Thank you for tuning in to your weekly exploration of talented musicians based in Taiwan! Today, I’m excited to be joined by CJ, a Taiwanese singer-songwriter and producer who has experienced a blessing in disguise. In the first part of our conversation, he will share how he began playing the piano and what led him to shift his focus from classical performance. 

CJ will also discuss the significant improvements he made through singing lessons and the jobs he held while studying in North America. We’ll conclude by delving into his songwriting process, the essential elements that precede it, and begin discussing his first album.

CJ MiT (謝金融) is a singer-songwriter and producer from Taichung, Taiwan. His self-produced debut album, “My Words” (《我說》), received four nominations at the 37th Golden Melody Awards in 2026, including Best New Artist, Best Taiwanese Male Singer, Best Taiwanese Album, and Album of the Year. He started playing piano at the age of eight and later studied in the United States on a scholarship, earning dual master’s degrees. A right-hand injury eventually led him to explore singing and pop music, shifting his focus away from classical performance.

About two years ago, CJ left his teaching job in the U.S. to return to Taiwan. He taught himself arrangement and mixing through YouTube and began building his career by taking on small gigs and competing in competitions. 

“My Words” is a largely DIY album, recorded, arranged, and mixed at home with a production budget of under NT$30,000. It blends R&B, country, jazz, blues, musical theater, and orchestral elements into Taiwanese-language songs. The album is deeply personal, dealing with themes of staying with someone until the end, especially following the recent passing of his father. CJ has expressed that his biggest regret is that his father was unable to witness his Golden Melody nominations.

The “MiT” in his stage name stands for “Made in Taiwan,” chosen to enhance searchability and to affirm his identity as a Taiwan-based artist. He describes his work as a way to transform his classical foundation into a personal musical language and expresses a desire to keep evolving stylistically with each new album.

For more information about CJ, please visit:

IG

Apple Music

Spotify