Cover Lexie Liu is one of the musicians who will perform at Clockenflap in December 2023 (Photo: Instagram / @lexieliu_)
Lexie Liu is one of the musicians who will perform at Clockenflap in December 2023 (Photo: Instagram / @lexieliu_)
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Beyond headliners such as Pulp, Joji and Yoasobi, there will be a diverse array of artists performing at the upcoming Clockenflap—here are some of the musical acts to watch out for
After a sold-out edition in March 2023, Hong Kong’s very own Clockenflap music festival is set to return to Central Harbourfront this December 1 to 3. A few months back, the organisers had announced that rising Japanese singer Joji will be part of the festival—and revealed on September 19 its first line-up drop, which promises to be as eclectic as the previous years.
Besides exciting international acts such as US singer Caroline Polachek and British rock band Pulp, the 13th edition of Clockenflap will also see musical acts by regional and local gems. Here are the ones you should put on your radar at December’s Clockenflap.
You might also like: 4 must-see concerts by Asian musicians in 2023
1. Lexie Liu
Lexie Liu, born Liu Boxin, is one of the most exciting names to emerge out of China’s music scene in the past few years. The 24-year-old—who gave up becoming a K-pop idol after participating in the Korean reality TV show K-pop Star 5 (2015)—can sing, rap and write songs, and has been exploring different genres since starting her music career in 2017. Lately, she’s been producing futuristic electro pop music that reminds one of singers Grimes and Charli XCX’s techno beats.
Also read: Does K-pop need shaking up? Balming Tiger, a South Korean hip hop collective, thinks so
2. Yack Studio
Music collective Yack Studio has been elevating Hong Kong’s hip-hop scene since its debut in 2019, and it’s going to be exciting for the city’s music buffs to see them on the Clockenflap stage this December. The collective currently counts among its members rappers such as Novel Fergus and SoWhat, as well as fresh talent such as J Jelly.
3. Xiaolin
Over the years, Hong Kong musician Xiaolin—who is known as a DJ, violinist, producer and songwriter—has developed a unique style by blurring the lines between myriad music genres, from jazz and techno to disco and acid. She adds touches of introspection and self-discovery to her performance, making it one of the unmissable musical acts at this December’s Clockenflap.
4. 9m88
The 32-year-old Taiwan-born singer and songwriter 9m88, whose Plastic Love cover went viral in 2018, will showcase her soothing jazz and R&B tunes on the Clockenflap stage. Music lovers can expect her to play her latest single, Look At My Way (2023).
5. Science Noodles
Hong Kong band Science Noodles has been around for more than five years now. Behind this eccentric band name is a group of musicians who excel at Lo-fi music and indie rock with a touch of bedroom pop. The band’s latest EP, Noodles, published in 2022, was a playful project with underlying tones of nostalgia: a unique blend that’s sure to get you grooving at the festival.
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Salomé Grouard was Digital Editor and Front & Female Content Lead at Tatler Hong Kong. Primarily focused on managing Tatler Hong Kong’s digital platform and content, she also covers gender equality, the music scene and sports through interviews with industry leaders, experts and trendsetters.
Interview highlights include renowned conservationist Dr Jane Goodall, Korean actor Park Seo Jun, singer Jorja Smith, Chinese TV host Yue-Sai Kan, YouTuber Kimono Mom, Japanese rapper Awich, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Mikey Musumeci.
She has also produced stories on revolutionising sexual wellness in Asia, activism within the surfing community, Asian trans musicians reclaiming their narratives through music and looked at the toxicity of gym culture through the lens of the plus-size community. She also covers music festivals, such as Hong Kong’s Clockenflap and Bali’s Suara.
