A B O U T
I’m Yin Lu (Chinese: 盧印 / 卢印), better known as Yinfi—a music producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, screen composer, and self-exiled Chinese human rights advocate, based in London.
As an award-winning screen composer, producer, and orchestrator, my musical journey began at the age of 10 when I first touched the piano. Growing up in a traditional family in a remote town in Guizhou, I initially followed the expected path: studying diligently for the Gao Kao and earning a bachelor’s degree in literature from Nanjing University in 2013. However, my true passion—composition—called me, and I moved to Shanghai to pursue my long-repressed dream. There, I thrived, composing for feature films, TV series, video games, and A-list Chinese pop stars, with the support of renowned industry figures like Yupeng Chen and Dong An.
Eager 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 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 heavily suppressed by the Chinese authorities. During my time in the UK, my awareness of social issues—particularly the plight of the pro-democracy Chinese diaspora, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hongkongers, and Taiwanese people—has spurred me to speak out. In line with my core values, I turned down several 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 abandoning my initial path of compromising civilised values for nepotism in the hierarchical screen music field, I chose to counter the chilling effects on musicians and artists by transitioning to a performer (My channel: https://www.youtube.com/@yinfi). I create and perform songs that challenge the Chinese authorities’ attempts to erase the memories of the countless human rights defenders oppressed by the regime. While my music is swiftly banned in the PRC, it finds an audience on Western platforms, where individuals within the PRC—who bypass internet restrictions—send messages of solidarity. My activism has attracted transnational repression, including warnings to my family from State Security officials. As a result, I believe I cannot safely return to my homeland without facing unjust punishment, such as an exit ban or residential surveillance, based on 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 to raise awareness, defend human rights, and protect artistic freedom. And more surprisingly, some of my artist friends based in the PRC still chose to support me by collaborating quietly and keeping a low profile, despite being aware of the risks (My credits on platforms within the PRC’s Great Firewall: https://mlink.cc/luyin).
On the electronic side, I moonlight as an anonymous singer-songwriter and producer for a mysterious avant-pop band that makes robots dance and leaves humans wondering who's behind it all. If you've ever found yourself bopping along to high-energy beats in London, feeling like you’ve taken a neon-lit trip through cyberspace—you're welcome. Details about my new brand will be shared exclusively with industry associates.