From rock 'n' roll bandwagon to the music of the desert

Perhat Halik performs on the TV talent show, Voice of China 2014, where he shot to fame after claiming second place. Provided to China Daily

Every time musician Perhat Halik stepped onto the stage of the TV talent show, Voice of China 2014, he exuded a calm presence, seemingly unperturbed by his lack of Mandarin and the host of famous singers in the studio audience.

His husky voice has gathered quite a following in recent weeks, leading the 32-year-old Uygur to take second place in the show.

He did his best to sing songs in Mandarin to appeal to the audience. But in the end, it was his unadorned, unmistakable voice and attitude to the music that fascinated fans.

However, his voice wasn't appreciated by everyone who heard it, and his rivals could often be heard criticizing his songs, saying they were tuneless and hard to understand.

Consistent with his serene stage-presence, he is equally composed when facing criticism.

"I came to sing a song, not for a title. I want more people to know my music," Perhat Halik told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. "I believe music can affect all people, regardless of ethnicity and national-ity."

Taklamakan music

"I want to go back to childhood, lying in your arms, sitting behind you on a bike, Papa. I want to eat noodles cooked by you, wear a sweater knitted by you, steal a cookie from you, Mama ..."

Perhat Halik often dedicates his songs and music to his parents, both of whom have passed away. The emotion with which he imbued each song when performing on Voice of China moved the audience, earning rapturous applause, despite most peoples' inability to understand the lyrics, sung in Uygur, the language of Perhat Halik's home, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

He said wherever he goes his love for his hometown and family are the inspiration and soul of his songs.

His was born in Makit, a county in Kashgar prefecture, in the Taklamakan Desert. Despite living among several different ethnic groups known for singing and dancing, Perhat Halik showed little interest in Xinjiang folk music as a youngster.

At the age of 6, he found a broken guitar while rummaging through things at home and began playing it every day. When the guitar became unusable, his father sent him a new one as a gift, cementing his path into the world of music.

Still, he showed little interest in the folk music of his hometown.

In the late 1990s, he became part of the rock 'n' roll movement that swept across China, growing his hair long and obsessing over heavy-metal music. At one point, he considered a tattoo, he said.

However, his attitude toward traditional Xinjiang music changed while he was studying painting at the Xin-jiang Arts University in Urumqi, the regional capital.

During a folk performance, he spotted a friend, also on the rock 'n' roll bandwagon, wearing a folk costume and playing a traditional musical instrument.

"For the first time in my life, I noticed the beauty of Xinjiang folk music and realized: 'This is what I want'," he said.

After that, he began blending Western rock 'n' roll with Chinese folk elements, using the style to found a band called Qetiq in 2005.

The band earned low but livable wages by singing in bars. While performing at these venues, Perhat Halik would occasionally sneak original songs into the set, but many patrons, who were used to hearing familiar songs by famous singers, complained.

Eventually, the other members of his band tried to persuade him to stop singing his own songs and concentrate on cover versions of popular hits, but Perhat Halik insisted on continuing with his own compositions, believing the audience would come to accept his music if he persisted.

He was proved right. "Some patrons told me they felt uncomfortable if they didn't hear my songs for a long time," he said.

More recently, his mixture of traditional musical instruments such as the dutar and the tambur, accompanied by guitar and his husky voice, attracted a German musician, who invited the band to perform in Germany in 2010.

The tour was a success, and the band became popular with European audiences. Qetig now travels frequently to Europe to perform, and last year released its first album in Germany.

"The audience shows respect and tolerance to different music. They see it as an art," Perhat Halik said.

Now, he often performs in large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, but he says he will never leave Xinjiang or his musical roots.

A man without a dream

When a judge on Voice of China asked Perhat Halik about his dreams, he replied: "I do not have a dream. I just do the things I really love. When things are done well, the dreams will come to me."

The unorthodox answer surprised many members of the audience and the judges.

"Perhat Halik is like a mirror. Looking at him, I know what I have lost these years," said musician and composer Wang Feng, who was Perhat Halik's coach on Voice of China.

A song can become popular overnight, but half a year later, will anyone remember it? It's a question Perhat Halik always asks himself.

Pureness, simplicity and hope may be what people who really understand Perhat Halik and his music feel in his songs.

"I don't understand music, but Perhat Halik's songs make me cry, and let me know I have tears and dreams," Jian Shixian, a 64-year-old fan, wrote on Sina Weibo.