Save for later
Usually ships within 7 to 14 days
-
26
MAJOR IN MINOR
Terence Lam (Singer)
US$22.79
(1)
Notify Me
Bookmark & Share