Last year, the name Van Anh appeared prominently in many media. It seems that the First Prize of Hanoi Singing 2023 not only brought you fame but also changed your life a lot?
– Participating in Sing Hanoi 2023 and going deep into the Finals is a big turning point for me. This is the first and biggest music competition I have participated in to date. The contest has opened up many horizons for me, especially learning and interacting with many colleagues. The First Prize of Hanoi Singing 2023 has changed me a lot, especially in thinking and musical aesthetics. I have become more confident and steadfast with my choices. I also find myself more mature and have more depth.
Singer Van Anh was born and raised in Ha Tinh, currently studying Intermediate Vocal Music at the National Academy of Music. Photo: NVCC
That means little girl Van Anh is very innocentIs the character of Ha Tinh now quite old?
– It’s true that I’m older, but I still haven’t lost my original innocence. The award brought me a lot of pride. Now I have more invitations to perform, and everywhere I go I get love and support from everyone. I had a lot of contact with journalists and learned a lot about how to deal with the media. And today, I am happy to have my first music product – MV “Missing Dad” to express my love for my late father and send it to music lovers as a Spring Day gift. .
Before that, what made Van Anh decide to register for the Hanoi Singing Competition 2023 when she had just moved from Ha Tinh to Hanoi to study music at the Vietnam National Academy of Music?
– Teacher Lan Anh is the one who encouraged and motivated me to join Hanoi Singing. At that time, to be honest, I didn’t have any confidence because I was just starting to study music. I told her to take the test in a few years but she refused. She encouraged me to take the test in every way because she wanted me to go beyond my comfort zone. Luckily, the deeper I step into the inner circle, the more “enlightened” I become. Previously, I didn’t know any songs about Hanoi because the music I followed was purely folk, so to be honest, I rarely paid attention to songs about Hanoi. However, after the contest, I knew more songs about Hanoi. During the contest, I received a lot of support from the Organizing Committee, from teacher Lan Anh and artist To Nga.
Singer Lan Anh is the person who helped Van Anh continue writing her musical dream. Photo: NVCC
Van Anh is a young, beautiful, innocent girl… but chooses folk music – a music genre that inherently requires a lot of maturity, calmness, and depth. Why is that?
– I was born in Nghi Xuan – Ha Tinh, a land very rich in cultural tradition. My hometown has “specialties” of Ca Tru, Vi – Giem, Lay Kieu… Since childhood, I have been imbued with that quintessential flow and I love the culture of my homeland very much. For that reason, I am determined to pursue folk music to enrich and beautify folk music. I want to continue the legacy, quintessence… of my ancestors in my hometown Nghe. Maybe, at this time I’m still young, don’t have much experience, don’t have much life capital, aren’t mature enough… but in return I have the freshness of youth and that will help my music have newness. batch.
In the family, who inspired Van Anh to pursue an artistic path?
– I am the first person in my family to follow the artistic path. However, my grandfather is a person who loves art. He supported me on every journey of pursuing art. During my Hanoi Singing Competition, he was not absent from any session. Every day after my child’s exam, today he took the bus from Ha Tinh to Hanoi to cheer. In my eyes, he is the most demanding audience. Whenever I record a song, I send it to him first so he can give his feedback. He only criticizes, rarely praises (laugh).
My father passed away when I was 4 years old, so since I was a child, I only had my mother and two brothers as the closest people. When I submitted my application to the National Academy of Music, my mother did not support me very much. Because my mother was afraid that pursuing art would be difficult for me. I have two brothers who are working abroad.
Singer Van Anh and her mother. Photo: NVCC
To me, my mother is a devoted woman, devoted to her children. When I was in high school, my mother also guided me to study abroad. But when she saw that I was so passionate about singing, my mother was forced to follow suit. The day I went to Hanoi to study, my mother was afraid that I would be in a strange country and alone in a foreign land, so she followed me to Hanoi. Now my mother is like my friend and manager. Mom worried and took care of me about everything.
Listening to Van Anh share, it seems like your journey to art was also gentle and spacious?
– I must say that the greatest luck of my life is meeting teacher Lan Anh. When I took the entrance exam to the Vietnam National Academy of Music, the Covid-19 epidemic was very stressful, so the school held the entrance exam online. As a result, I was not accepted. At that time, teacher Lan Anh did not know who I was, but when a friend sent me a clip of my singing, she proactively called me to guide me through the procedures for re-examination. I wrote the application, cried and practiced, and had no hope that I would be accepted. However, I did not expect that when re-examined, I would receive the highest score in that entrance exam. Thanks to Ms. Lan Anh, I was able to pursue my dream. I am grateful to you my whole life.
Ms. Lan Anh not only helped me in the first days, but also helped me a lot when I entered school. When I entered the school, I didn’t know which teacher was which, so I proposed to study with Ms. Lan Anh. At that time, she was teaching a lot of students and was extremely busy and struggling, but she still agreed to teach me. So I got my wish. Until now, when I look back at what I have been through, I feel very lucky. It seems like my father from above is always watching over me and protecting me.
Speaking of her father, what memories does Van Anh have?
– My father went abroad to work when I was 3 years old. When I was 4 years old, my father passed away. My memories of my father are not clear. Later, I only heard my mother tell me about the stories between father and son when I was a child. Now when I look at my father’s portrait on the altar, I always miss him. When I was in school, I saw my friends always having a father and a mother… I felt very sorry for myself. But luckily, I was loved and compensated by my mother, two brothers and grandparents.
Singer Van Anh lost his father when he was 4 years old, so he always misses his late father. Photo: NVCC
Is the MV “Remembering Dad” meant to confess my feelings to my late father?
– “Remembering Dad” is a song by musician Tuan Phuong, a poem by Dau Hoai Thanh that Meritorious Artist To Nga chose for me. Ms. To Nga also knows my situation very well, so she loves me very much. When I went into the studio to record this song, I cried countless times. Feelings of sadness and longing for my father kept flowing. I have never sung a song so touching. I hope my father up above will hear the words I sing and see how much I miss him.