Singer Duy Ninh: 'When the stage is a social network'

(Baonghean) - Every time he stands on stage at a tea room, Duy Ninh receives endless applause and requests to sing more from the audience. For the singer who grew up in the village, that is happiness, a gift that life has bestowed.

Duy Ninh's real name is Hoang Van Ninh (born in 1988), from Quynh Lam (Quynh Luu). Born into a poor farming family, Duy Ninh knew how to work for hire from a young age to help his parents reduce their suffering and his siblings have more food.

At only 8 years old, Ninh went to work as a construction worker with his father every day. Then his father fell ill and passed away early. Duy Ninh was truly the support for the whole family when his mother was sick all year round and his siblings were still young. At only 14 years old, Ninh already knew how to do many jobs, from construction worker to rice harvester to earn extra meals for the family.

But during those difficult and miserable childhood days, people still saw Duy Ninh singing and singing very well. Ninh said that he inherited the artistic blood from his father, because during his life his father was a member of the Quynh Art Club. Ninh's father used to sing reformed opera everywhere, with such a charming voice that "every time he took the flute out of the house, my mother was worried, afraid that some girl would fall in love with his voice and then fall in love with him too".

Duy Ninh in the MV "Nguoi mang tam su" about to be released to the audience. Photo: Thanh Nga

Ninh sings as a way to forget the hardships and fatigue of everyday life. He sings while working as a construction worker, while planting rice in the fields, while plowing for hire... His voice is only 14 years old but is already very resonant and sweet. I don't know why because he had to struggle with life so early, but the songs he learned are often sad love songs, songs with many feelings, songs rich in philosophy.

Then that very "sweet" voice brought Ninh to sing at weddings all over the village. "Village singer" Duy Ninh sang without pay, but wherever he went, people loved his sweet, older-than-his-age voice, so that "in the village, in the commune, wherever there was a wedding, they invited her, so that the fun could last forever" - Ninh said.

Life went on like that and people thought Duy Ninh would only be known as a "village singer", having to sing and work all kinds of jobs to support his family. But then fate brought him to meet Chau Tuan - a famous bolero singer in Hanoi, when he was an employee of the Cau Giat Market Management Board. It was this manager who was very good with new singers who discovered the quality in Duy Ninh's voice, felt the passion in Ninh and led him to the singing career.

Recruited by Chau Tuan to join his "theatre", Duy Ninh was noticed and invited to collaborate by many event and program organizers. Whether the event was in Vinh City or Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, if it did not coincide with his duty day, Duy Ninh would rush to sing. The salary for unfamous singers was not even enough for travel expenses, but Ninh still did not miss any event if it did not coincide with his work schedule.

For Duy Ninh, being able to sing and stand on stage means having everything, happiness, joy of life.

Singer Duy Ninh. Photo: Thanh Nga

In recent years, people have seen Duy Ninh actively participating in small competitions organized by Southern television stations, because for some reason Duy Ninh sings "very fragrant" vọng cổ songs, and many times his name was called up to the podium to receive awards, including Second Prize in the folk music category at Tra Vinh Radio and Television Station, Third Prize in the Singing Festival at Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station...

Although after each competition, the gifts from the Organizing Committee are only meant to encourage and motivate, but through that, Duy Ninh feels how difficult the professional music environment is. Because not only do singers have a good voice, when they go on stage, they also have to show their personality, musical strengths and especially acting talent.

Singing many genres of music such as folk songs, lyrical songs... but finding a genre that suits Ninh's strengths was not something that Ninh had decided on from the beginning. Recently, in a show, Ninh coincidentally met and was advised by Ho Quang Tam - a singer famous for bolero love songs to follow this genre of music. Because according to singer Ho Quang Tam, although that genre of music only has a "living place" in tea rooms and coffee shops, bolero has a life, a large and sustainable audience.

Pursuing bolero, Duy Ninh has also released many songs with MVs that many famous studios such as Xuan Lam Studio, Ho Quang Tam's Studio... have mixed and arranged. Notably, "Mother", "Memory of Mother", "Mrs. Nam", "Nguoi Mang Tam Su". Ninh is also rushing to complete new songs by musician Trung Ha - who specializes in writing bolero love songs, famous in the old music scene in Ho Chi Minh City, to release his first album. The songs that Duy Ninh chose are mostly songs about mothers, so just by turning on YouTube, listeners can touch their emotions right from the first notes.

For Duy Ninh, being able to sing and stand on stage means having everything, happiness, and joy in life. Photo: Thanh Nga

On Duy Ninh’s Facebook, people see that each song has thousands of likes. “Maybe I’m suited to the social network market, or small tea rooms, so I take great care of these stages.” Talking about his future plans, Duy Ninh still hopes to sing more, and be known and loved by many people.

Ninh’s debut single will reach a wide audience. These are the first steps on the journey to becoming a professional singer. “I know I can’t be called a “singer” because I’m not formally trained, but with my musical heart and my experience on many stages, I believe I will have my own fan base.”

Thanh Nga