Ahy
Tonight, 9pm, Cat's Store
She's an anomaly in the local music scene - a singer-songwriter who straddles the divide between folk and pop and is rarely seen without her guitar.
Ahy (pronounced Ah-Y) Choi Man-ka is finally launching her debut EP, Homemade - a mixture of Putonghua and Cantonese songs - accompanied by three music videos, and entering the spotlight after years of recording DIY demos and putting on impromptu performances wherever she could.
She has a slinky, elegant voice that glides over thoughtful melodies teased out of her acoustic guitar and a vast array of subtle sounds and instruments.
The first-year Polytechnic University student draws artistic inspiration from her life experiences. 'For me, the main purpose of making music is simply to satisfy myself,' says Ahy. 'When I come across something happy, I want to make music to express my happiness.
'Vice-versa, I'll make music to comfort myself when I'm sad or down. For the listeners, I hope my music can mean something to them personally, too.'
Apart from her love for music, Ahy has a passion for writing and illustrating. Her first book, also entitled Homemade, is due for release at the Hong Kong Book Expo later this month.
'It's more than a novel, comic or photo book - it's a combination of all three,' she says. 'The content of the book complements my songs. The chapters were named after the six songs on my EP and some stories are extensions of the songs.
'I hope that after reading my book, people will know more about not only my music, but also me.'
1/F Kingston Building, 2-4 Kingston Rd, Causeway Bay, free. Inquiries: 2510 8198
