Comfort Zone

Singer-songwriter Dou Jingtong. Photo Provided To China Daily

Dou Jingtong also tried performing a small part of the classic Peking Opera piece, The Legend of the Red Lantern, which she learned from her grandmother, a huge fan of Peking Opera.

"I felt much more relaxed when I made the second album," says Dou Jingtong.

The cover of the album is a photo of her cousin, an 11-year-old boy.

"He looks serious, arrogant and rebellious in the photo. I asked for his permission and edited the photo myself. I guess he thinks that I am weird," she says, laughing.

It is difficult to ignore the impact of Dou's family on her career. Her talent was already obvious when she released her first guitar-driven song, With You, online in 2012. Her performance attracted millions of views. In 2015, Dou Jingtong gave her debut show in Tokyo and her stage persona reminded her fans of her parents' legacy.

Dou Jingtong also opens up to a variety of musical styles, which, as she puts it, remains a form of education for her. A recent favorite album is From Left to Right, released in 1971 by the late US jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans.

"When I was a child, I learned to play the piano but gave up later. I also learned the guzheng (Chinese zither), but I was very energetic and couldn't sit still to learn it properly. However, I am now often surprised to find out how beautiful and versatile these instruments are and I want to learn them again."

Dou Jingtong finds it difficult to tackle questions about her current life. She pauses, searching for the words to express her thoughts, even as she looks at the cars on the streets during an interview.

"I really cannot describe it in words so I say it with music," she says. "What I am trying to do now is to be honest with myself, which is not easy."