Turning burnout to glory

In Jishou city, Xiangxi, A Duo also founded an all-women drum dance troupe with 13 members from diverse backgrounds — including a butcher, a village schoolteacher, a tea farmer, and a security guard.

"We practiced on threshing grounds, experimenting with ways to adapt traditional drum dance for the modern stage," she recalls.

Her artistic vision further crystallized into what she calls "future ethnic aesthetics".

She brought together electronic music producers and inheritors of ethnic vocal styles and instruments of Miao, Tujia and Bouyei ethnic groups to form a band dedicated to preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage.

"I see myself as a translator — interpreting the wisdom passed down by elder masters and making it resonate with today's young people," the singer explains.

"I hope they will appreciate this fusion of tradition and futurism, of ethnic heritage and contemporary fashion, and develop a heartfelt connection to the music and culture of their motherland."

Now, she no longer suffers from the creative burnout she once experienced. Within these timeless traditions, she has discovered an endless wellspring of inspiration — and learned to approach music creation "like a farmer tending crops".

"I no longer fear difficult tasks that require time and patience. Nor do I worry about aging appearances or drying up of inspiration," she says.

She also wrote, directed, and starred in the musical Reborn Beats, a production blending avant-garde staging with more than 20 intangible cultural heritages which debuted earlier this year.

The work is now slated for an international tour.