Two accomplished singer-songwriters of Asian heritage and a rising star of Sudanese ancestry will perform on Saturday (December 23) under a large, heated tent in Harbour Green Park. Three-time JUNO-nominated Ginalina, funky and soulful Kristin Fung, and R&B artist Hatim will be there as part of the free Liven UP – Coal Harbour festival.
Ginalina, a guitar-playing family folksinger, will go on-stage at 5:30 p.m.; Fung, a keyboardist and UBC-trained vocalist, is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. Their shows at the Harbour Green Stage & Bar resulted from a community partnership between Vancouver’s Jade Music Fest and Liven UP – Coal Harbour.
Watch Ginalina’s video for “Going Back”, featuring Sānlúnchē.
During her career, Ginalina has recorded five albums. They include the pioneering Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs in 2022.
This disc is a collection of modern remixes of folk songs from the Far East, supplemented with her own English-language lyrics.
On Going Back, Ginalina’s English-language title track is a bouncy tribute to ancestral homelands. Through this song, she reconnects listeners to their culture and stories that they may have heard as children.
Watch Kristin Fung sing her original song, “You for You”.
Fung brings joy to Coal Harbour
In October, Ginalina and Fung each played evening concerts and spoke on daytime panels at the Jade Music Fest. In addition, Ginalina hosts the festival’s On the Rise podcasts. This year, she featured outstanding female musicians of Asian ancestry.
For her part, Fung has released two EPs. Her most recent is the five-song Live at the Garden recorded at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver.
She recorded four original compositions on Live at the Garden, as well as a cover version of “Wreckless Love” by Alicia Keys.
Fung wrote one of the songs, “You for You”, to let everyone know that they are valued, regardless of their accomplishments in life.
Both Ginalina and Fung are multilingual. Ginalina has recorded music in English, French, Mandarin, and Taiwanese. Fung has sung in English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, and Bahasa.
Hatim explores vulnerability on Façade
In between Ginalina and Kristin Fung’s shows, Hatim will perform at 7 p.m. This is part of Liven UP’s Locals Lounge series. The Sudanese Canadian integrates East African and Middle Eastern influences into his funky, neo-soul and pop-infused R&B.
A prolific songwriter, Hatim’s newest eight-song EP is Façade. On his website, he describes it as “an exploration of vulnerability and the search for love”.
“I’m bearing a new layer of myself in this record,” Hatim states in his bio. “It may not be my happiest, but it is definitely my most authentic and I hope that people can connect with that. It felt important to represent the full spectrum of my humanity as a Black man in today’s climate”
Hatim is a UBC grad with a major in microbiology and immunology and a minor in commerce. He moved to B.C. in 2012 from Abu Dhabi after receiving an International Leader of Tomorrow award.
The Vancouver Hotel Destination Association is presenting the monthlong Liven UP – Coal Harbour festival. It also includes fire performances at Canada Place Plaza and opera in Cardero Park.
Watch Hatim perform “Breathe” from Façade.
Liven UP – Coal Harbour continues on Fridays and Saturdays until December 30. For more information, visit the website. Follow Pancouver on Twitter @PancouverMedia.
