Chinese singer Ding Wei is not one to be tied down. Her three albums, released over a period of ten years, cover a wide spectrum of musical styles ranging from jazz to pop. 

Ding Wei in a world of her own

In a world of her own, Ding Wei meditates on the reality outside, where the rest of us live. Her musical soul wanders over a wide range of subjects -- the spaces around us, the subtlest human emotions, and their clashes. And sometimes, she breaks away from the rules that govern feminine grace to make bare and stormy accusations.

Ding Wei has been in the business for ten years. But she only has three albums under her belt, because she does most of the work herself, including writing the lyrics and the music. She's self-assured as an able musician. But this confidence has never helped her act the star.

Ding Wei said: "As a matter of fact, I'm extremely camera-shy. The existence of a camera embarrasses me."

Beyond her musical world, Ding Wei can take things as they come. She feels natural being cool, subtle, and under-stated, fitting easily into the musical universe that is Jazz.

Ding Wei became famous first for her detached style of Jazz.

She was called the Chinese mainland's first Jazz singer.

Her 1995 single, Butterfly with Broken Wings, got to number one in China.

But this is Ding Wei in a different skin, trip-hop.

Ding Wei's idol, if indeed, she has one, is Tori Amos. Many of her hits resemble the music of Tori Amos with their slow electronic sound and ambient female vocals. It's called Trip-hop, a Jazz-related style that originated in early 90s' Britain. Amos was one of the first to take it up, while Ding Wei brought it over to China.

It's been said that Ding Wei isn't so much a star as a musician. Perhaps that's just a polite way of saying she's not that popular. But Ding Wei explains that she's more concerned about the quality of her music.

And this is often enough to gain her the popularity she rejects. Her 2004 pop single, Farewell, My Beloved, proved to have strong market appeal. It's been played and sung all over China since its release.

Jazz, trip-hop, pop, pinning this wil'o-the-wisp down is no easy task. Someone once asked where she stands in terms of musical style. Ding Wei replied simply that her style is "without style". Floating joyously through the maze of different musical styles, Ding Wei builds her own world, and finds her freedom therein.

(CCTV January 20, 2006)