Li Yuchun performs during her Growing Wild tour, which toured five cities around China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Getting people to pay for digital music has become a trend in China's music industry. Digital music sales reached 110 million yuan in 2016, for year-on-year growth of 150 percent.

"I wasn't sure about my decision then, but now the result is very encouraging," Li says. "I want to break more barriers and push boundaries."

Musically, the new album displayed Li's ambition of being different. She invited producers she had never worked with before, which brought surprise and inspiration throughout the making of the album.

One of the producers, Chen Weilun, also wrote songs for Li's new album, including Sense of Presence and Fig. Chen, who was a music producer for indie musicians and films, is keen on blending traditional Chinese music with modern sounds, such as rock, jazz and electronic music.

"She is not afraid of trying new things. The song, Fig, is not a conventional love ballad or dance music. The song is longer, nearly 6 minutes, and she sings like murmuring, which is different from her usual performances," says Chen.

In support of the new album, Li launched a national tour, entitled Growing Wild, which visited five cities around China, including Beijing, Shenzhen and Nanjing, attracting more than 50,000 fans.