Fame is said to be addictive, but when it's achieved in a land of unfamiliar cultures and languages, it is also intriguing. It's one reason Swedish singer Sofia Kallgren finds herself drawn back to China again and again.
'I'm used to big audiences in Sweden, but it is very special in China,' says Kallgren (pronounced shell-gree-an). 'What surprises me is that there are so many people at the shows, because we know not everyone understands what we are singing.'
The thirtysomething has been in China eight times for performances and concerts, and has built a following despite not having released a single album in the country - something she plans to change by the end of the year, with a mainland recording contract. If the deal goes ahead, Kallgren would become the first foreign artist to sign directly with a mainland Chinese label.
'The current trend [on the mainland] is for quality singers of a high calibre [to make] quality recordings,' says Sam Ho, an executive with China Record Company - Guangzhou and Guangdong Xing Wai Xing Culture Company Limited. 'Sofia has all the qualities of a classical soprano, but she has also mastered pop, thanks to her background in musical theatre,' he says.
The classically trained Kallgren has performed in China with Swedish pianist Robert Wells and places herself in the same genre of singers such as Sarah Brightman.
Last week, Kallgren was in Hong Kong to help promote a three-part Swedish travel programme In Search of Travel Wonders (TVB Jade, tonight, 7pm). Her performance on the programme led to the offer of a recording deal.