Setting Ne Zha to music

In contrast, the pipa, often played in a suave and restrained manner, was chosen to represent Ao Bing. Raised as a refined gentleman and hopeful inheritor, Ao Bing possesses his own quiet strength, which he uses to defend his ideals. The instrument's elegant yet expressive tones help convey this nuanced aspect of his character, adds Tang.

For Taiyi Zhenren — the celestial master of Nezha, his round figure and personality once inspired Tang to use the Chinese drum to represent the character.

Moved by Nezha's courage, Tang wrote the first lyric — "I want to turn the ridiculous world upside down" — setting the scene with its bold, resolute tone.

Sung from the hero's perspective, the song illustrates Nezha's unwillingness to surrender to fate and refusal to compromise with the world through its spirited melody and powerful lyrics.

In addition to electric guitar and bass, the suona adds a soul-piercing touch. The guzheng (a plucked zither) and the pipa enhance its depth and richness.

"Making art is like dreaming, you can shape a world of your own," Tang says. "When I connected with Nezha, there was a moment I truly felt like I was him. That feeling gave power to the song."

In just three weeks, the song has amassed 3 million views on the video-sharing platform Bilibili and received more than 50,000 comments on QQ Music, a streaming service owned by Tencent Music Entertainment.

As a result of the film's popularity, the song has become one of the most listened to on major social platforms, propelling Tang — who began his career about two decades ago — to new heights of recognition.

Born in 1989 in Liaoyang, Liaoning province, Tang developed a strong interest in music after being introduced to the piano at his aunt's home when he was 11.Since then, he has studied the piano and participated in competitions. In 2008, he won the national championship of Wo Xing Wo Xiu (My Style, My Show), a popular music reality show among the 15 to 29 crowd.

"I've always believed that you can explore every possibility in music. If the sound is truly beautiful and captivating, then that's it. It's an instinct — it just pops into your mind," the artist says, reflecting on the trends that have guided him forward.

Contact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn