Low-key musician to begin national tour

Li Jian. [Zou Hong / China Daily]

Li Jian's latest national tour, See, will include Beijing on Sept 12 and Shenzhen on Nov 28.

The coming shows of the singer-songwriter will review his hits from over the years and feature new songs from his eighth studio album, Waiting for the Dawn, which was released earlier this month.

The Tshinghua University alumnus, who learned Peking Opera in childhood and loves to read, has been considered intellectual since his appearance on China's musical scene 15 years ago.

Li has also distinguished himself from mainstream pop and love ballads with his slow tunes and poetic lyrics.

"For the media, I may not be a good headliner because I have no eye-catching news besides new albums released every two years and rare concerts," he says of his low-profile life. "But I kind of like the distance I have with the limelight because it makes me comfortable and real."

The 41-year-old musician says his latest album is about his views on life, religion and destiny.

Pamela Wang, president of Wonderful Music, a Taiwan-based record company that signed a contract with Li in 2012, had earlier described Li's music as "borderless, which portrays not only love between a man and a woman but also love for friends, homeland and humanity".

Li was born in Harbin in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province and drew musical inspiration from his father, a Peking Opera performer.

But as fame came along for Liu, he wasn't overwhelmed by it, he says. Li got his first guitar at the age of 15 from his mother.

Contrasting with his soft-spoken personality now, Li was known on university campus for his rock star image even as an engineering student. And on graduation, he held his debut concert at Tsinghua University.

These days, besides writings songs, Li reads books on traditional Chinese medicine and spends time in the gym. He says he's shy about appearing frequently on TV or for other public occasions and would rather stay at home and write his songs.

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