Buzz
“Emotional Melodies” marks the beginning of a trilogy of Vietnamese folk music EPs arranged in Progressive Metal style for guitar by Dzũng. He is also the composer and producer of these musical pieces.“Tình Tính Tang” is also the first Guitar Instrumental EP (music played without vocals using the guitar) to be released in vinyl format in Vietnam.
Dzũng and the vinyl record EP “Tình Tính Tang” at the publishing unit Times RecordsAbout Dzũng:
Dzũng is a guitarist, composer, and art director currently based in Ho Chi Minh City. He started playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band Final Stage in Hanoi - a pioneering group in the Death Metal genre in the capital at that time. Final Stage released the demo album “Innocent” in 2005, EP “Accepting Pain” in 2008, and debut album “The Last Stage” in 2010 featuring 9 compositions by Dzũng.
Another personal project by Dzũng, the album “Magical Door”
From that time until now, when it comes to Vietnamese Rock music, one immediately thinks of Hạc San as a Rock band blending Vietnamese folk music elements with Progressive Metal. Listening to Hạc San's music, one can easily encounter the melodies of the Northern folk songs, the essence of the Central Highlands people in the musical instruments and philosophical lyrics as if from a fairy tale.
The music group Hạc San
“The Secrets of Departure” can be considered the most representative composition for Hạc San's style - a Progressive Metal style band initiated by Dzũng.
In 2014, Hạc San won the “Orchestrator Composer” award in the Vietnamese Song program as voted by the Appraisal Council. Additionally, Hạc San also has 2 outstanding projects, namely the concept albums “Lightning Across the Sky” and “Soul of the Blood Moon”.About “Tình Tính Tang”:
“Tình Tính Tang” Volume 1 was released on November 19, 2019, in digital format and in March 2020 in vinyl format. The EP lasts over 17 minutes with “Drum Rice”, “Cotton Tree Reason”, “Egret Dance”, and 'Horse Song Reason” as the featured tracks in Volume 1 of this trilogy of Vietnamese folk music EPs in Progressive Metal style.
The artwork section of the vinyl was intricately crafted by Dzũng, accompanied by a commemorative package consisting of illustrations for each track in the EP.
Resonating with the style of compositions by Hạc San, we can encounter folk elements cleverly blended with Progressive Metal in this personal project by Dzũng.
You can listen to “Tình Tính Tang” on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5DO4ncE4OtJMyPWgSnGbcI?si=F1Dc73xIQ9-6n5lFNVX8gQ
The front cover of the vinyl EP “Tình Tính Tang”, illustrating the distinctive theme of Vietnamese folk style
The familiar touch in Dzũng's style in “Tình Tính Tang” is perhaps easily recognizable by long-time followers of his music. The guitar melodies accompanied by the characteristic sound of keyboards in Progressive Metal style, intricate guitar solos, technical prowess, and meticulous composition for the band's instruments.
The label section of the vinyl is meticulously crafted in terms of imagery
Try listening to the first musical piece of “Tình Tính Tang”, in the melodies of the intro, “Drum Rice” by Dzũng gives us a distinctive feel when listening to a Progressive Metal track played with musical instruments with sharp melodies, harmonized with multiple instruments and fast tempo, full of energy. We only realize we are listening to “Drum Rice” when the first melody of the verse section (so to speak) rings out: “Love is like a drum of rice…”. Additionally, the main melody of the song is intricately woven with gentle interludes (the instrumental solo section in the middle of the song) on the guitar. Overall, “Drum Rice” by Dzũng feels fresh, vibrant yet familiar enough to feel easy to listen to.
Illustrations for each track in “Tình Tính Tang”, (from the top, clockwise) are: “Drum Rice”, “Egret Dance”, “Cotton Tree Reason”, “Horse Song Reason”
The 3rd track of “Tình Tính Tang” - “Egret Dance” approaches a softer and more contemplative ballad style. The emotional flow of the song is slower and more serene compared to the other 3 tracks with their vibrant, energetic Progressive Metal style. “Egret Dance” thus maintains the emotion of a lullaby sung by a mother.
Fundamentally, the remaining 2 tracks of the EP, “Cotton Tree Reason” and “Horse Song Reason”, adopt the same approach as “Drum Rice”: fresh, unique, yet familiar enough for easy enjoyment. They still carry the familiar and dynamic Progressive Metal elements that make listeners nod in agreement. Especially, these 2 tracks feature the participation of guitarist Khương An - a young, talented artist currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, in the intricate guitar solos.
The back cover of the vinyl album “Tình Tính Tang”
