In pictures: Meet Jia Ruhan, no ordinary pop star

The National
  • Jia Ruhan performs at the Shanghai World Music Festival in 2013. The 31-year-old studied western opera in university but says her next album aims to combine traditional Chinese songs with western rock-pop style.
    Jia Ruhan performs at the Shanghai World Music Festival in 2013. The 31-year-old studied western opera in university but says her next album aims to combine traditional Chinese songs with western rock-pop style.
  • “I am a classically trained soprano,” Ms Jia says. “I have spent my whole life making my voice pure and clean. Now I have to learn to sing with a growl or a county twang.”
    “I am a classically trained soprano,” Ms Jia says. “I have spent my whole life making my voice pure and clean. Now I have to learn to sing with a growl or a county twang.”
  • Ms Jia travelled to the UK to play the Queen Mother of Heaven in ‘Monkey: Journey to the West’, an opera co-produced by the British musician Damon Albarn.
    Ms Jia travelled to the UK to play the Queen Mother of Heaven in ‘Monkey: Journey to the West’, an opera co-produced by the British musician Damon Albarn.
  • Ms Jia also sang on a track on Christopher Tin’s album ‘Calling All Dawns’, which went on to win the award for Best Classical Crossover at the 2011 Grammys.
    Ms Jia also sang on a track on Christopher Tin’s album ‘Calling All Dawns’, which went on to win the award for Best Classical Crossover at the 2011 Grammys.
  • Unlike her first album, which was mainly in English, Ms Jia’s next album will be in Chinese. ‘I am Chinese, so I should make Chinese music: that way I can really be an international Chinese musician,’ she says.
    Unlike her first album, which was mainly in English, Ms Jia’s next album will be in Chinese. ‘I am Chinese, so I should make Chinese music: that way I can really be an international Chinese musician,’ she says.