When the Adu High-Pitched Singing of the Yi people undergo a brand-new transformation in deep bass EDM,

When the trembling vibrations of the Ningxia mouth harp resonate in perfect harmony with R&B melodies,

When Xizang's Layi Love Songs are set free within digital rhythms,

Eastern folk and Western electronic music are no longer distant shores gazing at each other, but have become a profound embrace of civilizations spanning mountains and seas.

On July 27, the ten-episode major music documentary Western China's Melody, co-created by the Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO) and renowned Danish DJ and music producer HEDEGAARD, will make its global debut.

Poster of the documentary Western China's Melody

This is more than just a documentary. It is a musical expedition spanning thousands of miles and touching the soul. The Chinese-Danish production team ventured deep into ten regions of Western China, immersing themselves in the daily lives of ten ethnic groups. By infusing the soul of ancient folk songs into the pulse of modern electronic beats, they allow the world to hear the most authentic and warm heartbeat of Western China.

HEDEGAARD in Lanzhou with Yugur musicians

The "King of Car Audio" Embarks on an Eastern Sound Quest

As one of the most influential producers in today's electronic music scene, HEDEGAARD, from the fairy-tale kingdom of Denmark, has redefined the boundaries of club music with his signature "deep bass EDM." Known globally as the "King of Car Audio," his tracks have accumulated over 1.7 billion streams, with related videos on TikTok surpassing 630 million views—he is a musical magician of the digital age.

This time, he chose to step away from the world inside his headphones and set foot on the land of Western China in person. This marks the largest international collaboration of his career, a journey of friendship spanning thousands of miles, and a heartfelt dialogue between Eastern and Western music.

Two Months of Trekking: Discovering the Real China Through Song

Guided by Feng Xiaolou, director at WCICO, HEDEGAARD journeyed deep into the hinterlands of Western China. From the sacred snow-capped plateaus of Qinghai-Xizang to the tropical rainforests of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan; from the sinkholes and gorges of Wulong, Chongqing, to the Danxia landscapes of Lanzhou, Gansu; from the solitary smoke over the desert in Yinchuan, Ningxia, to the cloud-kissed Dong villages of Congjiang, Guizhou.

HEDEGAARD visited folk music inheritors from ten ethnic groups, including Han, Tujia, Tibetan, Yi, Mongolian, Yugur, Hui, Zhuang, Dong, and Dai. He not only learned ten ancient instruments and vocal techniques but also stepped into the everyday lives of the Chinese people. In the fields, by the fire pits, in mothers' lullabies, and in fathers' work chants, he touched upon ten warm and profound themes of human existence: "nature," "family," "love," "childhood," "time," "ritual," "history," "heritage," "labor," and "modernization."

HEDEGAARD in Yunnan played games with the musician's family

HEDEGAARD watched Yunnan video clips with his dad

Director Feng Xiaolou said, "Human emotions and pursuits in life are universally shared. Beyond the music, this is the warmest story we most wanted to tell."

Looking back on the journey, HEDEGAARD remarked emotionally, "I found that China is no longer so mysterious, nor is it just those flashy clips on social media. We are all the same—loving in the same way, cherishing our families in the same way, using rituals to transcend the mundane in the same way, and reminiscing about our lost childhoods in the same way."

Ten Musical Letters, Delivered to Your Ears in Advance

On July 27, Western China's Melody will make its simultaneous global premiere across all platforms, with a new episode released every two days. The broadcast order is as follows:

Episode 1: Xizang People's Music of Love

Episode 2: Tujia People's Music of Labor

Episode 3: Dong People's Music of Childhood

Episode 4: Han People's Music of Nature

Episode 5: Hui People's Music of History

Episode 6: Yi People's Music of Modernization

Episode 7: Yugu People's Music of Heritage

Episode 8: Zhuang People's Music of Ritual

Episode 9: Mongolian People's Music of Time

Episode 10: Dai People's Music of Family

When ancient folk songs meet the rhythms of the future,

When the Eastern land remembers the Western notes—

We finally realize that music needs no translation,

and human hearts are inherently connected.

Western China's Melody invites you to listen together.