For many years, there wasn't much soul in the local music scene. And then Khalil Fong Da-tong came along and blew us all away with his fresh, soulful music. The self-dubbed Soulboy has released four critically acclaimed records in four years, quickly becoming one of the hottest singers in town.
And he doesn't even sing in Cantonese.
'Cantonese is my third language, after English and Mandarin,' says the 25-year-old Hawaiian-born Chinese. ' I don't feel comfortable singing in a language I'm not good at. And it doesn't gel well with my [jazz and soul] music style anyway.'
While thousands of fans look forward to his first Cantonese song, the soulster makes it clear that he finds the challenge pointless.
'I don't have this weird goal to make a breakthrough in my music,' Fong says. ' Each album is a unique growing process. The experience I have, the message and feelings I want to deliver are different in each song. I just focus on making music I'm good at with the most natural expression.'
That probably means more romantic love songs, like those in his latest album Orange Moon which have effortlessly conquered so many girls' hearts.
But the skinny musician in his signature thick-framed glasses, checkered windbreaker and trainers, leaning back comfortably on his chair, looks more laid-back than your average Casanova.
