Cantopop Renewed: Identity Politics in Post-2019 Hong Kong and the Rise of Mirror

Post-2019, Hong Kong has witnessed an increased interest in Cantopop. While the genre peaked in the 1980s and 1990s, pop music sung in the local language became popular again, as seen in the rise of the band Mirror. As political upheaval after the protests restricts political expression through selective depoliticization, this paper argues that the resurgence of Cantopop is indicative of a growing interest in local expression and the protection of local identity. By interviewing ten Hongkongers, the paper argues that Mirror’s success lies at the intersection of local identity, consumer culture, and pan-East-Asian cultural trends.