Banding together to impress

By watching audition videos from tens of thousands of candidates, the team of the program selected a field of 40 young contestants.

"The most important thing is their passion for music. Then we look for the talent and the unique quality that make them shine onstage," Zhang says.

"The final five people will form a band, but for all of the contestants, it's just the beginning. They will start by playing within the campus of the show and then move on to larger stages, such as live music venues and outdoor music festivals," adds the director.

Since its first season premiered in summer 2017, The Coming One has been devoted into putting young Chinese musicians in the spotlight and propelling them to stardom. So far, it has aired three seasons featuring male competitors, and one all-female season.

Singer-songwriter Mao Buyi, 26, rose to fame after being crowned champion in the first season. Armed with his poetic lyrics and melancholy melodies, he released his debut album, Perfect Day, a year later and has garnered over 17 million followers on micro-blogging platform Sina Weibo.

"We've been trying to showcase the originality and creativity of young Chinese musicians. For the audience, it's about following the growth of young singer-songwriters and witnessing their evolution," says Zhang.

She points out that the fourth season offers more challenging scenarios. It is not merely a single performer that is highlighted, but a platform for a group of musicians to take to the stage as a band each time.

"The different personalities of all of the musicians on the show will be revealed and their musical talent will be displayed," Zhang says.

"One big reward is that these young people will not only learn to better convey themselves, but also realize the need to appreciate and embrace their band members' talents. When they play as a band, they have to cooperate and work as one entity."