Chinese-American musician Shunza, born Ni Chunlian, humbly calls herself an unpopular person with popular songs.

Nineteen years ago, the song "Coming Home," which she wrote and composed, made her a fast-rising star in the Chinese music circle, impressing audiences with her silvery voice and flexible variations in pitch.

With three nominations for best vocals, best newcomer and best composer at the Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan, the song has become one of the most classic Chinese pop songs today.

Chinese-American musician Shunza performed at last year's JZ Festival Shanghai. Photo: IC

At nearly every concert, she is expected to sing "Coming Home." Perhaps a singer with such a popular song should feel pleased, but Shunza is not that kind of person.

Growing up listening to a vast diversity of musical styles, she is curious about not only pop, but also reggae, jazz, R & B, funk and other genres. She isn't satisfied with her career yet, challenging herself to make fun music and push boundaries between different styles.

That explains why she recently signed with major Chinese jazz label JZ Music. Fans of "Coming Home" may find it surprising, but for Shunza, it's just a continuation of her career.

She said joining JZ Music is really a "coming home" for her heart, which longs for boundless freedom in the endless exploration in music.

Shunza's domestic tour with JZ Music's band The Red Groove Project, led by Golden Melody-winning guitarist, composer and producer Lawrence Ku, will kick off at Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall on June 24, before it goes to Ningbo, Xiamen, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Chongqing.



Circle completed

"It's like a full circle," Shunza said, describing her signing with JZ Music. The Shanghai-based jazz label has a stable of the country's top jazz talents, including Peng Fei and Lawrence Ku, both Golden Melody Award winners and acclaimed producers behind popular singers such as Karen Mok and Li Ronghao.

Speaking with the Global Times at the new JZ School branch in Changning district, the artist explained that her current career curve took her there because "I'm at a place where I really feel a sense of belonging."

Born in Beijing in 1973, Shunza moved to San Francisco at the age of 6 and a half. Her mother is a classical pianist, and when her mother taught in the living room, Shunza cultivated a hobby of listening to the radio and singing in her bedroom.

There she listened to all types of music, from R & B to its roots in blues, jazz and Gospel.

"I knew about the blues and jazz, but I was too young and I didn't understand it. So I began with pop, because it was the 1980s; that's the decade of songs," the singer recalled.

At the age of 17, she went to Switzerland to learn jazz, but her first band, Duty Free, formed in 1992 with members who speak four languages, was still a hip-hop act.

By the time Shunza was discovered by Taiwan's Rock Records & Tapes in 1994, she had already toured Europe and America several times.

The abrupt transition from hip-hop to soulful pop songs was not easy for her, Shunza said, and she once felt confused about who she is and where her home is after traveling to so many places. Then she made the stage her home.

With Magic Stone, affiliated to Rock Records & Tapes, Shunza released four albums that won her unprecedented attention from the public.

When credited as the best composer for "Write a Song" from her second album, I'm Not a Star, the singer, who had been longing to become an all-around musician like her idol Prince, said that "it was just literally enough for me."

She later signed to the international label EMI Records and Entertainment, but she said the business model made her free spirit uncomfortable because she had to listen to a powerful A&R director who took charge of almost everything.

After her last release with EMI in 2003, Shunza put out on other labels a cover album of English and French love songs and an EP.

It wasn't until To the Top, released in 2014, that the artist seemed to come back to her music fans in full swing. Lawrence Ku's The Red Groove Project participated in the making of the album, which candidly unveils Shunza's virtuosity on different music styles.

Meeting with Lawrence Ku

Shunza doesn't hide her love for The Red Groove Project when talking about its influence on her.

"It is a band that happened to play, perform and write everything that I admire that's out of the pop boundary," she said on her collaboration with the band, which has musicians from China, the US, Australia and Brazil.

Shunza got to know Ku about eight years ago. Ku, born in the US, came to China in the 1990s and has become an instrumental figure in China's jazz scene.

Shunza described the encounter with Ku and the band as "destiny" because they have the same direction, and they want kind of the same dream, just through different instruments.

"I never said I was a jazz singer, but I finally can say I have no labels. I would like people to think I'm a great singer and I'm a creative singer," said the 43-year-old.

With The Red Groove Project, Shunza aims to continue her fusion style in her next album, which is to be released by JZ Music.

The imprint recently launched a partnership with Sony Music Entertainment to promote Chinese jazz to world audiences.

When asked what the next 10 years holds for her, Shunza said she won't put more pressure on herself and will just let things flow and the music happen.

"With music it's so great to actually get older alone," added the artist, obviously pleased that she is "coming home" with her favorite music.