September 03, 2026 – Chongqing -- A new music documentary pairing Danish producer HEDEGAARD with folk musicians across western China has drawn more than 25.8 million overseas views within weeks of its July 27 release.
The project spans 7,200 kilometers and ten ethnic groups.
Titled "Western China's Melody," the ten-episode series was co-created by the Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO) and HEDEGAARD, an artist known globally as the "King of Car Audio" with over 1.7 billion streams. The production team filmed across ten cities, documenting music from ten ethnic groups including Han, Tujia, Tibetan, Yi, Mongolian, Yugur, Hui, Zhuang, Dong, and Dai. Over two months, HEDEGAARD traveled from the Qinghai-Xizang plateau to the rainforests of Xishuangbanna, working with WCICO director Feng Xiaolou to learn endangered traditions such as Adu High-Pitched Melody, Mongolian Tobshur, and Xizang Layi directly from heritage bearers.
"I didn't want to 'use' these sounds," HEDEGAARD said. "I wanted to listen until they trusted me with their soul."
A companion album turns folk songs into electronic tracks.
The documentary's soundtrack, an album called KINΔ, reworks traditional pieces into modern productions. "Drumroll" reimagines Tujia Luo'er Tunes, "Monolith" transforms a Xizang Layi love song, and "Dancing with My Destiny" layers Dong children's harmonies over synth pads. The album has topped niche electronic charts since release.
A live concert in Chongqing brought the sounds off-screen.
On July 26, HEDEGAARD performed at Chongqing's Guotai Art Center alongside Tianqin players, Mongolian throat singers, and Dong children in a concert titled "Magnificent Land, Melody of Western China." The show combined traditional instruments and vocals with real-time electronic production. Clips from the documentary have trended across Europe and Southeast Asia since the project's launch.