New trends in Vietnamese music

By integrating folk music into contemporary trends, many artists have created a strong and memorable mark.

The music video (MV) "Bac Bling" exemplifies the harmonious connection between the moon lute, flute, two-stringed fiddle, drums, etc., arranged in a new style with a fast tempo; combining traditional folk music with modern hip hop style.

Novel and unique

"Bac Bling" received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both music lovers and critics. This product partly affirms the boundless creativity of young artists from generations Z and X today. Several young singers have achieved considerable success pursuing this style, such as Hoang Thuy Linh, Ha Myo, and Hoa Minzy...

The performance of "Angry but Loving" by the group of beautiful ladies at "Beautiful Ladies Riding the Wind 2024" (Photo: DUC THANH)

For example, the combination of folk music with pop, rap, world music… in musical products such as: "Come Home and Listen to Mother's Lullaby" by People's Artist Bach Tuyet and singer Hoang Dung; Ha Myo singing Xam (traditional Vietnamese folk singing) combined with rap and electronic music in " Hanoi Xam"; Quan AP combining Quan Ho Bac Ninh with rap and EDM in "Giao Duyen - Sitting by the Boat's Edge"; Phuong My Chi with "The Universe of Flying Cranes"; Double2T with music rich in Northern Vietnamese folk colors; rapper BinZ with a combination of bolero and rap in the EP "Keep Cam Ca"; or Dangrangto's "Surfing on the Waves"… have been well-received and supported by the audience.

"Ha is very fortunate that her debut music video 'Xam Hanoi' has been positively received by the audience. Ha has always wanted to combine traditional and modern music to bring traditional music closer to younger audiences," shared singer Ha Myo.

The creative exploitation of traditional elements has helped today's young people take their local culture further. More and more artists are actively using folk materials to revitalize their artistic products and win over audiences... One of the products that has recently attracted the attention of music lovers is the album "2025´ - Good or Not So Good" by Dzung (real name Pham Viet Dung).

After 20 years in the profession, audiences can clearly see Dzung's musical direction. He wants to introduce Vietnamese culture through music, using the unique sounds of each region. "In the places I've visited in recent years, I've recorded the sounds and noises of each locality. I use those sounds as musical instruments to recreate the atmosphere and emotions of different parts of Vietnam. These include the sound of the SE train running north-south, the engine sounds of fishing boats around Phu Quy Island, the sounds of small boats and canoes in the Mekong Delta, or the fireworks in the sky over the Nam Rom River in Dien Bien during the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory..." - Dzung said.

Highly appreciated by the audience.

In recent times, folk elements have continuously attracted the attention of many artists, who have incorporated them into various contemporary music genres such as pop, EDM, and rock. In the jazz genre, it's impossible not to mention saxophone artist Quyen Thien Dac, with his numerous projects, albums, and performance series both domestically and internationally, showcasing the traditional aspects of Vietnamese people and culture to international friends.

Following the trend of rediscovering traditional values, the band Saigon Soul Revival recently released their second album, "Mối lương duyên" (A Romantic Encounter), featuring many songs with a strong Vietnamese identity, such as "Mơ xuân" (Spring Dream) with its Northwestern Vietnamese influences, and "Ai thật lòng yêu ai" (Who Truly Loves Whom) with the zither playing of Meritorious Artist Hai Phuong. Singer Hoang Thuy Linh was also highly praised by audiences for combining folk elements with contemporary music.

The interplay between traditional elements and modern trends, incorporating folk materials into compositions, is gradually becoming a new musical trend, opening up a promising direction for singers and producers. In the "Beautiful Sister Riding the Wind 2024" program, singer Bui Lan Huong made a strong impression by incorporating Ho Xuan Huong's poetry and traditional folk songs into her performance.

In "Beautiful Sister Riding the Wind," the audience clearly sees the flow of folk culture in the Quan Ho folk song style, the nuanced singing of Northern Vietnamese folk music; the melodious Vong Co lyrics of Phuong Thanh and Ngoc Thanh Tam echoing throughout the song; the graceful silk dance of Hoang Yen Chibi harmonizing with the zither playing of Thao Trang… These interesting creative elements will continue to appear at the "Beautiful Sister" live concert taking place on April 12th at Global City (Ho Chi Minh City).

According to experts, the development of musical products with folk cultural elements not only demonstrates the creativity of young artists but also reflects the spirit of preserving national culture.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/net-moi-cua-nhac-viet-3352566.html