Folk music with a contemporary style

Hoai Phuong, Phuong Thuy, Ngoc Tram and Anh Nguyet perform folk songs from the northern, central and southern regions, playing and singing their music in a contemporary style.

Thanks to their performances, Vietnamese folk songs such as Trong Com (Small Drum), Ly Cay Da (Hymn to Banian), Ly Thuong Nhau (Hymn to Love) and Ly Con Sao (Hymn to Black Bird) are becoming more familiar with audiences.

“Singing and playing instruments on stage meant we have to practise more to show off our strength and beauty of our voices,” said Hoai Phuong, leader of the band, in her latest interview with the monthly magazine of HCM City Television.

"While other pop bands and singers prefer to show off their talent with modern orchestras and dance groups, we perform with our traditional instruments and voices on stage," she said.

Phuong also explained that Giao Thoi means “the process of changing from the old to the new and more”.

“We chose the name because it represents our ambition in music,” Phuong said. “We want to bring fans a new world of music where they can enjoy singers in modern clothes performing folk songs with emotion and creativity."

Phuong plays Ty Ba (a pear-shaped guitar with four strings—which was mainly used in Vietnamese royal court orchestra) and works as a lecturer in vocal music for music schools and centres. She also performs at nightclubs.

She first fell in love with the melodies of folk music at school and later performed in two bands Mat Troi Do and Mat Troi Moi in a more unconventional way before opening her troupe.

Phuong’s younger peer, Anh Nguyet, can play several instruments such as Dan Tranh (16-chord zither), Dan Bau (monochord) and Dan t’rung (a xylophone consists six to seven bamboo stems and played with two parallel cords).

“We are working to give a new taste of music to youth and have been received enthusiastically by music fans and critics," said Nguyet, adding that her band prefers to sing traditional songs about love, friendship, family and country, as they are suited to their performance style.

“Our colleagues call me a ‘brave woman’ because we have had to overcome hardships to attract youth who often prefer pop and electronic dance music,” he said.

Giao Thoi performed in national festivals such as the 2015 National Television Festival, 2015 Vietnamese Film Festival and 2016 Hue Festival.

They have worked with talented composers and music producers to perfect their music. Their two albums, Dau Noi Dau (Hidden Pain) and Xuan Nong (Beautiful Spring), both include quality music videos.

"Sometimes we were discouraged and wanted to give up our musical path, but we immediately changed our minds because, above all else, we love to play and sing songs the way we want to," Phuong said.

“They are different from many bands and singers, and I want to give my support to them," said Tran Quynh Giao, who attended the performance of Giao Thoi at 2016 Hu Festival in Hue City.