JustaTee: 'The number of advertising contracts I turned down could probably buy 4 houses'

After 6 years of returning to his solo singing career, singer - music producer JustaTee is calm and confident in the face of the audience's urging and expectations.

JustaTee became famous with Anh trai say hi and the hits Thang dien, Di ve nha - Photo: MI LY

JUSTATEE (real name is Nguyen Thanh Tuan, born in 1990)   chatted with Tuoi Tre about his personal career, Anh trai say hi , Em xinh say hi and how to raise a daughter while refusing advertising contracts "that could buy up to four houses".

I actively do not live a chaotic life.

* As the music director for Anh trai say hi and Em xinh say hi, now you're back with your own music product. What's the difference between making music for a show and making music for yourself?

- Anh trai say hi and Em xinh say hi both break many limits, exploring how far energy can go. But making music for yourself means being yourself, doing what people have always felt from you. Luckily, I have a lot of energy, I can do both at the same time.

* Your music is poetic, gentle, imaginative and whimsical. How do you maintain your own identity?

- I actively do not live a hectic life, do not strive to achieve anything. I "chill", keep my innocence, do not care about worldly affairs. If I keep chasing after things, there will be a lot of pressure that will make me forget the beginning when I made music.

I'm old, I just see things as simple like that. I've been staying at home for a long time, not participating much in social relationships.

Unique frames in the MV Jasmine Flower - Photo: NVCC

* In the music industry, relationships are very important?

- I make music, everything will come naturally. I started from a time when I had no relationships. Whoever comes to me is fate. I don't actively look for them.

In the past, I did not have much support to pursue my career, and one day, my writing ability suddenly stopped because of financial hardship. This happens to everyone in life, especially those who are famous but suddenly fall down, and lose their sense of music.

I quit Facebook at the time when it had the most likes.

* You used to be close to the SpaceSpeakers team. The audience loved your brotherhood and interactions. But recently you rarely have moments with them?

- Now that I'm grown up, interacting too much on social media is a bit too much. There are things I never say, but when needed, I'm always there.

Among everyone, I am the least interactive, since the old days. I rarely use social media, go offline even less. I live my life and accept that everyone is the same. Having a family is different, having children is different again, it will be impossible to manage everything in the circle of relationships to satisfy the concepts.

* Why do you rarely use social networks?

- I don't think it solves anything. The fanpage has been blank since the song was released in 2021, and it was only recently posted. The Instagram account has been blank for 2 or 3 years. I don't mind starting over.

After a long time without social media, I learned who I really am. I wanted to move away from platforms that only get attention when I use them regularly. I tried not using them for a few years to see if it worked.

Facebook or Instagram, if you don't use them anymore, you won't have reach, your posts won't show up anymore. When you post again, your interest will be your true self.

JustaTee's MV Jasmine Flower

* You are living in a world of virtual values, people are willing to pay to buy indexes. Do you prefer to go your own way?

- I always have. I quit Facebook around the time it had the most likes of my career with lots of posts about my family, around 2021. The more attention-grabbing something is, the less I need it.

My child is naughty but that's good.

What you like, you have to fight for, don't live according to anyone. Even his father doesn't live according to anyone, he's been alone all along.

JustaTee

* Do you feel shy when your family and children receive too much public attention?

- My job and the things I go through are not things to worry about. The important thing is to show my children how to deal with them.

I have not received a single penny from advertising with my daughter, except for the MV EZ Papa , which I wanted to make a music product. Customers really like the image of me with my daughter, but the number of contracts I refused could probably buy four houses I live in.

As he grows up with fame, it is important that he understands why he is famous. Before I take him on stage, I always whisper in his ear, asking if he really wants to perform. If he wants to perform, then he can perform, but if he doesn't want to, I am ready to take him off.

* There are songs in Anh trai say hi about love, do you limit your children from listening to them?

- I don't try to prevent it, I try to confront it. If I forbid my child, will he dare to be honest with his father, confide in his father? I learned from my own experience because I was quite rebellious in the past. I'm not afraid of opposition, I just do it.

* If your child "inherits" a rebellious personality, what do you think?

- That would be great. That way you can take control of your life. Don't let your parents tell you what to do like in the old days. You have to fight for what you like, don't live according to anyone. Even your father doesn't live according to anyone, he's been on his own all this time, doesn't rely on anyone and still lives until now.

JustaTee in the latest MV Jasmine Flower directed by Phuong Vu - Photo: NVCC

* 15 years ago, in Hanoi, there were music shows with hundreds of people and JustaTee as the closing act. After a long journey, how far have you come? Do you have any regrets?

- It's a bit far. I just keep doing it day by day and forget when I got here. With music, I never want to stay in one place because there are people who believe in me. If I stop, it's not worth what I've put in. I always take steps without regrets.

I look so pathetic!

* His images on social networks are quite funny, especially the photos of him sitting and making music, looking very... miserable.

- That's an image that no one has ever seen before, and it accidentally became "content". One day I looked like that, the next day I was handsome. But on a bad day, the "Anh trai" and "Em xinh" guys kept taking pictures of me, I must have looked miserable. Beauty that could make up for it probably wouldn't be that bad.

A humorous photo of JustaTee attracted nearly 90,000 interactions in 2023 - Photo: FBNV

The two "Brother" programs are not similar in terms of exploitation, function and orientation. Mr. SlimV has his own undeniable mark, his name guarantees a program. As for me, I change to adapt and accompany many musical personalities.

Regarding music, I still have a lot to learn and practice. My goals are not what people set out, I am satisfied with life. I just want to make music from now until the end of my life. Anything is fine, as long as it is music.

JUSTATEE

MI LY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/justatee-so-hop-dong-quang-cao-toi-tu-choi-chac-phai-mua-duoc-4-cai-nha-20250612085435116.htm