Tony Yan Tong Chen - Homecoming

2021 CD release.

"Homecoming is a set of recollections of people, places, times and experiences. It is a response to the anxieties and concerns that were created by the global pandemic, but it also reflects some of the creative and artistic possibilities that can arise during times of instability and solitude.

Growing up in a bilingual household and a multicultural environment fostered a desire to explore and expand my musical and cultural life beyond New Zealand. Living and studying abroad as an international student completing a music degree in the US and participating in summer programs in North America and Europe provided opportunities for experiences that deepened my understanding of the world.

After returning to New Zealand unexpectedly due to the Covid pandemic, I was left with only memories, photographs, annotated scores and social media connections. As I readjusted to the landscape of my childhood, I realised that the essence of travel lies in the accumulation of experiences and newfound perspectives that broaden one's outlook regardless of where one chooses to call home".

 Tony Yan Tong Chen, May 2021