After years of quietly giving out homemade demos in Victoria and Vancouver, the traditionally introverted singer-songwriter developed an extroverted streak as a modest following forced him out of his shell and onto a stage.
And so he did.
With affirmation that his music was getting through to people, Chris Ho gradually established two sides to himself – the recluse and the exhibitionist. This new identity began to permeate his life and music, allowing him to challenge the traditional notion of the folk singer-songwriter mechanic.
The fresh dichotomy led Ho through a new adaptive process, writing songs that are both subdued and hard-hitting, but also upbeat and danceable. This flexibility has given him the capacity to cater his live performances to the tone of a specific lineup, allowing him to share stages with bands of varying styles, including Hey Ocean!, Pickwick, and Aidan Knight.
Just under a year after the release of his first official EP in April 2011, Ho reached out to his fans for their votes and won a spot on "Tracks On Tracks" – a cross-Canada train tour sponsored by Green Couch Productions and CBC Radio 3. Following his performances in the 2012 NXNE and Tall Tree Music Festivals, Ho returned to the studio to record his debut album, City Of Dust.
The debut LP was independently released on January 18, 2013, receiving attention from Canadian media outlets across the country. Shortly after, Ho won an award for "Island Songwriter of the Year" in the 2013 Vancouver Island Music Awards, and was recently charting at #2 on CBC Radio 3's weekly Top 30 Indie Tracks, after receiving regular rotation for "Story Of The Flood."
“Ho has made a name for himself in Victoria with his upbeat indie folk-rock, a combination that sounds better than ever on his debut full-length, City Of Dust.” – Times Colonist
"...with Chris Ho's narraitve voice proving to be a powerful one, and musical talents apparent, City Of Dust is a debut record that's one to hear for 2013." - Grayowl Point