Vocal coach to the stars Seth Riggs is amazed by Doudou's accurate keys and soothing tones, and employs his signature "speech-level singing" method to teach the girl. Provided to China Daily

Doudou, whose real name is Huang Jiaqi, started singing at age 9 with renowned Chinese musician Wang Kun. She made her name by singing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games' opening ceremony and staged a solo concert at the 2012 London Olympics.

"He never forces me to sing in his way, and he encourages me to sing in my own style," Doudou says.

"I feel relaxed and inspired. He also shares lots of stories about his star students. We're friends."

Doudou's composition talent also reminds Riggs' wife, Swedish pianist-songwriter Margareta Svensson, of her teenage years.

"When I was 14 years old, I played guitar and toured around," says Svensson, who recently released the single Sorry All Around.

She plays piano while her husband teaches Doudou.

"It's crucial to be creative and original as a singer-songwriter, especially in today's business," she says.

"You have to be unique and different to stand out."

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