Is Huong Tram wrong?

Mailbox No. 1was an impressive music night. Huong Tram sang nearly 20 songs sweetly, spanning many musical genres, from pop-ballad, dance, R&B, contemporary folk to rock. The singer born in 1995 was as flexible as a “chameleon”, with no performance showing signs of fatigue.

Granted, as a singer, singing well is normal. But present in the auditorium that day, many people had to admit that Huong Tram had a voice given by God. The breath of a mezzo-soprano, solid from beginning to end. Moreover, the emotions were also very full, enough to conquer even the most difficult listeners.

Among the singers who grew up on reality TV or belonged to the 9X generation, Huong Tram is a true vocalist. A voice that Meritorious Artist Ha Thuy - the "midwife" of many stars - once commented - does not need tricks to shine. In 2018, Huong Tram also defeated many strong competitors to be named in the Artist of the Year category at the Zing Music Awards 2018.

"Best young female singer"

"Which young singer today impresses you the most?"Zingasked Bang Kieu in an interview. It didn’t take long for the male singer to visualize the market and said: “I think Huong Tram is the best young female singer in Vietnam today.”

Although Bang Kieu was honest that it was his own “subjective opinion”. However, that opinion was agreed upon. Young singers here are understood to be from the 9X generation and below. And even when specific names are mentioned, Huong Tram’s voice is always in a prominent position.

Entering the market with the title of champion of The Voice season 1, Huong Tram "pocketed" many hits. And, in that list, there are many songs that are said to have "sunk" if not for Huong Tram's voice.

Stupid, Let me be a little closer to you, Withered Petals, Rainy GirlgoodOur fate is missed… are all audio hits. MVs and dramas, visual dramas in Huong Tram’s products, if any, usually only play a secondary role.

When Huong Tram was a judge on The Debut 2018, she was assigned the middle seat, flanked by Duc Phuc and Hoang Thuy Linh. Of course, the central position is not necessarily the deciding factor, but it is worth noting that Huong Tram has always proven to be a demanding and knowledgeable judge on the hot seat.

In her slow, precise comments, she sat upright, stretched forward, looked straight at the contestant, and was not afraid to "talk back" to the other judges. Tram showed herself to be a professional, even having the appearance of a young "diva".

Although the diva dress at that time (2018) was still quite loose for Huong Tram. But whenBox number 1Receiving praise in early 2019, many observers believe that if Tram chooses to become a diva in the future, she can do it.

But, exactly one year ago, Huong Tram made a very different choice.

Huong Tram at her farewell party to Hanoi audiences a year ago.

“No longer the most prominent female singer”

In early May 2019, Huong Tram said goodbye to Hanoi audiences and then Ho Chi Minh City decided to temporarily stop her domestic music activities and go to the US.

The market has changed a lot over the past year, not only is it more exciting with the fierce MV war but the position of the music industry has also changed somewhat.

Regarding female singers, Vietnamese music has recently seen the rise of young singers, especially the late 9X and 10X generations with names like Hien Ho, Han Sara, AMEE... MVs have been released consecutively with methodical strategies, helping these female singers gain a certain position in the market.

However, if we consider the most prominent position of female singers in recent times, no one is more worthy than Hoang Thuy Linh. The Dedication Award has just given the female singer 4 categories: Singer of the Year, Album of the Year, MV of the Year and Song of the Year.

Meanwhile, at the Blue Wave Awards, Hoang Thuy Linh also won overwhelmingly with 8 categories. She became the most successful female singer of the past year. Million-view, "national" MVs and especially the albumHoangThe use of Vietnamese folk materials has brought Hoang Thuy Linh to a prominent position.

Comparisons are inherently lame, but sometimes without comparisons, it is impossible to see changes in the market. A seasoned media person in Vietnamese showbiz toldZing: “From 2019 until now, Hoang Thuy Linh has become the most prominent female voice. Huong Tram cannot hold that position anymore because she has not had a new product for a long time."

"And that is the inevitable law of the market, when you do nothing, the audience even has the right to forget you. I think Huong Tram understands that."

Mailbox No. 1, which took place in January 2019, received many compliments for its music but did not appear in the nominations for the Dedication Award in the category of live show of the year. Some people joked that not only the audience but even the press had forgotten about Huong Tram.

Huong Tram in a show in the US.

Is Huong Tram right or wrong?

There are decisions, especially in the music market, that are hard to say right or wrong. But looking back a year after Huong Tram’s decision to leave, the changes in the market and the numbers of views/listens can be telling.

Huong Tram said she went to America to study and stabilize her mental state. In addition, she also participates in musical activities in the overseas market, even going to shows quite often. Observing Huong Tram over the past year, it is clear that she sings quite a lot.

For the past few months, she has been doing a music show on her channel, mainly covering songs. However, the product has not achieved the effect. No video has reached the million view mark, usually stopping at a few hundred thousand views.

In cover videos, Huong Tram still sings well but not enough to create an impression. For a long time, the female singer has had no new products, no singles, no new MVs, no new albums.

Before going to America,Zingonce asked Huong Tram: "More than anyone, you know showbiz is very harsh. You might be forgotten, you might have to start from zero when you come back?", the female singer said: "Everyone is afraid, and I am too. But when we think about it thoroughly, we will have different feelings".

“Huong Tram is the name my parents gave me, and it is already a halo. I have lived up to that name, its true meaning, and that is wonderful. I am not too afraid of others forgetting me. People can be loyal and can also forget me,” she said.

Recently, Huong Tram reaffirmed that she did not see any mistake in her decision to temporarily stop her domestic music activities.

"The best way for Tram to regain her feelings for music is to find Tram in her most simple and rustic early days," the female singer shared.

Huong Tram is actually still considered by her colleagues to be an intelligent singer. The decision to leave the Nghe An singer may have been surprising but is believed to be part of her artistic plans.

Whether a decision is right or wrong sometimes requires more time to answer. One thing that has not changed is that Huong Tram still sings well. And with that voice, she still has the ability to establish her own position. But to regain the position of the most prominent young female voice when she returns is another story.