Hong Kong singer-songwriter Kiri T (Xie Xiaoying), 31, has released her long-awaited debut Cantonese album, a kiridiculous distance, following her breakthrough 2023 hit, “At Least Do Something Ridiculous.” The artist, who spent three years as an independent musician before signing with Warner Music in 2022, recently opened up on her journey—from classical training to mainstream adoption—in a candid interview with Commercial Radio’s Starry Night.
Kiri T’s musical roots stretch back to a childhood fascination with a ballet class piano. Despite her mother encouraging ballet, the young artist was more drawn to the instrument accompanying the dancers. This early interest developed into piano lessons and a persistent request for a costly computer equipped with composition software. Her intense dedication to music led her to pursue formal education, studying classical music during high school in the United Kingdom before enrolling at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston to specialize in electronic music design.
From Teenage Prodigy to Professional Musician
Kiri T quickly showed precocious talent. At just 14, she composed “Two Sides” for Canto-pop queen Joey Yung—a work she created during a sleepless night in her bedroom. She recounted the excitement of sending her demo unsolicited to respected industry figures like Denise Ho. “When Denise Ho actually replied, it felt like winning the lottery,” she stated.
However, subsequent submissions were not selected, leading Kiri T to acknowledge her limitations and seek further musical refinement overseas. After returning to Hong Kong in 2019, she initially focused on behind-the-scenes work, composing for other notable artists, including Ho, Alfred Hui, and Kary Ng.
For three years, Kiri T maintained her artistic freedom by self-funding two English-language albums. She revealed that her primary income during this period came from creating commercial jingles and sound effects. This “secure” professional role allowed her to release music without commercial pressure, acting as a buffer for the lack of income from her independent releases.
Taking the Leap into the Mainstream
The transition to a major label in 2022 was prompted by a desire to pursue professional artistry seriously. Kiri T confessed that her former independent career was financially precarious, with her earnings immediately invested back into album production and music video shoots. “I wasn’t able to save money; every salary was spent on recording,” she said, acknowledging the concern this caused her family and musician friends, who often warned her she was “throwing money away.”
“At the time, I’d just say, ‘It’s just enough! If there’s nothing to save, then there isn’t!'” she admitted, calling that period “ridiculous.”
Kiri T credits her supportive parents, who never financially pressured her or demanded she change careers, for allowing her the freedom to pursue her dream despite the instability. She admitted that one of the motivations for signing with Warner Music was to allay her parents’ ongoing anxiety about her financial sustainability. Her family’s worries were lifted not by a major award, but simply by the security of the record deal.
“Once I joined Warner, they were immediately reassured, feeling that I was no longer spending my own savings—that was already a success in their eyes,” she reflected. While receiving her first major industry award was a cause for full family celebration, the relief came much earlier, marking a pivotal moment where independent ambition met mainstream stability.
