Better late than never

Chinese singer-songwriter Ding Wei releases her fourth album, Untied, after a 13-year gap from her last album in 2004. [Photo by Li Qi/China Daily]

Nine years after she recorded it, and 13 years after the release of her previous album, Ding Wei's fourth album titled Untied, was finally released on June 23.

"Now when I hear the album again, it feels like am collaborating with myself from 10 years ago," says Ding, now in her mid 40s. "I never intended not to release the album. I was waiting for the right moment."

In 2015, she traveled to London to redo the production on the album, working with veteran musicians, including guitarist Dominic Miller, who has played with Sting for decades, and drummer Ian Thomas, who has played with Eric Clapton.

She also signed a contract with the London-based independent record company, Cooking Vinyl, and the album has been released worldwide.

"It's great to introduce Chinese pop music to Western listeners." says Ding. "I don't have to use traditional Chinese instrument and folk music elements to prove where I come from. They will know it when they listen to my songs because it's in my blood."

For the domestic market, she adds that she hopes to introduce a different type of pop music to the listeners, "something not so mainstream and commercial".

"We discussed replacing some of the songs with new material but we gave up that idea. All the songs captured the feelings I had when I wrote them. I want to have those songs heard even though those moments have already passed," says Ding.

The songs cover a wide range of genres, such as trip-hop and electronic music, and the lyrics are the singer-songwriter observations on the world and reflections on her life.