After a sold-out show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire (30.10.35) in London, the venue shone not just with fans, but with admiration for the talent emerging from Hong Kong. Gareth.T, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter and producer, gave everything he had on that stage. From singing beautifully to playing the violin, every note felt perfect, every moment of the performance sublime. Even after more than seventy minutes, his warm smile and gentle presence reminded the audience that Thursday night was about opening our hearts – to pain, to sadness, and ultimately, to hope.

Gareth.T has established himself as a compelling voice in Hong Kong’s music scene, known for his fusion of R&B, pop, soul, and hip-hop. Whether in English or Cantonese, his voice flows with warmth, while his lyrics remain honest and sincere. A multi-instrumentalist from childhood, Gareth.T began with piano at three and later learned violin, cello, guitar, and drums. His pursuit of musical mastery eventually led him to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he refined his skills in songwriting and production.

Gareth.T first gained attention by sharing original music and covers on social media. In 2020, he signed with Warner Music Hong Kong, releasing early hits such as boyfriend material and honest, the latter gaining over 17 million Spotify streams. With his debut album gareth.t 2.0 (2022) and his first headlining tour, The CUTIE Tour, he has became an artist who can own the stage while maintaining the bond with his audience.

What I listen to and what I put out aren’t that directly related. I like all kinds of music. It’s a slow process; I try to put what I like into my songs bit by bit, and over time it becomes uniquely mine.

Sitting down with Gareth.T after the Shepherd’s Bush show, one could immediately sense that the night’s intensity hadn’t dulled his thoughtful reflection.

“I’m going to answer honestly,” he said when asked if he was too tired to speak. And honest he was – open, measured, and articulate, revealing the mind behind the great performance and his music. 

“I have been in London for a week now. This concert was supposed to be the end of the trip. We did a lot before: I went to shoot an album cover, we did a video, and then the last stop was the show. So for me, it was almost like the ending for the whole trip,” he explained. Yet, for all the planning, he described the day with humility: “Actually, this morning I was thinking – it just felt like a regular day, another day with another mission to do. Then it was the show, I did it, and now it’s over. There are things that I want to do better next time – I already have ideas I want to try at the next show, and I’ll work on them.”

Even in casual conversation, GarethT’s mind remains focused on growth and refinement. When asked about the scale of future performances, he smiled: “We’re going to take the show to Macau. We’re going to change some things up;  maybe get some dancers, a better chair, and just make it better. I’m always like this; I’m a picky person. I don’t like to dwell on things. I do something, and I move on.”

It’s this constant drive for artistic precision that makes Gareth.T remarkable. “While I perform, I try to live in the moment – to sing and look at the people. And I think, in the moment, it was pretty good. I enjoyed it. But honestly, it’s been a while since I performed. The last time was around the beginning of the year, so I was a little nervous, even though people couldn’t tell.”

Beyond the stage, Gareth.T’s ambition and musical curiosity are visible in his collaborations. His recent single, Check Out the Sadness [English translation], created with rapper Skai ISYOURGOD, is a bold experiment in merging his soft, melodic style with Skai’s direct and brash rap persona. “It’s probably the craziest song I’ve released so far. I’m getting mixed reviews – some people love it, some people hate it,” he said with a little giggle.

The creative process behind the song reflects Gareth.T’s thoughtful and experimental nature. “Skai reached out to me. He said he liked my songs and wanted to make something together. I said ‘Sure, let’s try. ’ At first, he thought of something like a 21 Savage and Drake track, but I felt that was already his style. So we did something different – I sing the chorus, he raps. Kind of like Rihanna and Eminem’s Love the Way You Lie. The direct translation for the chorus is Check out the Sadness. Since Skai has this image of being brash and direct, I thought that phrase really fit his persona. I pitched it to him – he liked it, wrote his verse, and then we recorded it together. I even helped him record his parts in the studio.”

While I perform, I try to live in the moment – to sing and look at the people. And I think, in the moment, it was pretty good. I enjoyed it.

Their collaboration, he reflects, deepened beyond music: “I think it was like two people from completely different planets meeting each other. But it wasn’t chaotic – it was full of mutual respect and communication. I’d say something to him, he’d say something to me, and we’d always find a way to work things out. Over time, as this song came together, I think we became better friends, too. Artistic friends, yes – but also authentic friends. Not just people who work together because we like each other’s art. It makes the creative process smoother and more genuine.”

Gareth.T’s focus on expressive storytelling shines in his solo work, such as the thoughtful Thanos, released back in September. The video, directed by his friend Han Lee, combined cinematic and traditional elements into a war-themed POV narrative. “It was incredibly hot and tough to film, but we got through it – and I’m really happy with how it came out,” he recalls.

For Gareth.T, music is a bridge – a way to connect emotions and audiences. “I think that’s the whole point of music, you know? It’s meant to bridge cultures together and bring different people together.” Writing in both English and Cantonese, he notes the subtle distinctions: “I think my English has gone a bit downhill because in Hong Kong, I don’t really speak English that much anymore. There was a time when I spoke it constantly. But honestly, I think writing in both languages is kind of the same. It’s more of a technical thing. I’d say I’m better at English than Cantonese, so I usually write better English songs, or at least express myself more naturally in English. Cantonese songs just take a bit more time. At the end of the day, though, the thought process is very similar. What I want to say in English, I can probably say in Cantonese as well – and vice versa.”

The young artist is constantly evolving, drawing inspiration from multiple genres while exploring his own. “What I listen to and what I put out aren’t that directly related. I like all kinds of music. It’s a slow process; I try to put what I like into my songs bit by bit, and over time it becomes uniquely mine. Hip-hop, for example, was something I never had a big song in until Skai. That’s probably the first I’d classify as hip-hop. So that collaboration was a pretty big step for me in the direction I want to go.”

Even the staging of his live shows carries profound meaning. “The past two years I’ve been releasing sad songs; it’s been a very sad period in my life. Heartbreak, losing confidence, all of that. That’s why Prince of Sadness is kind of low-key me, like taming the sadness and saying, ‘Alright, I got over it.’ For me, every performance is cathartic,” Gareth.T confessed. He also added, “After performing the whole set and then coming out in white, it’s like a symbolic step.” It felt as though he had stepped out of sadness – now in bright colours, seeing the world differently.

Gareth.T brings a rare combination: a fiercely ambitious musician and a self-aware young man. His live performances, collaborations, and production choices all show that he’s capable of something truly great – once he has the stage and freedom to create. In today’s world of manufactured pop and overproduced music, Gareth.T remains unapologetically himself, and it’s precisely this authenticity that continues to impress audiences around the world.

Even after a sold-out, exhausting night, his smile and earnest answers reminded us why we’re drawn to artists like him: someone who turns pain into beauty, experimentation into art, and talent into something human.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image © Narine Chalabi for View of the Arts

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}