Xuefei Yang wants you start New Year off with a reinvigorated love for her musical instrument of choice. “As a classical guitarist, I’ve specifically chosen interpreters of different styles of guitar music—flamenco, latin, jazz, bossa nova and jazz manouche,” the virtuoso tells Apple Music. “I hope superb musicians and classic tracks will make people understand and even fall in love with the guitar.” Yang’s Chinese New Year playlist highlights pieces connected to Chinese culture. “Living abroad gives you a stronger sense of Chinese identity,” the UK-based artist says. “In Western circles dominated by European music, I have a strong desire to perform music from my own cultural background on the world stage.” Her choices include “Tambourin chinois” by American violinist Fritz Kreisler—which was inspired by traditional Chinese music—and Yang’s own rendition of “A Lovely Rose”. “This piece for guitar and orchestra was written especially for me by Ren-chang Fu. I composed the cadenza,” she says. She’s also selected pieces she has a personal connection to, including two by Australian maestro John Williams. “He’s an idol to lots of classical guitarists and played a vital role in inspiring my own musical journey,” she says. Yang wraps up her holiday recommendations with a (non-musical) cultural tip: “When celebrating abroad, Chinese food is a must—especially hotpot!”