In 1995 China Forbes released her first album 'Love Handle', was chosen to sing "Ordinary Girl," the theme to the TV show 'Clueless' and became lead singer of Oregon band Pink Martini, a role she still holds today. She has co-written many of the band's most beloved songs with founder Thomas Lauderdale, including “Sympathique,” “Lilly,” “Clementine,” “Let’s Never Stop Falling in Love,” and "The Lemonade Song." Her original song “Hey Eugene” is the title track of the band's third album. She sang “Qué Será Será” over the credits of Jane Campion’s film 'In the Cut' and her original song "The Northern Line" appears at the end of sister Maya Forbes' directorial debut 'Infinitely Polar Bear' (Sony Pictures Classics). With Pink Martini, China has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Later with Jools Holland. Performing in 27 languages, she has duetted with Rufus Wainwright, Michael Feinstein, Carol Channing and more in venues from Carnegie Hall to Red Rocks, the Hollywood Bowl to Paris’s l’Olympia, Sydney Opera House to Royal Albert Hall. She was honored to duet on "Ma Solitude" with Georges Moustaki on his album 'Solitaire.' Her 2nd album '78 came out on Heinz Records in 2008. Her 3rd album 'The Road' featuring the single "Full Circle" was released in 2024. In 2022, the Montreal International Jazz festival awarded her the Ella Fitzgerald prize which has also been given to Aretha, Diana and now Laufey.