Winner of the Best Taiwanese Female Singer award at the 2011 Golden Melody Awards, Huang Fei has staked her claim on the Taiwanese music market with her distinctive voice. This photo shows her during a performance at Fisherman's Wharf in Tamsui this July. (photo by Jimmy Lin)

"If voices could have faces, Huang Fei's would have its mouth upturned in a sweet smile; her interpretations of Taiwanese tunes have a surprisingly down-home feel, combining the appeal of one's own dialect with that of a sweet young woman." This is just one example of how music critics view the voice of Huang Fei.

With her song "An Extraordinary Woman," Huang cemented her place amongst the pantheon of budaixi (glove puppet theater) theme singers and as an heir to the legacy of Xi Qing. With a voice as sweet as her smile, she has shaken off the image of the "woman of sorrow" so stereotypical amongst Taiwanese-language singers.

But even more impressive and unusual is how she has managed to remain so down-to-earth and true to herself even after years in the music industry.

With so many everyday folk taking their shot at stardom in American Idol-lookalike shows, how does one stand out and break out? Part of doing so is having a distinctive voice and singing style.