Setting Ne Zha to music

In a well-decorated music studio, its walls adorned with posters of Ne Zha 2, China's highest-grossing blockbuster, two ultrawide monitors sit atop a large desk.

It's here that Tang Hanxiao, an experienced singer and composer, wrote the theme song for the film, re-recording the lyrics more than 600 times to achieve the final version.

Since its domestic debut on Jan 29, the first day of Spring Festival, the film — loosely inspired by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture of the Gods) — has quickly shattered box office records, becoming the fifth highest-grossing movie in global cinema history.

Born to an unfair fate, Nezha is destined to die at the age of 3 as a result of a heavenly punishment caused by a curse.

However, with the help of his close friend Ao Bing — the son of a dragon king who guards thousands of imprisoned monsters in the roaring sea — he bravely defies his doom.

The premise, established in the 2019 blockbuster Ne Zha, which earned 5.035 billion yuan ($695.4 million) in ticket sales, sets the stage for the new film, which begins with the resurrection of Nezha and Ao Bing, whose bodies were destroyed at the end of the first movie, while their souls drift.

In the summer of 2024, Tang was asked to compose the music and co-write the lyrics.

As Ne Zha 2 was then still in post-production, he was given only the plot and allowed to watch the last two minutes of the film, where the free-spirited hero, having just emerged from a fierce battle to rescue his loved ones and defeat the villain, tells Ao Bing that he has decided to continue his fight against the corrupt order.

"This scene gave me a vision of the entire film and allowed me to feel the energy embedded in the line. Everything about the song begins with this scene," says Tang.

For Tang, the creation process of Jiushi Nezha (It is Nezha), the song for the character, was a deeply personal journey — one that used music to connect with and reflect the unique personalities of the roles.

The composer says the suona, an instrument known for its stirring and powerful sound, symbolizes the courage to challenge society bias, making it a perfect match for Nezha's bold and rebellious nature. As a result, it became the driving force behind the song.

In contrast, the pipa, often played in a suave and restrained manner, was chosen to represent Ao Bing. Raised as a refined gentleman and hopeful inheritor, Ao Bing possesses his own quiet strength, which he uses to defend his ideals. The instrument's elegant yet expressive tones help convey this nuanced aspect of his character, adds Tang.

For Taiyi Zhenren — the celestial master of Nezha, his round figure and personality once inspired Tang to use the Chinese drum to represent the character.

Moved by Nezha's courage, Tang wrote the first lyric — "I want to turn the ridiculous world upside down" — setting the scene with its bold, resolute tone.

Sung from the hero's perspective, the song illustrates Nezha's unwillingness to surrender to fate and refusal to compromise with the world through its spirited melody and powerful lyrics.

In addition to electric guitar and bass, the suona adds a soul-piercing touch. The guzheng (a plucked zither) and the pipa enhance its depth and richness.

"Making art is like dreaming, you can shape a world of your own," Tang says. "When I connected with Nezha, there was a moment I truly felt like I was him. That feeling gave power to the song."

In just three weeks, the song has amassed 3 million views on the video-sharing platform Bilibili and received more than 50,000 comments on QQ Music, a streaming service owned by Tencent Music Entertainment.

As a result of the film's popularity, the song has become one of the most listened to on major social platforms, propelling Tang — who began his career about two decades ago — to new heights of recognition.

Born in 1989 in Liaoyang, Liaoning province, Tang developed a strong interest in music after being introduced to the piano at his aunt's home when he was 11.Since then, he has studied the piano and participated in competitions. In 2008, he won the national championship of Wo Xing Wo Xiu (My Style, My Show), a popular music reality show among the 15 to 29 crowd.

"I've always believed that you can explore every possibility in music. If the sound is truly beautiful and captivating, then that's it. It's an instinct — it just pops into your mind," the artist says, reflecting on the trends that have guided him forward.