In October 2024, their marriage ended. Gong marked the occasion with a party, inviting the friends who had attended her wedding and performing the music she and Zollitsch created together.
"We have two lovely sons and created so much great music together. That's very beautiful," she says.
In Dali, Gong rekindled her musical spark. The book describes her journey back to music — not through the lens of commercial success but through the joy of creation and artistic freedom. She explored new musical collaborations, stepping out of her comfort zone and trying new forms, like rap and performances on the music competition Riding Wind, a bold TV show for women above 30 in the entertainment industry that is shattering age stereotypes and showcasing the multifaceted brilliance of women at every stage of life.
"I tried musical styles that I had never done before. I also learned street dance. I never expected that I could dance," she says, adding that dancing is now part of her life.
With a hectic schedule, from touring around the country to releasing albums, Gong still collects folk songs wherever she travels. In a village in Nujiang Lisu autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, for example, she met an elderly couple who set up a small balcony on the second floor of their home. They would call their neighbors to come in the evening and play music together after days spent picking tea leaves or farming.
"Sounds that come from the land have the most vibrant vitality," says Gong.
"I finished the book in one go. What attracted me was its honesty and straightforwardness. Like many people, I have long enjoyed her songs, but after reading this book, I listen to them with a new understanding," says TV host Jing Yidan.
Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn
