Bio
I’m Yin Lu (Chinese: 盧印 / 卢印), better known as Yinfi—a London-based music producer, performer, screen composer, and free speech advocate, creating songs that champion human rights.
As an award-winning composer, my musical journey began at the age of 10 when I first touched a piano. Growing up in a traditional family in a remote town in Guizhou, PRC, I initially followed the expected path: studying diligently for the Gaokao and earning a bachelor’s degree in literature from Nanjing University in 2013. However, my true passion—composition—called to me, leading me to move to Shanghai to pursue my long-repressed dream. There, through rigorous training and by assisting renowned industry figures, I gradually became a well-established composer, working on blockbuster feature-length films, TV series, video games, and arranging songs for A-list Chinese pop stars.
Driven by an ambition to explore the global music industry, which operates in a radically different way from the one isolated by the PRC’s Great Firewall, I moved to the UK to study at the Royal College of Music. Under the guidance of Enrica Sciandrone and Howard Davidson, I graduated with a master’s degree in Composition for Screen in 2021, earning a first-class distinction.
During the initial stages of my relocated career, I received an Honorary Mention at the European Talent Awards and became a member of BAFTA Connect. My screen music garnered praise from Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck, and I received the Arts Council England's endorsement for Global Talent, thanks to the recommendations of Oscar-nominated composer Gary Yershon and the Director of the RCM, Colin Lawson.
Since 2022, I have also embarked on a new journey as a singer-songwriter and human rights advocate, performing under the stage name Yinfi. Through my music, I advocate for human rights and artistic freedom, both of which are suppressed by the Chinese authorities. During my time in the UK, my awareness of social issues—particularly the plight of pro-democracy Hongkongers, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Taiwanese, and Chinese human rights defenders—has spurred me to speak out. In line with my core values, I walked away from job offers including lead composer roles in long-term collaborations with top orchestras in the UK and Europe, funded by Chinese entertainment entities under the direct control of the Chinese Central Propaganda Department, as these roles required strict censorship of any critiques of the Chinese regime as a prerequisite for collaboration.
By stepping away from a path that would have required compromising my values for nepotism in the screen music field, I chose instead to counter the chilling effects on musicians and artists by transitioning to a performer (My channel: https://www.youtube.com/@yinfi). Through my songs, I confront the Chinese authorities’ attempts to erase the memories of countless human rights defenders oppressed by the regime. Although my music is swiftly banned within the PRC, it reaches an audience on Western platforms, where individuals in the PRC—bypassing internet restrictions—send messages of solidarity.
My activism has drawn transnational repression, including a warning to my family from State Security officials and my inability to return to my homeland due to concerns about facing an unjust exit ban or residential surveillance, given the PRC's human rights record since my last visit in 2019. Despite this, I continue my artivism, believing that music is a powerful tool for raising awareness, defending human rights, and protecting artistic freedom. Some of my Chinese artist friends, aware of the risks, still support me by collaborating discreetly, as reflected in credits on platforms within the Great Firewall: https://mlink.cc/luyin.
Since 2023, I've been dedicated to an anonymous vocalist and avant-pop project that pushes creative boundaries. As the producer, I collaborate with enigmatic character animators to craft high-energy, visually striking narratives that explore themes of survival in our cyber dystopia. This project is a fusion of audacious electronic soundscapes, classical influences, and warped, otherworldly vocals. Gain exclusive access to this evolving universe on my private account: instagram.com/yinlumusic
Press
Chinese censors ban protest anthem lauding decades of dissent - RFA
