Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei , whose artwork is shown in museums around the world , is taking a different direction with his latest project -- a heavy metal album . Ai wrote and sang each of the nine tracks on the debut album , which is called `` Divina Commedia '' after a poem by Italian poet Dante , and will be released next month . `` The lyrics are about the current political situation , '' he told CNN by telephone from Beijing . One song is about Chen Guangcheng , the blind activist who fled to the U.S. embassy in Beijing after escaping from house arrest last year . Another mentions Wang Lijun , the police chief who also sought shelter with U.S. officials last year , in Chengdu , a move which exposed the scandal engulfing disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai and his wife , now convicted murderer , Gu Kailai . Ai Weiwei : Despite flaws , America should be proud . Outspoken and provocative , Ai is perhaps best known for his work on the famous `` Bird 's Nest '' stadium built for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing . His critical stance toward the Chinese government gained attention after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that left nearly 90,000 dead , including many children who died when their shoddily-constructed schools collapsed . A recent exhibition of his work at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC featured hundreds of children 's backpacks lashed together in the shape of a snake , which Ai said represented the bags left behind by the students . While a departure from his acclaimed sculpture and installations , the album is not his first foray into the world of music -- last October he filmed a parody of `` Gangnam Style , '' the surprise worldwide hit by Korean rapper Psy . In that clip , Ai limited his musical involvement to dancing , but other clips can be found on the Internet of the artist flexing his vocal cords . Ai told CNN the decision to branch out into music stemmed from his detention in 2011 when his guards would ask him to sing a tune to pass the time . Ai was taken into custody in April and detained for 81 days amid a government crackdown on political activists . He was accused of evading a huge amount of taxes , charges Ai has said were trumped up . Ai was released but with heavy restrictions on his movements and the Chinese government still holds his passport . While Ai describes the tracks as `` heavy metal '' or `` hard rock '' , it was an encounter with pop star Elton John that encouraged him to finally complete the album . John dedicated his performance in Beijing in November to Ai , who at the time said he was deeply touched by the gesture . Ai cited few musical influences and said he knew little about Western popular music despite a stint living in New York in the 1980s : `` When I grew up all the music we had was revolutionary stuff . '' Ai said he would try to release the album in China next month , along with a music video , but he was gloomy about its prospects . `` I am completely censored , '' he said . `` I will put it online so people can download it but I think the authorities will just delete it . ''
Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to debut a heavy metal album . Nine tracks on the album focus on Chinese politics . Decision to branch out into music came from his 2011 detention . Elton John encouraged him to complete the album .