Ha Anh Tuan: "If possible, I hope the audience will understand the people standing on stage. At that time, they are no longer living their own lives, they are living many lives" - Photo: Viet Vision
"That's the luck of an artist. You cherish every moment on stage, never let it go" - the doctor advised him.
Tuoi Tre met HA ANH TUAN on the occasion of him and his brothers Den Vau, Phan Manh Quynh, Vu Cat Tuong, Chillies, Quang Hung MasterD, tlinh... coming to Forestival - a music and creativity festival calling for the protection of nature and heritage in Trang An (Ninh Binh) on May 31.
We are so miserable because of social media
* You rarely sing. Every year, you only perform a few shows?
- The most important thing for me to step on stage is the feeling of belonging. Sometimes I don't sing or step on stage for half a year because I don't have the feeling of belonging. Most of the time I focus on music projects and my own concerts.
Be cool, and call me smart. Because I won't have to worry about things that aren't my decision.
* Because he rarely sings, I feel like he lives a very private life .
- I'm not too private, but if I appear too much, I'll get bored of myself first. I think we're too miserable with being seen and heard on social media.
"To be heard" is synonymous with "to be hurt", "to be seen" is also "to be sin". We suffer too much for that. What are all those figures, numbers, interactions for? I don't see the humanity in them. I save the most human emotions for my music and stage.
* Speaking of numbers, it seems like you haven't been focusing on that in recent years. You release albums that focus on selling physical copies, not digital music, and you don't release music videos to compete for views. That's quite a personal choice.
- Personality, and please praise me for being smart. Because I won't have to worry about things that are not my decision. Recently, a young colleague performed with me, he was very happy, hugged me and said: What dream do you have, let me follow it, because I am very happy to stand on this stage.
I replied: Now, to wish each other, I just wish that we are truly free in music. Don't care about anything, just sing freely. Let the audience see the freest version of ourselves.
Be free in dignity, maturity, and respect for the audience. Don't care about anything that doesn't belong to music because that's someone else's business, not yours.
Cardiac arrest syndrome when standing in front of a crowd
* The audience is also concerned about your health, after you staggered on stage in August 2024. Are you okay?
- I have a small problem but it can't be ignored. I get heart palpitations every time I stand in front of a crowd. I'm more and more afraid of crowds. I didn't have that feeling before. Maybe it's a psychological problem.
I don't know if there is such a thing as agoraphobia, but it causes me to lose my composure at the opening of a stage. Maybe I'm too nervous, too hopeful, the energy just overflows when I should be controlling it.
I saw my doctor, he said I had no problem other than mental. This syndrome is dangerous, related to heart rate and blood pressure. The doctor taught me some breathing control and a form of meditation. When I'm on stage, think "right now, right now", don't think about anything else.
But the doctor also told me: Be happy because you still have emotions, you are nervous and happy like a child when you step on stage. That is the luck of an artist. You cherish every moment on stage, never let it go.
Ha Anh Tuan with his little dog, in the moments when he is not on stage. Photo: NVCC
* Do you find it paradoxical that the audience is the person you love the most, the person you most desire to meet, but you also have pressures and fears?
- Imagine the energy of tens of thousands of people focused on your appearance on stage.
I remember one time I sang with singer Khanh Ly in Hanoi . She told the audience: "Please don't love me so much, because loving too much makes me very tired."
At first I thought she was being polite, but later I understood that feeling. Being loved is a responsibility. You have to be responsible for that love.
If possible, I hope the audience will understand the people on stage. At that time, they are no longer living their own lives, they are living many lives.
* You once sent a wreath to say goodbye to a young audience member of yours who passed away, with the words "The girl I love has now disappeared with the wind and clouds". When you look at the audience as individual people, does that love feel closer and less stressful?
- When I am too tired and pressured with my career, I often ignore those single loves. In the past, I also had idols, I was only passionately infatuated with them, without needing to respond.
Now I am lucky to have the love of the audience, I tell myself not to be ungrateful, not to ignore. To the best of my ability, I always try to show respect and gratitude to each audience. Our lives pass by very quickly, don't let yourself say "if only".
I don't dare say I'm a kind person. I'm just trying to be kind in every little detail.
What are all those numbers, statistics, and interactions for? I don’t see the humanity in them. I save the most human emotions for my music and stage.
All are not wrong, Ha Anh Tuan is not wrong either.
* In Japan, there are talented artists who choose to live quietly, only appearing when performing and contributing. I consider that a kind effort in the way they do their job. Your way of doing your job also reminds me of them.
- When we know we are very small, we should not speak loudly. Speaking loudly is the arrogance of children. The older we get, the more we should speak softly and less. Because by speaking less, we can hear more sounds around us. And that is what we enjoy from our own life.
