Music therapy reigns?

Music or soundscape therapy is a potential market. Can Vietnam catch the 'wave'?

International singing artist Santa Ratna Shakya

Sound healing is a form of "slow sound", in contrast to the fast pace and whirlwind of the music industry.

International singing artist Santa Ratna Shakya

In recent years, wellness music (which can be understood as music for comprehensive health) or sound healing (sound therapy), using sound or music as the main means to regulate the state of mind and body in a positive and relaxing direction, has grown increasingly.

According to Coherent Market Insights, the global sound therapy market is estimated to be worth $2.48 billion this year and is expected to reach $4.1 billion by 2031.

Trends in music therapy

It’s not just a therapeutic trend, it’s also created a new segment in the music industry. Major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have “witnessed” the explosion of many “healing” playlists.

Apple Music has partnered with Universal Music Group to introduce Sound Therapy, a collection of wellness sounds designed to help listeners focus more, relax more deeply, and sleep better.

Meanwhile, sound baths and gong baths have moved from small spiritual spaces to larger community events, even integrating into major concerts or music festivals, such as the Glastonbury music festival in the UK.

In the world, this trend is currently developing in the US, Western European countries, the Himalayan region as well as some Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, India...

Vietnam has also recently had a number of events in this direction, most recently Sound Healing Concert 2025: Journey Into Silence in September with the participation of Ani Choying Drolma, a symbol of meditation music from Nepal in September, international singing bell artist Master Santa Ratna Shakya, saxophone artist Tran Manh Tuan...

Or this November 29, 6 Senses - The magic of the senses takes place in Ho Chi Minh City with the participation of many Vietnamese and Nepalese artists such as Santa Ratna Shakya, Alberto Parmigiani, artists Salil Subedi, Meritorious Artist Dinh Linh, Cao Ho Nga, Phuong Linh, Khanh Tuong, Thao Linh...

At the Solstice music festival in the UK, in addition to music, there are also many wellness experiences on offer, including meditation, breathing exercises and swimming and sauna sessions at a forest lake - Photo: Samuel George

Sharing with Tuoi Tre about the upcoming performance, "swinging bell master" Santa Ratna Shakya said he came to Vietnam to share the tradition of taking care of body and mind with the sound of Himalayan swinging bells. He wants to connect with those who are learning and practicing, together exploring more deeply the path to bring people back to inner peace through sound.

The artist added that sound therapy is growing rapidly around the world. When he first introduced singing bowls outside Nepal decades ago, only a small group of spiritual seekers were interested.

Now doctors, psychologists, yoga teachers, musicians and even scientists are exploring the power of sound in health and wellness.

Sound Healing Concert 2025: Journey Into Silence in September featuring Ani Choying Drolma

According to Santa Ratna Shakya, in the modern world, most of the sounds around us in music, media or daily life are loud, hurried and stimulate immediate reactions. They awaken the mind but do not touch the heart. People listen to sounds the way we eat fast food, quickly but without depth.

"Sound healing is like a form of 'slow sound', in contrast to the fast pace and whirlwind of the music industry," he shared.

Vietnam can create a branch with its own identity.

So can Vietnam create a trend or a segment? Taking on the role of music director of 6 Senses, Cao Ba Hung told Tuoi Tre "Vietnam can absolutely create a 'branch' of sound healing with its own identity."

Because we have very special elements: rich traditional melodies, indigenous musical instruments containing energy from nature (such as lithophone, moon lute, bamboo flute, monochord...) and the musical philosophy of "five elements" and "following nature" that has been present in musical culture for thousands of years.

He added that the audience of sound healing concerts is different from the audience of regular music shows. They do not come just to "look" or "listen" but to "feel" and "breathe" with the sound. There are audiences who go to music shows to lift their spirits, to dance, to recharge their enthusiasm, and there are audiences who come to these types of shows to look inside their minds.

"If we know how to combine modern sound science with the Asian spirit, Vietnam will not only follow the world trend but can also shape its own direction - where healing is not just about the sound but also the way Vietnamese people connect their souls with nature and each other through music and identity" - he said.

Musician Cao Ba Hung is the music director in 6 Senses - Photo: FBNV

Agreeing, artist Santa Ratna Shakya said he has observed that in recent years many Vietnamese people have become interested in this field.

According to him, Vietnam has a profound spiritual culture, from the tradition of gongs, temple bells, ceremonial music to the sounds of temples. Vietnamese people have a natural sense of harmony, nature and beauty. He feels that in the music, poetry and the Vietnamese way of life close to the earth and sky.

The artist suggests that Vietnam can combine these values ​​with the art of Himalayan singing bells to create a unique style, blending the sounds of gongs, bamboo instruments, chanting and meditation with the sounds of singing bells.

"Sound is becoming a global language of peace and happiness. It is born from ancient wisdom and modern needs. And Vietnam, with its heart, history and creativity, can contribute its own unique nuance to that flow," he said.

"Healing" is not just a concept for the wounded, but a journey to find oneself. I want to learn about the connection between sound and music. I consider music not only for enjoyment but also for connection: between science and creativity, between the young and the ancestors, between the "West" and the "Vietnam".

Musician Cao Ba Hung

BEANS

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/am-nhac-tri-lieu-len-ngoi-20251111103144003.htm