Music for the migrant

Li Jianqing performs in Beijing to promote his debut EP, Still An Outlander. [Photo provided to China Daily]

For the past decade, Li has worked as Lee's assistant and has written songs for pop stars such as Hong Kong singer Sandy Lam and Taiwan singer Aska Yang.

Li released his debut EP, Still An Outlander, in July, comprising six songs for which lyrics were written by Lee.

Li performed the songs at a concert on July 24 at Blue Note Beijing, the first branch of New York's famous Blue Note Jazz Club in China.

Wearing a white shirt, black trousers and a pair of black sneakers, Li walked onto the stage after his mentor Lee's brief introduction.

Then, with his guitar he joined a band, including a keyboardist, a bassist, two violinists and a cellist.

"People may know my songs but not me," says Li.

"Today, I want to formally introduce myself, and let music do the talking."

Indeed, you might not notice this skinny soft-spoken 39-year-old until you listen to his music.

In 2015, Li released his first single, In A Flash.

The song, for which Lee wrote lyrics, is about migrants who live in a big city.

However, he did not release any more music until the recent EP.