Movie soundtrack opened many doors for me

Why did you only perform your first live show in your career now (taking place in early 2025)?

Although I have received love from music lovers through the songs I wrote for myself and other colleagues over the years, I want to make sure that when I decide to organize a live show, I will have enough experience, confidence and support from good people in related departments such as music director, image, fashion... During the past time, I have learned and improved my composing and performing skills when performing many times at tea rooms and music nights. There I get to sing a lot and talk a lot. Now I feel it is time to share that achievement with everyone through a memorable concert.

How did you get involved in composing film music and how has having many hits from film music changed Phan Manh Quynh's life and career mindset?

I myself have always loved watching good movies and when I started writing music, I also tended to create lyrics that evoked visual content and stories. I naturally got into composing film music when I had the opportunity to work with film directors and producers. The success of the hits from the soundtracks opened many new doors for me and changed the way I viewed my music career. The soundtracks helped me reach more audiences and perhaps left a mark on them.

It is known that you dropped out of the University of Industry (HCMC) because of your passion for music, self-discovery, composition and had a few "stormy" songs such as " Old lover", "We used to love each other "... during that period. But why did you intend to quit your job in 2014 and return to your hometown to find a job?

Early 2014 was a difficult period when I encountered many challenges at work, mainly because the income from composing was not enough to support my life in the city and at that time I was only renting a house. I had no intention of quitting my job but thought why don't I go back to my hometown to cut down on living expenses while still being able to compose? Then I packed up and went home, and perhaps this was the best decision I ever made at that time. I had a happy time with my family, very close friends and I really leisurely wrote music. That year I wrote some important songs in my career such as Foreign, Taking you away, Someone's wife...

Someone Else's Wife reached over 100 million views on YouTube, then you participated in Sing my song 2017 , this was the "resource" for you to return to the path of composing, creating famous movie soundtrack songs?

To be honest, I have never stopped loving music or writing music. As for the success of "Vo nguoi ta" or "Sing my song", it can be considered that I have approached music lovers in two different ways. If "Vo nguoi ta" helped me reach a wide audience with many mixed opinions, "Sing my song" helped me introduce myself once again with thoughts and experiences from a happy, lively childhood and a turbulent time of youth. Then later, when I had the opportunity to write film music, I had a lot of material to work with.

So what is Phan Manh Quynh's "unique quality" to create hits for movie soundtracks?

To create successful film music, the musician needs to spend a lot of time and mind to understand the director's and screenwriter's intentions, because I think they are the ones who know best who the character is, what the story is, they are the origin. Then the musician will put himself in the film (whether there is a draft or not) to understand and sympathize with the story or character of the film. Perhaps I have this because I was born in the countryside, where people care about each other through many activities with a sympathetic attitude. Another thing is that I always try to create emotional melodies to resonate with the lyrics and ideas.

Many people say that Phan Manh Quynh's songs are full of narrative and depth, while you are still quite young. So do your experiences in life and love help you a lot in your compositions?

The emotions, joys and sorrows of being in love or when broken up, and the time of being single are the main topics when I write about love. As for the topic of life, it is often the things I have seen and heard. One way I often write music is to write a few lines when it is just an initial idea, and I feel that I need time to complete it, then I just leave it there, until one day when I have more life experiences and understanding, I will come back to complete that song. Moreover, I think the lives or works of art of previous artists are also an endless source of inspiration to help me write songs with more depth.

On stage, it can be seen that Phan Manh Quynh only sings the soundtrack songs that he composed. Is this the limit you set to create your own mark?

Being able to sing the songs I wrote and have the audience love them is a happy thing, because when I wrote those songs, my emotions were overflowing. During the whole writing process, I often hummed on the piano, I also followed that to have a way to pause, a way to follow the melody according to my feelings when singing, so I feel most confident when singing my own songs, feeling like living with the work once again. However, I also like many songs by other musicians, it's just that I don't have the confidence to perform them officially. In the new year, I will have new combinations. Maybe after the concert, I will still occasionally write songs for movies but will also experiment with other colors at the same time.

- Ảnh 5. — Phan Manh Quynh participates in My Tam's My Soul music night

You said: "I'm in demand thanks to movie soundtracks". So if there were no movie soundtracks, would Phan Manh Quynh "rise" like that?

If there were no soundtrack, I would still continue to compose songs with a film soundtrack atmosphere like I did before with Stepping Through the World ; Foreign Countries… and find new directions to develop my music career. Film music is an important part of my career, but every artist who loves music will be diligent in creating. I am always ready to accept new challenges and explore other opportunities in the music industry.

In the movie Once Upon a Time There Was a Love Story , you composed, sang the soundtrack, and acted as writer Nguyen Nhat Anh. What was your experience like playing three roles?

First of all, I was happy to play the role of writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, an author who has contributed to nurturing the souls of many readers through his youthful works, so when I learned that the role did not require much "elaborate" acting, I accepted. I watched some of his daily life reports and tried to recreate them. As for the song in this film, I really like his novels and felt that I could develop the song from the perspective of an outside storyteller. I had a lot of emotions when writing and singing the song in the film because I also have similar memories.

- Ảnh 6. — Phan Manh Quynh participates in Ha Anh Tuan's music night in Singapore

When performing on stage, in the conversation section, Phan Manh Quynh often "jokes" too real in front of thousands of audiences with very sincere and humorous emotions. On his personal page, his wife Khanh Vy often "exposed" her husband humorously... So does Phan Manh Quynh have another person?

I always try to be honest in both my music and my daily life. In real life, I am an introvert and shy around strangers. However, I like to make people laugh when I get close to them.

In the midst of a fiercely competitive, vibrant Vietnamese music market with many young talents, where do you think you stand? Why do you always seem to work in a "low note" mindset?

I think this is still suitable for me because I am an introvert, a first-time father, and I find that my light activities help me have enough time for my family and compose better. Young talents today are in a great phase of Vietnamese music. They not only make good music but also have a unique, dynamic image, are good at performing and are idols of young audiences. As for me, I still find myself loved by music lovers with a nostalgic soul. Each artist contributes a little color to the overall picture, that is enough.

You have a happy family. So how does your wife Khanh Vy influence your writing career and life?

Khanh Vy is a rational and decisive person. I feel my wife's love and sincerity for me. She has the ability to predict quite well like a conscientious listener. Looking back now, the songs that Vy participated in my MV were all successful such as Khi nguoi minh yeu khoc, Huyen thuy, Yeu nhau nua ngay, Nhat.

It is known that you two have been in love for 9 years, got married and have a little princess. So in your family, what kind of husband and father are you? Who will be the one to "keep the fire" in your marriage?

I always want to see lots of smiles from the people I love. I like to take the whole family to the beach or to a coffee shop so that the baby can have fun and be more confident. In the family, the most important person is still the wife, because she plays many roles from taking care of the children to other small things. My wife is a bit hot-tempered, but when there is an important matter, she is very calm and has many good plans (laughs).

Thanks for the chat!