Singing Sensation: US artist Christine Welch finds her voice in Mandarin

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Now to an inspiring and slightly unusual musical journey. American singer Christine Welch has begun to make a name for herself in China. Welch writes her songs in Mandarin and recorded an album five years ago. And recently one of those songs went viral. CGTN's Dan Williams has her story.

A snowy morning in Madison, Wisconsin. Home to one of the more unusual musical success stories.

Christine Welch has become somewhat of an unexpected star in China. Last year, a song she wrote in Mandarin five years earlier, "A Million Possibilities" suddenly became a viral internet hit.

CHRISTINE WELCH SONGWRITER "It was pretty crazy because the app that it went viral on, is called Tik Tok or Douyin in Chinese. Then I was like really curious, why is this going viral now, five years after the CD went out. Why?"

Christine studied Asian and Middle Eastern Language at Northwestern University in Illinois. After a four-month study stint in Beijing, she then completed a two-year course in Taiwan.

CHRISTINE WELCH SONGWRITER "I felt like Chinese is one of the most expressive and poetic languages. I just get really inspired by the way that there is literature from 3,000 years ago that you can still read. And it really inspires me to use that same language to make modern songs."

After posting songs online, her music caught the attention of music producer Skot Suyama. They collaborated on an album released in 2014. And it was Skot's music that inspired Christine to write the lyrics for "A Million Possibilities."

CHRISTINE WELCHSONGWRITER "I listened to the music and that's what really informed the metaphors in the song. It feels really awesome when people tell me stories like I was in a really bad place last night, and I listened to your song and it lifted my heart up and I have been listening to it non-stop ever since. That is a really great feeling and I hope I can give more positive energy to people."

The viral publicity around the song last year saw her invited to perform on a number of television specials in China including CCTV's variety show "Everlasting Classics."

CHRISTINE WELCHSONGWRITER "Because their show is about bringing ancient Chinese literature and culture to everybody but as a mass audience idea, I guess they thought it would be perfect to also have me on there as I am also interested in Chinese literature. They had such a great stage and they had all of those props just for me. It was crazy."

Christine is continuing her studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and hopes to complete her Ph.D. in two years. She has also recently opened a Taiwanese restaurant in Madison.

DAN WILLIAMS MADISON, WISCONSIN "As for the future, Christine's focus is on her studies and finishing her Ph.D. But there is some good news for fans of her music."

CHRISTINE WELCHSONGWRITER "I do have these songs written that are sort of ancient Chinese sort of feel."

"So for the fans though, they can expect some kind of new music soon."

"Definitely, definitely."

This is a path less travelled, but like her song, her success should provide inspiration to all the potential possibilities that exist if you simply continue to believe. Dan Williams, CGTN, Madison, Wisconsin.