"I really admire the Japanese. They always start with very small details to express the huge and terrible feelings, desires, and torments inside" - Photo: FBNV
I really admire the Japanese. After many visits to Japan, I discovered that in their culture, they always start with creatures, very small details to express the huge and terrible feelings, desires, and torments inside.
I wonder why they talk about such small things. It's simple. The basic things that make up life and the universe are very small. Atoms are small but have great destructive power if we don't know how to live with them.
In the past, when I prayed before starting a job or an exam, I always prayed for very big things: to be the leader, to be the best. In recent years, I have prayed for very small things.
Before performing, I pray that my music is honest, so that the audience can see themselves in it. I don't pray that my singing is perfect, but I pray that all the audience will be happy in my music.
* There are comments about your singing, you know that, right?
- I know. I don't need to wait for comments, because I know myself better than anyone else. People say that when they love, they love even the imperfect things. And to scrutinize is never enough. I don't mind because I grew up with compliments and criticisms. I just don't accept malicious comments. I'm not young enough to not be able to distinguish when people want me to improve or have other intentions, so I don't let it bother me.
But more than anyone, I know what I need to do and how hard I need to try to be worthy of the audience.
* Some people say they like Ha Anh Tuan better in the past, with his gentle, romantic singing style. Now there are times when he sings passionately, especially through the controversial medley Thien Duong Goi Ten - Yeu Em - Con Mua Tinh Yeu at the Sketch a Rose concert in March.
- I never get angry with those audiences because they are the ones who have followed me since the beginning, they know my first versions.
It's still me, still Ha Anh Tuan, but why are there people who follow me through the growing up and aging versions, while there are people who hold on to the first version of themselves?
There is only one Ha Anh Tuan. I cannot change and transform into many different roles. So that is the difference between the audience. Some people want to embrace the beautiful past, see no need to change. Some people always follow the changes of the times.
None of them are wrong. Ha Anh Tuan is not wrong either. Because we are all living our own lives. I never blame people like that. When I think about them, I think about my old days. Extremism also comes from love, ignoring other things even if they exist.
Ha Anh Tuan during the filming of the MV April is your lie 8 years ago - Photo: Director CAO TRUNG HIEU
* Remembering Ha Anh Tuan in the past, do you have any regrets?
- I don't regret anything. My life is about discovery , not planning much, being open to accepting everything. In the past, I was a calculating person, because I studied in the A group, so I thought everything had to be calculated. But then I realized that I was too small compared to the flow of fate, the natural flow. We have no other way, we can only change our attitude to be happy.
* There is a saying "As many people love, so many people hate". You are loved so much, are you ready for that amount of hate?
- I am ready. When a person hates someone, they are carrying a wound. The person being hated is not the problem. No one is happy with that energy inside. I am not a very religious person, but I always remember the saying of a Zen master that we should love those who hate us because hate means they need to be loved. They do not hate us, they hate the loving energy of the other half of the world.
But negative emotions must always exist in life. There are negative moments, but if we relax, positive energy will come tomorrow.
* Do you have times when you fall into negative emotions?
- There are many, but mostly not because of outsiders but because of myself. There are worries, things that do not go as expected, do not match my beliefs. But I always remember one very important thing: to accept differences, accept others who are different from me. Feelings of anger, resentment, hatred all come from fear. When I see others are different from me, I am afraid of being abandoned in that world. From fear comes hatred, resentment.
Accept the diversity of the world, the diversity of this life.
Ha Anh Tuan in the short film Heritage Heart to promote Trang An tourism (Ninh Binh) - Photo cut from video
I do not despise awards.
* You once performed at the Blue Wave Awards, which always updates new music trends with artists 10-20 years younger than you. Do you consider yourself "old" and no longer suitable for such spaces?
- When I was in the Blue Wave chart, I was only in my twenties, I was a promising singer, looking up to my seniors and admiring them. Now that I have passed the time of craving for awards like that, looking at the singers who are full of energy and youthfulness, I am very happy because it is a continuation.
* Six years ago, you asked the organizers for permission to no longer accept awards. Are you afraid of being misunderstood as looking down on awards?
- I don't look down on it. In the past, I wanted it so much that sometimes I didn't have it, and I was sad. But at this stage in my career, awards distract me. I don't want to be in the spotlight of awards anymore.
When colleagues are honored, especially those who work hard and contribute silently, truly contribute, regardless of media and statistics, or those in music schools..., I really appreciate it, I think that is the exact definition of dedication.
MI LY
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ha-anh-tuan-noi-ve-chung-ep-tim-vi-so-dam-dong-su-cam-ghet-va-hay-khen-toi-thong-minh-20250601100144048.htm
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