New music with meaning

Singer-songwriter Zhou Bichang has just released her ninth studio album, Not Typical, and is touring nationwide in support of this new album. Ma Yiting and Ji Jianpeng / For China Daily

Singer Zhou Bichang has just released her ninth studio album, Not Typical, and is touring the nation to promote it

When the world first learned about Zhou Bichang 12 years ago, she was just a 19-year-old music school student from Shenzhen, in Guangdong province, auditioning for a Chinese singing competition on a TV show called Super Girl.

There, she won the second place in the competition with her expressive singing, especially her distinctive interpretation of R&B songs, which enabled her to become a household name.

Now with chart-topping hits, sold out concerts and nearly 20 million followers on her Sina Weibo account, Zhou has just released her ninth studio album, Not Typical, and is touring the nation to promote the album.

"I am thrilled to have an album, which is completely by me. The tour is also completely my idea, from the stage set and the costumes to the music," says Zhou.

Ever since she launched her own studio, Begin Studio, in 2012, Zhou has transformed into an indie singer-songwriter.

As the title of the new album suggests, she wants to deliver the message that the album is full of surprises.

Now, thanks to the internet, new singers easily have their voices heard. But in the pop world nowadays, it's hard to stay on top, she says.

"I was lucky to stand out among my peers back in the 2005 and still have many loyal fans. Then, it was the beginning of a new era for China's pop music, which was exciting. But, it was also a big challenge for me to change the impression audiences had about me," says Zhou, who was born in Changsha in Hunan province to a music-loving family. She moved to Shenzhen with her family when she was 6.