Maggie Cheung

The cooperation started from Cheung's interests in the songs of 26-year-old Song Dongye, an indie singer-songwriter under the label, who rose to fame online for his song, Miss Dong.

"I got a phone call from Maggie and she invited me to write songs for her," recalls Song, who is known for his smoothing folk music.

"I couldn't believe it until we met and had dinner together in a hot pot restaurant in Beijing. I didn't know she could sing until I heard her singing in the studio. Her voice is very special and is easily remembered. We finished our first song together at her home in Beijing."

Song introduced Cheung to his boss Shen Lihui, who founded the Beijing-based label and promoter Modern Sky in 1997, and soon they signed the record deal.

"She is fully prepared as a singer-songwriter. She's not just playing for fun," says Shen, who was the former front man of rock band, Sober.

"We talked about her music ideas, and it's really surprising that she has a clear plan for her music career."