Flying high

He had already carved out a niche for himself in the Chinese music scene with his fusion of Xinjiang folk songs and rock'n'roll, but a stint on a popular TV show has brought Ma Tiao to a new audience. Chen Nan reports.

Best known for blending rock'n'roll with ethnic Xinjiang music, singer-songwriter Ma Tiao has been performing in Beijing pubs since 1994 and has become one of the most popular acts at outdoor music festivals and in live-house venues across the country.

In December 2014, the 43-year-old surprised himself by agreeing to take part in the second season of Sing My Song, a Chinese talent show, which aired in January on the arts and entertainment channel, CCTV-3. The show aims to showcase the best original singer-songwriters in the country.