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| For Minh, the most precious thing after every performance is the music resonance shared with the audience |
Working to pursue their passion
A common thread among many young music enthusiasts in Hue is that they do not consider music their main profession. The income of Nguyen Phuoc Tuan Phong (born in 2002, Thuan Hoa Ward) comes from teaching guitar at a music center. During the day, Phong does the teaching, and studies for the entrance exam to the music education program at the University of Education, Hue University. At night, whenever he has a performance scheduled, he performs on acoustic stages.
For Phong, teaching provides the income he needs to support himself and continue investing in his music projects, while performance fees are like a reward for himself after days of work. Teaching has also given him valuable experiences. “I teach people music, and in return, they teach me many things about life,” said Phong.
Also choosing to balance work with his passion, Nguyen Minh Quyen (born in 2002, Phu Xuan Ward) starts his day at 5:00 AM working as a baker. After his shift ends in the early afternoon, he spends the rest of his day practicing vocals, ear training, performing, and self-studying.
Meanwhile, Trieu Quang Minh (born in 2002, Phu Xuan Ward) works at a coffee shop. A steady job gives him the peace of mind to pursue singing. Minh recalled feeling extremely nervous during his first performances on stage because he had previously only been used to singing along to backing tracks. After performing several times with bands and learning how to listen and respond on stage, he gradually became more confident.
Stages built on passion
While their journeys in making a living share many similarities, each person has a different story of how they found their way to music. Tuan Phong’s journey began with a career pivot. After being admitted to an architecture program, he realized he was not suited for the profession and saw no future in it. Giving it up to pursue music was not an easy choice, but if given the chance to choose again, Phong firmly stated: “I would still choose music”.
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| Tuan Phong has become a familiar face to young music lovers in the Ancient Capital |
For Quyen, his love of music began when he was six, after joining relatives for karaoke. By the age of 17, he had decided that indie and alternative rock were the genres he wanted to pursue. From playing and singing with friends to self-studying and practicing, Quyen gradually found his way onto stages across Hue.
In Hue, stories like these are no longer uncommon. They are students, teachers, office workers, chefs, or bartenders who come together in small bands, impromptu music sessions, and acoustic music nights on weekends. Stages with audiences of only a few dozen people have become places where many young people pick up a microphone for the first time, perform with a band for the first time, and nurture their love for music.
In recent years, alongside the growth of coffee shops and art spaces, acoustic music nights in Hue have become more frequent, creating additional opportunities for young people to perform, interact, and connect with the audience.
Perhaps the most valuable things music brings to these young people are not the stage lights or performance fees, but the friends who share their passion, the experiences they gain, and the opportunity to be themselves. By day, they continue working hard to earn a living; when night falls, they step onto small stages, keeping their passion alive and adding youthful melodies to the cultural life of Hue.