Giang Son's music is feminine, gentle, profound, and his lyrics are likened to poetry in music. Amidst the changes in the music flow, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters had a conversation with musician Giang Son to listen to her life and career.
Musician Giang Son has 30 years of artistic activities with many works accompanying him over the years. Looking back on that journey, which song left you with the most emotions?
- I like many songs, including "Hanoi 12 seasons of flowers" and "Mid-A-day dream". These are 2 works that help me get closer to the audience and for the past 20 years, people have been listening to me, still remembering each song.
Hanoi is a special place for me, singing or composing about Hanoi always brings me a lot of emotions.
In addition, I also like "Grass and Rain", "Flying Golden Sun"...
Some musicians have shared that with a famous song, they can live their whole life thanks to pre-composure rights. Is that true for musician Giang Son?
- Songs like "Mid-A-Dream" or "Hanoi 12 seasons of flowers" are famous but were born 20 years ago, at that time the digital platform was not as popular as it is today. However, these 2 songs are still sung and sung until now.
"Dream of noon" is still the song that helped me receive the most copyrights. I don't get hundreds of millions a year, every quarter like other musicians, I get a few tens of millions in royalties every year. This song has been adapted the most, in many different art genres, from solo for musical instruments, dance, stage to movies... "Mid-A-Sday Dream" helps me have the most copyright, but the total is only about a few hundred million VND, not reaching a few billion VND.
However, behind the story of collecting royalties, as this market increasingly appears with new names, many companies participate in signing with musicians to collect royalties (then share a percentage with musicians)... there have also been many lawsuits and lawsuits for competition. What are your feelings about this competition?
- I also had a dispute about the copyright of the song "Mid-A-day Dream". Because the issue of authorship in the digital space is very complicated. In copyright law, copyright is the highest, followed by recording rights, but there are many forms, which can belong to musicians or singers. There are songs with many recordings because many people use that mix. If musicians, artists, producers/partners do not have enough copyright knowledge, the copyright issue will be difficult to solve at the root.
Previously, if the music industry only had singers, musicians, and arrangers playing an important role, now, there is another position that is also of great interest: producer - music producer. How does musician Giang Son feel about the rapid development of the production team in recent years?
- For a young singer who is shaping his career and considering which path to take, they really need a producer who can help orient the color. Even if the producer is not composing, they can still come up with a strategy, place an order for a song and create a debut project for a new singer. Therefore, the producer plays an important role, must be sensitive to the market, knowing the singer's strengths and weaknesses.
2024 is considered a huge change in the music performance market when a series of concerts from the shows "Anh trai say hi" and "Call Me by Fire" were held. When music has a market to compete, to make a profit, to make an economic profit... What more will music need to be an industry that "latches the golden egg" like KPop, in your opinion?
- I think what is needed is human resources, including musicians, arrangers, producers, and singers. Young artists are the most energetic team, creating large-scale concerts, both striving for their own careers and promoting Vietnamese music. Young musicians need to be proactive, combine new music trends, and update new knowledge.
Are you optimistic or realistic when commenting on the current Vietnamese music market?
- I am always optimistic and evaluate the situation realistically. I look straight at the truth, the core of the problem, from the achievements that have been achieved and the things that have not been achieved. Vietnamese music has grown stronger, with many talented musicians, creating a vibrant and entertaining picture. I hope you will have a personal mark and be able to honor national cultural values.
As for the young generation of artists, I am impressed with Soobin, Hua Kim Tuyen, Hoang Dung who have all left many impressions and influenced Vietnamese showbiz. Recently, I learned that Soobin is the son of People's Artist Huynh Tu and was very surprised. I used to wonder if Soobin was born into a traditional artistic family, but it turned out that he was a child of a poor family, having studied the monochord since he was 3 years old.
I have worked with music programs, Hua Kim Tuyen and Hoang Dung. I see that the two of them have their own musical personalities, always trying to explore and learn. When composing, I often think of Ha Tran and Tung Duong. I think these two artists can sing their songs and many other songs well.
After all these years, it can be seen that Giang Son still composed very richly, with many unique products, with very unique musical colors. Recently, in early 2025, she had a solo concert called "Dream Sol" which was highly appreciated by many audiences and colleagues. Can I ask you, how is music so "day dreaming" for you?
- Music is still the land that I want to explore and explore because I feel like I can only waver in a small pond. And music in the world is a vast, profound ocean. I still have a lot to learn, many genres of music I want to try. I can say that, with music, I am very happy and do not hide anything.
Some people say that Giang Son's music is very feminine and soft. How do you like to be praised for your music?
- When composing, I want my music to fly, be gentle, and make listeners feel relaxed in their souls. I hope music will be like a cool stream, helping people become more gentle.
Many people also say that my music is like mine in real life. If my music were gentle and feminine, I would probably be the same person in real life.
I also want to be myself in music.
Is your favorite topic about love?
- Of my works, I write most about love. It can be said that this topic has brought me many emotions. I believe that what is written from the heart will come to the heart faster. Each person loves in a different way, but there will also be common points, such as when they break up, it will be sad, being with the person they love will be happy.
After the breakdown of your marriage, do you think about getting married again?
- I do not impose on myself a fear of marriage. I think if I meet the right man, love literature and art like me, love music like me, be with that person and I feel happy to be myself, I could get married again.
But sometimes a couple is fate. If fate allows, we will meet.
Currently, I like a simple life, I just want everyone to be happy and relaxed when they meet me.
