When music is enough

Sa Dingding performs at Tango Club in Beijing. [Photo Provided to China Daily]

Sa, 34, is known for her ethereal vocals and fusing traditional folk music with avant-garde interpretation. In 2007 she received international acclaim by winning the BBC Radio 3 World Music Award for her album Alive, which sold more than 2 million copies in Asia.

Born to a Han father and Mongolian mother, her earliest musical influences came from her nomadic life as a 3-year-old on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia with her grandma. There, she learned how to sing and speak Mongolian, which shaped her habit of music as a daily routine, molding her distinctive voice and love of freedom.

She has recorded five full-length albums with Universal Music, which she used as a springboard to launch tours in Europe.

"When I look back on my career, I see myself transform from an independent singer-songwriter to an artist, who is lucky to work with international musicians. Music does not just bring me fun but also broadens my vision. There are many young talents in China who share my dream with music at an early stage. I want to help them," Sa says.