Who IS Hong Kong's Sound Architect?
Achi (阿志), a musician and producer born in Hong Kong and raised in the UK, is creating a unique sound that blends genres and captures the pulse of his city. With a background in classical piano and violin, Achi mixes rap, R&B, and electronica to build his distinctive musical world.
His solo journey began with EPs and singles, leading to his debut album, OBSERVANT, released in November 2024. This album marked a new phase where Achi's lyrical skills truly shined. His voice is strong and grounded, yet it allows for an ambient, melancholic feel to seep through. OBSERVANT is described as an introspective journey of self-discovery. Achi reflected that after nearly a decade away from home, he was looking for what connected him to his roots and the people around him. This search is clear in songs like "SIXTY-SIX," where he explores balancing Eastern and Western cultural values in a city where old and new ideas constantly meet. Other tracks, like "BOUNCE," celebrate friendship, while "NOIGILER" offers a critical look at social media fame.
While Achi's music often starts digitally, sampling sounds found online, his latest project, "The Noise of Hong Kong (香港噪音)," takes a different approach. He steps away from the computer to capture the everyday sounds of Hong Kong, transforming them into fresh beats and visuals.
In the first video of this series, Achi sampled sounds from the Hong Kong MTR, the city's mass transit system. The track begins with a familiar MTR announcement, then builds into a jagged, looping beat that perfectly captures the chaos of rush hour. You hear doors slamming, coins clicking, trains whizzing by, and the distinct beeps of the Octopus card. The result is a track full of warmth and character, built from distinctively analog Hong Kong noises.
Achi continued this urban sound exploration by sampling the sounds of Sushiro, a conveyor belt sushi chain, capturing the clatter of plates and hum of conversation. Another track was made in IKEA, remixing the sounds of hangers, rustling fabrics, and slamming drawers. He also visited the Hong Kong tramways, once again capturing the quiet, mechanical rumbles of the city's often-unnoticed transportation sounds. Fans on Instagram are now suggesting new places for Achi to visit, like soccer fields and specific neighborhoods.
Hong Kong is one of the world's most densely populated cities, naturally filled with countless overlapping noises. Yet, Achi manages to cut through this constant hum to find beauty. His work celebrates not just Hong Kong’s history, but also its unique soundscapes.
