Legendary pianist Yiruma: 'The Vietnamese music industry is growing stronger'

Yiruma in an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper - Photo: Organizing Committee

Pianist Yiruma gave an interview on his visit to Ho Chi Minh City to perform at singer Ha Anh Tuan's two-night "Sketch a Rose" concert on March 8th and 9th.

I am always loyal to Ha Anh Tuan

* During the two nights of the Sketch a Rose concert, he performed outdoors in front of approximately 10,000 spectators each night. His music is usually performed in concert halls. Why did he accept the invitation to perform an outdoor concert this time?

- Outdoor concerts are quite challenging because you'll hear all sorts of noise around you. People can feel the wind blowing and gaze at the sky.

Standing amidst that stunning scenery, you enjoy live music. It's a wonderful experience. So I'm really looking forward to performing with Ha Anh Tuan.

Yiruma is a renowned musician from Korea.

* During your meeting with Ha Anh Tuan in South Korea, you mentioned knowing he's a famous singer in Vietnam. What impression did you have of him?

- We have a lot in common in terms of music and style. He said he didn't really like Korean pop music but wanted to make music with a Korean artist, and I agreed.

There are many K-pop idol groups, some are great but not all are.

In terms of music, I don't mind the genre. I can combine any two genres, as long as they blend well. That's why I get along so well with Ha Anh Tuan. We grew up in different countries, with different music, different styles, and different cultures, but we met and connected through music. It was a magical moment.

If other Vietnamese singers wanted to collaborate with me, I would say no. Because I've always been loyal to Ha Anh Tuan. I will stick with Ha Anh Tuan. He does a lot of charity work and many other wonderful things throughout his career. I want to follow in his footsteps; it would be an amazing journey.

Yiruma collaborated on music with Ha Anh Tuan during a meeting in South Korea - Photo: Provided by the artist.

At an outdoor concert, you have to be extremely careful to ensure the sound reaches every audience member perfectly. Otherwise, nothing changes. The music is still the same. But most importantly, the artists communicate more with the audience; it's more lively.
Pianist Yiruma

Cooperation is very special

* You performed at the Sydney Opera House in May 2024. Ha Anh Tuan also brought his music there in September. What are your thoughts on a Vietnamese artist performing at the Sydney Opera House, and what advice would you like to share with other Vietnamese artists to help Vietnamese music spread globally?

- My collaboration with Ha Anh Tuan may encourage other Korean artists to collaborate more with Vietnamese artists.

Previously, I and some other Koreans didn't know much about Vietnamese music, but now I know a lot about it thanks to Ha Anh Tuan. He contacted me, gave me advice and ideas for songwriting.

Ha Anh Tuan's decision to hold a concert at the Sydney Opera House is a huge step forward. When I first held a concert at the Sydney Opera House, I was very surprised.

I discovered that many strangers all over the world know my music and try to come hear me perform live. I'm sure there are many fans around the world for Ha Anh Tuan and other Vietnamese artists as well.

I know the Vietnamese song Gwenchana (It's Okay by rapper 7dnight) is one of the very popular songs in Korea. I mean, language doesn't matter. You can sing in any language, and a Vietnamese artist singing in Korean is something very unique and authentic.

Ha Anh Tuan is doing a great job developing, improving, and elevating Vietnamese music. He's a fantastic person to accomplish things like that.

Legendary singer Yiruma will have a highly anticipated collaboration with Ha Anh Tuan in the Live Concert 'Sketch A Rose' - Saigon 2025.

I'm very happy that despite the language barrier, we can still share music and connect with each other. It's important to try. Ha Anh Tuan has tried, and several other artists in Vietnam have also tried. I feel that the Vietnamese music industry is growing and developing year after year. That's why I'm interested.

Pianist Yiruma

Gift from heaven

* The song "River Flows in You" remains incredibly popular even though it was released 24 years ago. What does its popularity mean to you, as well as that of another song, "Kiss the Rain"?

Wow! It's a turning point. River Flows in You. I never expected anything from this song. I wrote River Flows in You in 2001, 24 years ago. In just a few minutes. The melody just came to me and I wrote it.

I didn't think the song was good enough, but life is strange. Somehow, it became famous all over the world through the internet.

River Flows in You - Yiruma's most famous song.

Everyone knows this melody, even if they don't know the song title or the composer's name. The song is also performed live on YouTube and TikTok, making it even more popular. And that's what brought me to Vietnam and other countries.

River Flows in You is a huge part of my life. Without River Flows in You, I wouldn't be here. River Flows in You is like a gift from heaven.

I don't know what religion you believe in, but in any religion, it seems to come from a God. It doesn't come from the human mind. It's something that humans truly cannot create. I've always felt it's a gift from a spirit somewhere.

* When did you realize the cultural influence of your music?

- Whenever I'm on a plane, in a taxi, in an alleyway, or at weddings, and my music plays, I feel so happy. That joy motivates me to compose. I want to write even better music. Even though we have very different cultures, music has its own language.

* This time you've come to Ho Chi Minh City, while you've been to Hanoi before. Do you have any memories of our country?

- Everywhere I go, people are so friendly. Returning, I see even more Koreans in Vietnam. The food is amazing; I love pho and banh mi. I always eat a lot of banh mi.

Yiruma, whose real name is Lee Ru Ma, is a South Korean pianist and composer. He was born in 1978 in Seoul, South Korea.

Yiruma's music has been world-renowned for many years, but it has seen a clear resurgence since the COVID-19 era, especially with his song " River Flows in You."

Yiruma previously visited Vietnam in 2017 to perform at the Hanoi Opera House and had another unofficial performance earlier, also in Hanoi.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/huyen-thoai-duong-cam-yiruma-cong-nghiep-am-nhac-viet-nam-dang-lon-manh-20250308225333126.htm