In 2022, Tong held his first solo concert November Rain at Kitec’s Star Hall, with all three dates selling out. In March, he performed at Australia’s Sonica Music Festival.

But it’s not just his music that’s getting him so much attention, though it certainly plays a big part. Tong’s effortless-chic style has fans going wild too. As seen on his Instagram, the musician isn’t afraid to mix and match bold looks, ranging from streetwear to suits.

So, what else do you need to know about the 23-year-old wunderkind?

Gareth Tong has played music since he was a kid

Raised in Hong Kong, Tong attended Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School in Kowloon before studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, US.

How Grace Chan went from Miss Hong Kong to proud mama – exclusive interview

According to a previous interview, his passion for music began in primary school where he learned to play the violin and piano. With his mother’s encouragement, he continued taking music classes outside school and won a school violin contest three years in a row during his secondary school years.

“After school, I made music at home until 2am and continued the next day,” he said in an earlier interview.

He also added in a recent interview with Farrago Magazine that the pandemic “was actually not bad for my musical creativity” as he didn’t mind being at home and usually makes his music at home anyway. He revealed that he could write two to three songs per week.

“I actually have a little bit of social anxiety,” he added. “So, I see a lot of people and I get a little nervous sometimes. But it’s cool.”

He wrote a song for Keung To – before he graduated from uni

Tong studied music technology at Berklee College from 2017 to 2021, according to his LinkedIn. During his time at university, he got into a pop music songwriting class that introduced him to fellow musicians and taught him lots of essential skills he still uses today, according to his earlier interview.

18 dazzling celebrity high jewellery looks at the Hong Kong Film Awards

While he continued his studies, he shared his music online and even collaborated with his girlfriend on a songwriting challenge.

The young musician also began to work as a freelance music producer and wrote the track “Something” for Tyson Yoshi. This attracted the attention of Mirror’s Keung To, who asked Tong to write the song “Master Class”, which went on to become a smash hit. Tong achieved these milestones before he had even graduated from music school.

He has said that he only needs his laptop, a mic and a small keyboard to make his music. He is now signed under Warner Music Hong Kong.

He has a sharp fashion sense and makes experimental music videos

His breakout hit single “Boyfriend Material” features the lyrics, “OK good-looking but lacking on fashion.” We like to think that’s him being humble, as he actually has a very sharp sense of style.

This was evident in his first sold-out concert, November Rain. Tong had a distinct fashion theme and nuance thanks to his stylists Jennie Wong and Jerry Haha, who were personally chosen by Tong himself, as reported by Hong Kong media.

The concert poster, for example, featured Tong with a robotic arm. This generated buzz as the look introduced a unique mix of Akira and Tony Stark.

“The robot arm was an idea Gareth had way back when we were first talking about what the concert should be about. He wanted to be like a lone wolf kind of hero, an anti-hero, up above this mountain being distant from the city,” Wong told Hong Kong media.

Tong has been gaining appreciation from fans for his delightful yet out-of-the-box music videos, too. He told Farrago Magazine: “One thing I feel like [all my music videos] have in common is that they’re all not based in real life. They’re pretty dreamlike, I would say. We’re really just trying to do something that we find funny or interesting. That’s really the starting point of it.”

The 5 fashion and art creatives behind Leslie Cheung, the Hong Kong legend

He wears plenty of designers ...

A quick glance at Tong’s Instagram feed reveals a dazzling array of designer garments from luxury brands such as Fendi, Chanel and Valentino.

Indeed, his social media presence is as much a testament to his sartorial savviness as it is to his musical talent, with fans and fashion enthusiasts alike eagerly taking notes on his latest looks.

... and has many brand endorsements

With his charm and versatility, Tong’s appeal is evident in his ability to attract a diverse range of audiences, from the young and trendy who love his fashion sense, to the everyday consumer who enjoys his relatable content. This is evidenced by his collaborations with brands such as Crocs, as well as his appearance with his girlfriend, Moon Tang, in an LG TV commercial.

Edison Chen on going from Cantopop to streetwear king with Clot – interview

With his musical talent and production capabilities, together with his impeccable fashion sense, it’s no wonder Gareth. T is one the most sought-after R&B singers in Hong Kong right now – and he’s surely only going to go up and up from here.