Following last year's hit record Shangri-La, Chinese singer Leehom Wong released his second "chinked-out" album, Hero, in Beijing last week.

The album continues Wang's original "chinked-out" style, which forms a new school of hip-hop. The singer recorded an interesting mix of hip-hop and Chinese opera, creating a distinctive new sound ready to challenge listeners.

Let's take a look at Wang's description of the new album, his explanation of "chinked-out" music, and his future plans. The information is based on several interviews with Wang on Chinese Web sites and in newspapers.

Question: What does "chinked-out" mean? What made you start making "chinked-out" music?

Wang: The term "chinked-out" comes from "chink," which was used to put down Chinese people. "Chinked-out" turns the negative meaning of "chink" upside-down, and uses it as material to form a musical style.

Chinese pop music does not have a strong enough feature. Instead of imitating other countries' popular songs, we can focus on developing our own sound, drawing from the rich resources that abound in Chinese culture. This is how the conception of "chinked-out" music came out.

Question: How is the music in Hero distinctive?

Wang: In this new album, I absorbed some of China's most precious resources, Peking opera and Kunqu opera, and mixed it with hip-hop. The songs are fast, energetic and completely refreshing.

Question: How did you learn about Chinese opera?

Wang: I started noticing Peking opera and Kunqu opera after I first watched Chen Kaige's Farewell My Concubine. I love the film so much that I have watched it nearly 20 times. The opera singing in it attracted me. In making Hero, I included the film's opera singer, Li Yan, whose singing formed part of the background music.

Question: In your opinion, how can traditional Chinese opera be accessible to the younger generation?

Wang: Many people are making efforts to revive Chinese opera. Taiwan's noted writer Bai Xianyong has made a "youth version" of the Kunqu opera Peony Pavilion, which has been acclaimed throughout China. This opera also inspired me in writing Beside the Plum, the first song of the new album. I even combined classical Chinese poems in hip-hop, which is unusual but gives the song great rhyme. I think we need to add new things to traditional opera or present them in new ways, so that young people can like them.

Question: What are you planning next?

Wang: I will perform two concerts in Taipei in March, then arrange some concerts in mainland cities. So far I have not decided about the schedule for concerts on the mainland, but I will come.

Question: You were recently selected to represent a women's health food. Who do you think is the most beautiful woman?

Wang: In my mind, my grandma is the most beautiful. I think beauty is not only the external appearance. Inner beauty is more important.

(Shenzhen Daily March 1, 2006)