With no restraints

Zhang Ying held a live concert at Xiao Ke Theater inside Beijing's 798 Art Zone on Dec 12, 2014. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Singer-songwriter Zhang Ying tells Chen Nan her embrace of jazz music is 'like playing in an amusement park'.

She started learning piano at age 5, and graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music with a master's degree in composing. Her parents were both philosophy professors. Now in her mid-30s, she is teaching in the music department of Communication University of China. If an old-fashioned and stern image comes to your mind, then you will be totally surprised by Zhang Ying.

A jazz singer-songwriter with long curly hair, red lips and a big smile, Zhang has been attracting critical attention for her original jazz tunes for nearly a decade.

After three years' preparation, Zhang has released her debut album, Sondia, which is also her English name.

Invited by her longtime friend, veteran singer-songwriter Xiao Ke, Zhang held a live concert at Xiao Ke Theater inside Beijing's 798 Art Zone on a recent night. Along with her bandmates, including bassist Liu Yue, pianist Xia Jia and percussionist Bei Bei, she performed songs such as Sondia, Lullaby and Poisoning from her debut album.

Zhang Youdai, a seasoned DJ and music critic known for his radio show All That Jazz, interviewed Zhang on the new album.

"You must often be asked what jazz is, aren't you?" the DJ asked. Zhang Ying nodded and answered with the lyrics of one of her songs, titled Jazz: "Sometimes people ask me, what is jazz? The question is just like asking me what is love. Jazz is you and me, jazz is in your life, jazz is this song, jazz is now."

"I am living a jazzy life. Jazz is my lifestyle. I am a free spirit. When I write songs, it feels like playing in an amusement park," she tells China Daily. "I don't like any restraints on my music. That's why I never sign with any record company. If they ask me to change my music for commercial or marketing reasons, I would say, 'don't touch my music'."

What Zhang Ying likes most about jazz is the impromptu moments. "All the musicians improvise onstage with their instruments. You never know where the next note will lead you," she says.

Jazz is still a minority taste in China. As Zhang says, jazz has been misunderstood by many people, who consider it a high-end and hard-to-comprehend music style. Thus, she writes her songs in Chinese and her lyrics are as casual and straightforward as chatting, hoping to get the listeners close to the music.