Kiki (one half of mellow indie-pop darlings Milk@Coffee) is not your average pop star. As the duo prepare to play Yuyintang on November 29, SH caught up with her for a cuppa.

SH: What does Milk@Coffee mean?
K: Actually, our record company named us. It seems kind of apt, though. I'm the Milk part – my skin is pale and I’m quite quiet. Coffee, my music partner, is very cool. And the symbol “@” looks like the bubbles in a cup of coffee. It’s just a name, though; the important thing is the music we make.

SH: How did you form the band?
K: Many years ago, while we were still at high school, we were both off school sick and happened to meet online. We talked for a bit and shared music. When we got to university, we decided to form a band for our own entertainment. I was studying Economics and never thought of music as a career, but one day the vice president of Modern Sky heard our music and decided to sign us.

SH: You have a song called I'm Not Rock 'n' Roll. Are you anti-rock?
K: No, I like rock! Our music tended towards rock during university but we now make music that's a bit truer to ourselves. China doesn't have a long history of rock music, unlike the West. Our country's rock experiences are only skin-deep – we’ve got the clothes and the format but not the actual music. Personally, I just want to play what feels right. I cherish every moment on the stage. It’s my world and I don’t care who performed before or who will perform after.

SH: You used to be an artist. Why the change?
K: We formed the band at university and, at that age, music was more exciting and hot-blooded to me. It was a simple and direct way to express myself. Art and literature are slower and more indirect. But all require curiosity to create.

SH: What makes you stand out from other musicians?
K: I enjoy grasping things that are easily ignored by others, like waiting times at airports. When I’m taking a break on tour, I draw pictures and read books, but I’m thinking up songs and rhythms at the same time. I make hay while the sun shines. When I was younger, I wasted time analyzing myself. Now I’m older, I want to be more practical – I don’t want to waste anything. I make clothes and art from things other people throw away.

SH: Who are your icons?
K: I don't really model myself on anyone. From a music perspective, I admire The Beatles. They were the originators of pop and rock. The Cardigans influence me the most. The Swedish scene is incredible – it’s close to nature, the way music should be.

SH: Shanghai or Beijing?
K: I've never performed in Shanghai before, but I've visited many times. I think the electronic scene is good in Shanghai, with artists like B6. I feel audiences from the south are more gentle. Our music might be more suitable for them.

SH: What's the best thing to eat with milk and coffee?
K: Matcha cake! I love it. I think milk and coffee are better suited for desserts. Matcha cake [made from green tea powder] is ideal – it’s warm, colorful, and comforting. – Emma Chi