Tennyson King is an award-winning, nomadic, folk musician from Hong Kong and Canada with a charismatic stage personality and magnetic energy. Pairing songs written in English, Mandarin and Cantonese with kick drum, Zhongruan, electric and acoustic guitar, he captivates audiences with positivity, interactive songs, and playful stories of life on the road. He’s appeared solo from great halls to intimate theatres and brings his band to festival stages with a restorative sound that brings crowds to their feet; folk-rock infused with earthy roots, pop, and subtle psychedelic ear candy.
Sharing his love for Chinese culture through stories and music in Mandarin and Cantonese, Tennyson also performs with traditional Chinese instruments. In May 2021, he released his first Chinese singles 漂走 (Piao Zou), ⾃自在 (Zi Zai), and, ⽣生命的进度 (Shen Ming De Jin Du) in support of Asian Heritage Month and performed at the largest Asian music festival in the world, Joy Ruckus Club 4. He strives to represent his community through his art and aims to be an inspiration for young Asian musicians. Titled after his Chinese name, Tennyson’s upcoming (late-2024) album, 百城 (100 Cities), will feature Chinese musicians from Toronto, Vancouver, and Australia combining traditional Chinese music with contemporary folk-rock.
His last release, Good Company, is based on experiences with solo travel, adventure, nature, culture, relationships, and taking time to embrace the moment. Produced by Juno nominee Ross Hayes Citrullo, the album was featured on CBC Radio, SiriusXM, Stingray Music, OMNI TV Mandarin & Cantonese, The RepresentASIAN Project, Exclaim!, SOCAN Song of the Week, and radio stations in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia.
Tennyson has proven his international appeal, bringing his show across Canada, Australia, Mainland China and Hong Kong, and completing his first UK circuit in 2023. He’s performed in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and Holland, and at festivals across the globe such as Shambhala In Your Heart, Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Mondo NYC, Folk Music Ontario, Vancouver Island MusicFest, Knockengorroch, FOCUS Wales, Mission Folk Music Festival, and more.
Tennyson was named Vocalist of the Year at the 2023 MARTYs, Songwriter of the Year at the 2022 Mississauga Music Awards and was nominated for the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Having performed with notable acts like Lindi Ortega, Terra Lightfoot, Basia Bulat, Whitehorse, Sloan, Paul Dempsey, Yirrmal, and Clare Bowditch, Tennyson’s accustomed to building intimate connections with global audiences.
To keep fans connected between albums, in 2024, Tennyson will be releasing single collaborations with Lindi Ortega (April 18), Skye Wallace (May 30), and Kim Yang (July 11) while revisiting the global market with tours in Taiwan, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Tennyson King’s music is like a warm hug for your soul. With his smooth vocals, rhythmic guitar, and the heartbeat of his kick drum, he brings together the best of both his Chinese and Canadian roots to create a truly special experience.
