Starting his career just as China’s pop scene took off in the late 1980s, multitalented artist Liu Huan has been a potent musical force in every decade since. The Tianjin native is a titan of theme songs, lending his songwriting skills and dynamic voice to countless film and TV projects, from ’90s epics including Outlaws of the Marsh to 21st-century blockbusters Empresses in the Palace and The Wandering Earth—not to mention anthems for major public events such as the 1990 Asian Games and 2008 Olympics. A producer and music educator who encourages younger generations in academia and industry alike, Liu remains passionate about the power of songwriting. His output spans the full pop spectrum, from folk songs and patriotic standards to crossover jazz and classical pieces—as well as forays further afield such as the quirky 2003 electronic novelty “喂鸡” [“Feeding Chickens”], which has become a latter-day cult hit.