Self-writing and self-singing: New trend among artists

If in the past, singers often associated with their “favorite” musicians to have suitable songs, now, the trend of self-composing and self-singing is becoming a strong flow in Vietnamese music. In Nghe An, this movement not only spreads among the youth but also creates profound artistic marks, from professional artists to faces that are gradually asserting their names.

Imprints from Nghe An artists

People's Artist Phuong Thao is one of the leading artists in the trend of "singing your own music" in Nghe An. The song "Mo Duyen" - her work once caused a big stir when it was performed in the program Con duong am nhac organized by VTV. Based on the Northern folk music material, "Mo Duyen" is a blend of smooth lyrics and delicate singing style, clearly demonstrating the creative ability of an experienced artist.

The song "Chang Vinh Quy" was performed in the live show "Dream of Destiny". Photo: NVCC

From that success, Phuong Thao continued to affirm her name with a series of songs with contemporary folk melodies such as "Trai que toi", "Gai Nghe", "Chang vinh quy", "Bay giua dong Lam"... Each song not only reflects the cultural beauty of Nghe An but also contains the soul of the homeland. In particular, the song "Bay giua dong Lam" composed by her and performed by artist Thanh Hai ( Nghe An Traditional Arts Center) won the Gold Medal at the National Professional Music and Dance Festival - a clear demonstration of the vitality of folk music when renewed with a contemporary breath. People's Artist Phuong Thao once said: "I write music not to prove anything, but to tell the stories of Nghe people through music. When singing my own compositions, the emotions are always more complete, because it is the voice of the heart".

Singer Lo The Anh sings the song "Tuong Tu Nang Vi Giam" at the press conference to launch the MV of the same name. Photo: Dau Dinh Son

Not only Phuong Thao, singer Lo The Anh - a son of Tuong Duong is also a typical face of this movement. He is known to the audience for his strong voice, mixed with rock but full of love for the countryside. The song "Yen Hoa que toi" composed and performed by him quickly became a "heart song" of the people of Western Nghe An. The simple song, developed on Thai folk tunes, has a rustic but profound melody, reaching millions of views on YouTube. After that, he continued to release self-composed songs such as "Tuong tu nang vi, giam", "Ve hoi lam vong", affirming the mettle of a folk artist who knows how to harmonize tradition and modernity.

Singer Lo The Anh at the MV launch. Photo: Dau Dinh Son

Not only artists in the province, Phan Manh Quynh - musician, singer from Dien Van, Dien Chau district, now Duc Chau commune is also a typical face of the "self-writing, self-singing" wave. He is considered as the pioneer of narrative music with a series of famous songs: " There is a boy who writes on the tree", "Nguoc ngoai", "Sau loi tu xu", "Tu do", "Gap hoi, yeu duong va duoc ben em".

It is worth mentioning that most of his songs are performed by himself, imbued with a contemporary folk flavor mixed with cinematic qualities. Many of his works have become famous film soundtracks, creating the “Phan Manh Quynh effect” in Vietnamese music life. His characteristic husky voice, sophisticated lyrics, and modern arrangements make him considered a “musical storyteller” of the new generation.

In a broader view, Nghe An artists singing their own songs is not only a creative trend, but also a journey to preserve regional cultural identity, contributing to enriching the "Vietnamese music map". Musician Tran Quoc Chung - Director of the Provincial Traditional Arts Center commented: "The fact that singers compose and sing their own works helps music have more vitality. Artists like Phuong Thao and Lo The Anh are contributing to enriching Nghe An's musical life, by bringing folk songs back with a new breath".

Easy to catch the trend, but need personality

It is undeniable that “singing your own songs” is a strong trend in the Vietnamese music industry. On online platforms, from YouTube, TikTok to Spotify, many “self-written - self-sung” songs have become phenomena, attracting millions of listeners. However, for this path to be sustainable, artists need more than the ability to catch trends – that is, personality and creative depth.

According to musician Nguyen Quang Long, the weakness of many young singers today is that they do not have enough identity. Sharing with the press, he once said that many songs are catchy and easy to go viral but lack soul and story. A song can only live long when the artist dares to put his real life into the melody.

Phan Manh Quynh is the owner of many famous movie soundtrack songs recently, all performed by himself.

That is also the reason why artists like Phan Manh Quynh, Hoang Dung, Vu Cat Tuong or Den Vau still maintain their own position. They not only keep up with the trend, but also create their own personal mark through their composing style and voice. Singer and musician Vu (Hoang Thai Vu) is a typical example. Once a special forces officer, Vu entered the music scene with gentle, soulful ballads such as "Step through the lonely season", "Strange", "My summer"... Each of his songs is a piece of real emotion, making listeners sympathize. It is that sincerity that helps Vu become the "indie prince" of Vietnam, with a series of shows selling out just a few hours after going on sale.

Artists like Vu and Phan Manh Quynh, although different in style, have one thing in common: They do not sing to “catch the trend”, but to tell their own stories. That is the core value that helps their music have a long life in a volatile market.

In fact, singers who both compose and perform help them be more proactive in terms of creativity, copyright and image. The development of technology and social networks creates opportunities for each artist to produce, promote and spread their own music products without depending on record labels. However, musician Tran Quoc Chung emphasized: “Singing your own songs is a direction full of potential, but also a lot of pressure. Without enough musical knowledge, life experience and personality, the product can easily be dissolved in a market that changes very quickly.”

On the other hand, the artists of Nghe An have proven that when an artist clearly understands who he or she is, the music will naturally have its own identity. From the folk melodies of Phuong Thao, the breath of the mountains and forests of Lo The Anh to the narrative depth of Phan Manh Quynh... all have created a diverse "map of Vietnamese music", both traditional and modern.

When an artist sings his own song, it is not only a creative journey, but also a dialogue with himself and the audience. Each melody is a piece of soul, each lyric is a real experience.

From artists from Nghe An - the birthplace of many musical talents - to young singers who are dominating trends, all are contributing to creating a new look for Vietnamese music: Freer, more unique and more emotional than ever.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/tu-viet-tu-hat-xu-huong-moi-trong-gioi-nghe-si-10308091.html