Bai Hat Viet Contest gives new composers an opportunity to introduce their work to the public. Le Cat Trong Ly wrote last year’s winning song Chenh Venh when she was 19 years old. She talks about the prize.

How did you feel as the youngest woman ever to win first prize at the Bai Hat Viet Contest?

I could not believe that I won the prize. When they called my name, I sat still. Some people sitting around me shook my shoulder and told me to go to the stage.

Actually, the moment of sitting frozen lasted only two or three seconds.

At first, I did not know that I was the youngest girl to take the highest prize at the Bai Hat Viet Contest. The next day, I read the newspapers. After that, I knew that I held that honour.

Why did you send your song to the Bai Hat Viet Contest? Why did you choose Chenh Venh rather than other songs?

Right after I wrote that first song, my sister suggested I send it to Bai Hat Viet. However, I was really nervous.

After that, my friends strongly encouraged me. They gave me the courage to send my song to the contest. With my resolve strengthened, I chose Chenh Venh and sent it to Bai Hat Viet.

I thought that Chenh Venh was the best song out of everything I’d written. It was suitable for a big contest, which was the first playing field for my music career.

When I sent Chenh Venh to the contest, I did not think that I would win a prize, especially first prize. I sent the song with only one desire: that the listener and people who love music would get to know me and my songs. I only wanted to get support from the audience.

I wanted to introduce myself to the public by entering Chenh Venh in the contest.

When did you start composing music and have you received support from your family?

I think maybe I began to learn about my lessons when I was in my mother’s belly because my father is a singer. In the past, my father sang to earn money. My family lived on his career. So, I heard my dad singing since before I was born.

Until recently, I had never taken a vocal music class and in the past I never gave any thought to composing music. At the age of 13, I loved playing guitar so much so that I went to a guitar class but I didn’t tell anyone in my family. I was afraid that my father would not let me go for fear my studies would be affected.

Sometimes, I don’t understand why I can compose music. When I was a child, sometimes I wanted to write songs, but I never could. At the age of 19, there was some energy in my mind which urged me to write music.

Moreover, my sister opened a coffee shop in my hometown of Da Nang. I sang at this coffee shop to entertain the customers. However, I recognised that my voice was terrible. So, I tried to compose my music to see if my voice would be better when singing my own songs.

With the support of my family, I am attending HCM City’s Music College where I study the viola.

When did you compose Chenh Venh? How many songs have you written so far?

I have written 20 songs so far. My first song was Mua Yeu (Season of Love). I sang my first song at my sister’s coffee shop and got encouragement from the customers.

Chenh Venh is my fourth song. I composed Chenh Venh when I was 19. First, I only played the strings of my guitar. Then, I changed it to make it sound like an oriental song. After that, I tried to listen. I felt satisfied with the melody. I played it all afternoon.

One week later, I composed the lyrics and added them to the melody. I finished the song after only 10 minutes. I sang the song many times but never named it. After a long time, I finally called it Chenh Venh.

People love Chenh Venh because of its beautiful melody. However, many people didn’t think that a 19-year-old girl could write a song with such meaningful lyrics. What do you think?

People have given me a lot of love and affection. In my opinion, Chenh Venh is a normal song so I can not answer this question.

Some suggested you should join Viet Nam Idol. Why didn’t you try?

It is true that many people suggested I try the contest, but I refused. I am not confident enough. I like to sit when I’m singing. So I don’t think the contest is suitable for me.

Have you made any albums? Have other artists asked you to work with them?

I have made any albums. Since the day I won the prize, I have not received an invitation from either record companies or individual artists.

Recently, I have been focusing on school. However, because of my health, I have to temporarily stop my university studies. I hope I can go back to school soon.

VietNamNet/VNS