【Hong Kong, China】Ayame Shiiko Concert

Drawing inspiration from dreams, Ayame Shiiko, an independent singer-songwriter from Kyoto, released[...]

Drawing inspiration from dreams, Ayame Shiiko, an independent singer-songwriter from Kyoto, released her debut album ‘Razor Onna’ at the age of 19, establishing a minimalist setup with acoustic guitar and vocal duets. Her enchanting, forest sprite-like singing, combined with the clear and warm alternative Japanese folk texture, has attracted collaborations with musical legends such as Cornelius Ogura and Haruomi Hosono, and has resonated widely in the West, leading to performances alongside acts like Black Country, New Road, Japanese Breakfast, and Weyes Blood. Her 2020 representative work ‘Windswept Adan’ received a high score of 9 from the music review channel The Needle Drop. Known for her one-person, one-guitar performance style, Shiiko has won countless accolades among music enthusiasts worldwide. However, Shiiko, who is proficient in wind instruments and has played piano, clarinet, accordion, flute, and other elements in recordings, has always had a strong interest in classical music. In 2022, she collaborated with the British string ensemble 12 Ensemble for a concert at London’s Milton Court Concert Hall; with the strings as a backdrop, Shiiko displayed a more layered aura, a sense of immersion that can be felt even on YouTube. Fortunately, we do not have to miss out: on February 24, 2025, Ayame Shiiko will return to Hong Kong to collaborate with several members of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the Xiqu Centre Grand Theatre in the West Kowloon Cultural District for another exclusive performance. Although Shiiko’s works are structurally classical and simple, they can guide the listener’s emotions through a rhythm that can be either slow or fast, with an inherent spiritual poetry that makes one reluctant to change tracks. As her body of work grows, Shiiko gradually incorporates more instruments and a plethora of environmental sounds (she has mentioned in interviews that she takes the time to record the sounds of local birds in different cities she visits), creating a healing and magical atmosphere that is especially profound when experienced live. If you attended her joint session with Slowdive earlier this year, you surely remember the pure experience. Next February, do not miss the precious opportunity to witness Ayame Shiiko’s live performance with classical musicians! The full text is available on 02/24, and the performance time and duration are subject to the actual event.