From a long line of traditional Chinese musicians,  Jie Ma (Chinese characters: 马捷) began studying music and playing the pipa at age 5 in China. Jie became a professional musician at age 14 and received her Bachelor of Music degree from one of China's top music schools, the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, in 2001. Jie also studied in China under celebrated pipa masters Wang Fandi, Liu Dehai, and Kuang Yuzhong, and Ruan master Jiliang Lin. After moving to the United States, in 2004, Jie began blending traditional pipa technique with Western and other sounds. In addition to working with classical and traditional musicians and composers, Jie has worked extensively with jazz and rock musicians on experimental and improvisational projects. Jie enjoys playing traditional Chinese arrangements, creating her own works, and fusing Chinese and other styles to create a unique sound that is all hers. Jie is a noted player of fusion music, jazz fusion, improvisation, and experimental music. In 2009, Jie was referred in the leading U.K. newspaper, the Guardian, as one of the "notable" pipa players in the West. Jie has stated in her own words her thoughts about this album: "I view music as my way to communicate with the world about what I feel and experience in the world around me. This album reflects my latest effort to communicate the world through the complexity of my music. On this album, I have taken a number of my original compositions and re-mastered them, and in some cases added additional effects to my solo playing."