Like many foreign musicians who try to enter the Chinese market, Antony Harding, who plays under the name of ANT, is thrilled to have his first ever solo tour in China. 

Harding, still best known as the drummer of London band Hefner, started to play independently as ANT 12 years ago. He says China is one country he never thought he would see.

"I am still pinching myself," he told the Global Times. "China is such a big country; if you can make it there you'll be laughing! Even Bob Dylan has had a go. 

"I hope my first tour is a success and that no one [else] is laughing!" he added. 

In his opening show tonight at Beijing's The One Club, Harding will perform songs from his second, and best-known, album Footprints Through the Snow, plus a mixture of old and new material.

For someone of his height (just 194cm), Harding has an unusual voice that one Chinese listener described as "beautiful and clean" on douban.com, where many of his songs can be found. 

"I try and make a very simple yet beautiful kind of music. Sometimes I succeed!" he said of his childlike, softly spoken musical persona. 

Although websites introduce him as an ex-member of Hefner and an  "English singer/songwriter and musician from the Isle of Wight," Harding lives in Sweden now and hopes to be best known for his songwriting or solo records, though he is aware that he has a fair way to go still.

"It usually works in my favor, as no one expects a drummer to be able to write pretty songs. I used to love being the drummer, as I could sit at the back and watch everything. But I would never describe myself as a 'drummer,'" he explained. "I wouldn't describe myself as a 'singer' either. I would say I am a simple musician who sings his own songs."

Harding likes to write about love and nature, be it a bird, an animal or even the weather. His favorite place to write is at home.

"Lock me away in a room with a guitar and a keyboard and the songs will soon come knocking," he said.

He will play over 20 concerts until mid-July, covering popular cities with Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing among others. Between concerts, Harding will mostly travel by train.

"I prefer trains. I like the view from a train window. When I visit a country I like to try and see it as it really is, away from the tourists," he said. "I hope to get a chance to walk around early mornings."

Harding has just finished his new album The Birds Sing Goodnight To You And Me, which he recorded on acoustic guitar at his home in Sweden, adding post-production in London. 

"It is still simple but with enough icing on the top to make you smile and tap your feet." 

Footprints Through the Snow will be released in China this summer through Pocket Records. Harding's songs are also available to listen to on websites such as Myspace, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Chinese website douban.com.