Ma Di. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Like Zhao, Beijing-based indie folk singer-songwriter Ma Di also rose to fame when one of his songs, Nan Shan Nan (South of the South Mountain) was sung on TV, in this case by other singers on variety shows. Fans enjoyed the smooth melody and autobiographical lyrics.

Beyond the Chinese market, Ma, 28, toured the United States in 2016, visiting Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other US cities.

"I write songs for fun and for myself. I do not plan anything. It (the fame) just happened," says Ma, who launched the indie label Sesame Leaves in 2011 and has gained millions of followers thanks to the internet.

His parents were against him becoming a singer-songwriter, so Ma once worked at a government office earning 1,200 yuan ($180) per month. However, he quit the job after signing a contract with Modern Sky in 2013 and became a full-time singer-songwriter.

"Unlike my classmates, who listened to pop music, I felt connected only when I listened to indie music as a student.

Though the lyrics of those songs were difficult to understand, I found that I could relate to them," says Ma, who regards Chinese indie folk singer-songwriter Song Dongye as one of his influences.