Pop star returns to her ethnic Miao roots

Stardom often leads artists to chase the next big trend, but one female pop singer has embarked on a remarkable journey of reinvention.

Known for her catchy hits and glamorous performances, A Duo has made a deep, unexpected shift from the glitzy world of pop music to becoming a popularizer of Miao ethnic culture, with a new stage production that bridges the ancient and the modern.

Titled Reborn Beats, the production premiered on Dec 31 in the seaside community of Aranya in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, and is about to kick off a national tour on Friday to cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

The 45-year-old singer, who is also the scriptwriter and director, has seamlessly blended her pop background with ancient Miao traditions in a dazzling performance that is both a tribute to her heritage, and a platform for bringing her culture to a contemporary audience — many of whom may have never encountered it before.

Reborn Beats is the story of Ye Zi, a young woman from the mountains, who seeks to adapt to life in the city. In doing so, she abandons her ability to communicate with nature and all living things. However, she repeatedly faces setbacks to love, friendship and dreams. On a rooftop one day, she receives a call informing her that her grandmother is critically ill. This prompts her to return home, setting off a colorful and magical adventure.

Traditional Miao musical instruments, including the lusheng (a reed pipe) and drums, are featured in the production, along with contemporary musical elements.

Once a symbol of modernity, A Duo now dresses in a stunning, richly embroidered Miao-inspired costume as a visual representation of her respect for her cultural heritage. She plays the role of the grandmother, who she describes as a wise, elderly woman with a face full of wrinkles.

"The character reminds me of my own grandmother, who was hardworking, kindhearted, wise, and took care of the family," she says.

A Duo spent about 10 years working on Reborn Beats. Her aim is to show that Miao culture is not some static relic of the past but rather a dynamic, evolving force. She also wants to deliver an inspiring message about the transition of women, a theme that mirrors her personal path of evolution.

Born in Hunan province to a Tujia father and a Miao mother, A Duo gained fame after performing the dance song Goodbye, Carmen on the annual China Central Television Spring Festival Gala in 2005. She was signed by a major Chinese record label and released several pop albums.

However, despite the fame and flashing lights, her life was not without struggles. The pain of personal relationships, career exhaustion, and health issues led her to step out of the limelight.

"I thought about what kind of life I wanted to live, what kind of person I wanted to become, and what I was chasing," she says.

Beneath the glitter of stardom, there was a yearning for a more meaningful form of expression — something rooted in history, heritage and culture. It was a longing to do more than entertain; she wanted to create something that would resonate beyond the superficiality of pop fame. That's when Miao culture, a tradition she is closely connected to through her ancestry, entered her life with full force.

From 2012 to 2016, she spent her days in remote villages in Hunan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, where the Miao and Tujia live. During her stay, she recorded folk songs and dance moves. She also learned miaogu, a Miao percussion performance, from 89-year-old Hong Fuqiang in Baojing county in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture in Hunan. It was there that she officially became an inheritor of Miao drum dance, setting the stage for her next artistic chapter.

Living in villages allowed her to embrace a simpler lifestyle and brought back vivid memories. A Duo was raised by her grandmother, and the wooden door of her grandmother's house always creaked. A creak meant someone was leaving, and another creak meant that breakfast was ready. The door was like a clock, and the creak was like its chime. She wanted to preserve these emotionally charged sounds in the production, alongside things like picking cotton, sifting rice, spinning machines, and grinding stones.

"I'm a translator, interpreting what the previous generation of masters has passed down and making it resonate with today's young people," A Duo says.

Reborn Beats brings together five inheritors of Miao ethnic folk arts, including singer Long Xian'e and lusheng player Yang Shengwen. They share A Duo's vision of music that revives a cultural legacy they believe has the power to inspire future generations.

"As an inheritor of lusheng, I always want to present the instrument to a wider audience, and with Reborn Beats, we have made this possible," says Yang, who performs with the China Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble, and has been playing the instrument for decades.

"The lusheng is not just treated as an embellishment but prominently featured in the production, especially when it's integrated into contemporary music elements. It allows the audience to see and feel the essence of the instrument, and experience its sound in a fresh and engaging way," Yang notes.