September 03, 2026 – Chongqing -- A new documentary series, "Western China's Melody," has racked up more than 25.8 million views abroad within weeks of its July 27 premiere, blending endangered Chinese folk traditions with electronic music production.
Ten cities, ten ethnic groups, one 7,200-kilometer journey
The project was jointly created by the Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO) and Danish producer HEDEGAARD, known globally as the "King of Car Audio" with over 1.7 billion streams. Filming spanned ten cities and ten ethnic groups -- including Han, Tujia, Tibetan, Yi, Mongolian, Yugur, Hui, Zhuang, Dong and Dai communities -- documenting at-risk musical traditions such as the high-pitched Adu melody, the Mongolian Tobshur, and Tibet's Layi song style.
HEDEGAARD spent two months learning from tradition-keepers directly
Traveling from the snow-covered plateaus of Qinghai-Tibet to the rainforests of Xishuangbanna, HEDEGAARD said he did not want to simply "use" these sounds. "I wanted to listen to them until they trusted me with their soul," he said. Guided by WCICO director Feng Xiaolou, he learned ancestral instruments and vocal techniques from local musicians in fields and by campfires.
The approach shaped a ten-episode series and companion album
The album, titled KINΔ, evokes both "China" and "kin." Three tracks illustrate the method: "Drumroll" reworks Tujia Luo'er melodies into a piece about resilience; "Monolith" turns a Tibetan Layi love song into a meditation on enduring love; and "Dancing with My Destiny" layers Dong children's harmonies over atmospheric synths. Art critic Xue Jinwen said the project "replaces cultural exploitation with equitable dialogue."
A live concert extended the film's message off-screen
On July 26, a concert titled "Magnificent Land, Melody of Western China -- Night of International Musical Story" was held at Chongqing's Guotai Art Center. HEDEGAARD performed alongside Tianqin players, Mongolian throat singers and Dong children, fusing traditional instruments and voices with real-time electronic production. The companion album has topped specialized electronic music charts, and clips from the documentary have trended across Europe and Southeast Asia.