Ahead of his show tonight in Newcastle, a free show in Sydney this Saturday as part of Seymour Nights – and a load more dates through the Summer – we caught up with Hong Kong via Canada artist Tennyson King. Across a brief interview he talks through his experiences in Australia, collaborating with Australia’s Kim Yang, what he’s working on now and he introduces us to one of his favourite Canadian bands, New West. Scroll through to also get a hot tip on some great food in Hong Kong.
Tell us a little bit about who you are, and where we can listen to your music.
I go by Tennyson King and I am an indie folk touring musician. I write songs in English and Chinese with a goal of trying to spread love and kindness through my music and performances. I play western instruments like the guitar, piano as well as traditional Chinese instruments like the 中阮 (Zhongruan) known as the moon guitar in English. I am from Hong Kong and I am based in Mississauga, Canada. You can find my music all on the streaming platforms and you can follow me on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook where I try to share a lot of my journey travelling around connecting with people through music.
Welcome to Australia! Talk us through the run of shows you have while you’re here.
I kicked off the tour with a few shows in Victoria with my Aussie band, and then did a big drive up to Airlie Beach to play at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music which was so much fun! I’m touring until the end of January solo with shows in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Nambour, Bangalow, Maldon, Cornishtown and of course Sydney at the amazing Seymour Centre.
See his full list of shows at the end of the article!
What have your experiences been like in Australia in the past? What do you think of Australian audiences?
I have had wonderful experiences in Australia. I’ve met some really kind and welcoming people who I am grateful to call friends now. I also love being with the land here and learning about the histories and cultures. The Australian audience are fun to play to. I find that they tend to be rowdy but in a great way, where they like to talk back and make jokes with what I talk about at my shows. In a fun and respectful way. Very engaging and active crowd.
Who are some of your favourite Australian artists?
Paul Kelly was my first concert in Australia that I attended and he is definitely one of my favourite songwriters. I also really dig A.B Original, Gurrumul, This Way North, Kim Yang, Andrea Kirwin, Kim Churchill, Ziggy Alberts, Middle Kids, Babe Rainbow, Client Liaison and so many more.. So many great Aussie artists.
What was the name of the first song you ever wrote? Tell us about it.
The first song I ever wrote is a song called “Glad To Be”. The lyrics started as reflections on how I had been living my life and how I dealt with the death of my father as a teenager. Thinking through emotions of regret and pain. Trying to come to terms with the past and healing from it as well as finding out how I should move forward with my life and in my art. Writing, recording and releasing that song was the start of this musical journey which I am still on, and I am forever grateful for that decision.
You worked with Australia’s Kim Yang on a new single. Can you tell me about how the two of you came to work together, and what the writing experience was like?
I’m always trying to co-write and collaborate with other Asian/Chinese artists and I found Kim’s music and reached out prior to my 2022 Australia tour to see if she wanted to play a show or get together to write a song. I stopped in Canberra where she was living at the time and hung out for the day there and ended up writing the new single just in a few hours that afternoon. Writing with Kim was great. We talked about what it was like being Chinese musicians in Canada and Australia and the challenges we faced.
We decided to write a song that was both in English and Chinese to share our culture. Kim was about to move to Beijing and we wrote about the fears and excitements of being a stranger in a big city like Beijing. How cities can offer so much love but also loneliness at the same time. We recorded the song in Canada and it features traditional Chinese instruments, the Guzheng and Chinese Big Drum. It was a great process writing in Chinese with another songwriter and Kim and I have written together again since then.
Tell us about any other material you’ve been working on lately.
Right now I am writing and recording a new album that will feature Chinese, Cantonese and English songs. A fusion of traditional Chinese instruments with western instruments. I am collaborating with traditional. Chinese musicians across Canada for the recording and writing process which is really exciting. I’m hoping to share songs from this album in 2025. Recently, I’ve also released new collaborations with Lindi Ortega and Skye Wallace. I really love co-writing with my talented friends and have some more in the works for 2025.
Who’s a Canadian artist we should all be listening to, and what song of theirs should everyone have on their playlist?
So many great Canadian artists.. Right now I have been really into an act called New West which is an artist collective based in Toronto, Canada. They have a beautiful song called “Those Eyes”. Give it a spin!
And finally – potentially the hardest question on this list, but what’s one place everyone should eat at in Hong Kong?
Definitely a tough question… so much good food in Hong Kong. If I had to pick one I would say everyone should try Kam’s Roast Goose in Hong Kong Island. Cantonese food is famous for the roast pork and goose, so it should be a must try while in Hong Kong.
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Don’t miss Tennyson King on tour in Australia. His remaining dates are below, with all the details at https://tennysonking.com/tour/.
04.12 – Newcastle, NSW – Flamingos
05.12 – Blackheath, NSW – Side B Vinyl
06.12 – Sydney, NSW – TBA
07.12 – Sydney, NSW – Seymour Centre with Alana Wilkinson (FREE! Live music from 4.30pm to 7pm)
08.12 – Gosford, NSW – FunHaus Factory
10.12 – Brisbane, NSW – New Farm Bowls Club (Brisbane Unplugged)
11.12 – Gold Coast, QLD – Miami Marketta
13.12 – Sunshine Coast, QLD – Solbar
14.12 – Eagleby, QLD – Distillery Road Market
15.12 – Sunshine Coast, QLD – Saltwater Eco Tour
18.12 – Gold Coast, QLD – Miami Marketta
20.12 – Brisbane, QLD – Cardigan Bar
21.12 – Sunshine Coast, QLD – ATG Health
22.12 – Gold Coast, QLD – The Star
26.12 – Brisbane, QLD – Queen Street Mall (City Sounds)
27.12 – Byron Bay, NSW – Elements Resort
28.12 – Fingal Head, NSW – Sheoak Shack
29.12 – Bangalow, NSW – Bangalow Hotel
19.01 – Pomonal, VIC – Pomonal Estate
23.01 – Melbourne, VIC – Sofar Sounds
24.01 – Maldon, VIC – 48 Main
25.01 – Cornishtown, VIC – Cornishtown Hall
