Foreign bands in recent years have stepped up their efforts to “stay in the game” as Vietnamese bands appear to be regaining popularity in the local music scene.
Though Vietnamese music is still vastly more popular, the number of foreign artists coming to Vietnam to pursue their musical careers has increased. Depending on the nature and scale of particular events, either foreign or local bands will be selected to perform, most foreign bands often become more popular after performing at the event and convention centre or the acoustic bar in Saigon or Hanoi.
The Head of Marketing & Communication at Vietnam International Bank (VIB) said that most events, big or small, include music performances, he preferrers foreign bands.
The most important criteria to consider when booking a band includes “charming appearance and ability to inspire and connect with the audience”, which most foreign artists seem to be quite good at, according to the event manager of an agency told VNS.
The friendly manner, for example, David Kenjah, a french singer in his band, which often performs at the Bars in Hanoi, has attracted many fans. Recently, many local firms with international investors invited David and his band to perform at their corporate events as David can sing in fluent English, French and in all genres. Not mentioned about the cost, it seems most of them play for their passion for their art.
David Kenjah (mid) and his band.
As most of the audience are foreigners, it is even more difficult to win them over, according to the quality manager at famous bar in Hanoi, Saigon of Vietnam. As a result, foreign bands are more likely to play as they meet most of the requirements.
According to a report on Saigon Tiep Thi, a local newspaper, due to increased demand, more international music bands are expected to come to Hanoi and Saigon in the near future, but it is important that they improve their performance quality to be able to compete with others. They should cover popular songs or produce and sing their own songs, experts have said. Determining their music path is necessary so they can stand out from the crowd.
Some international bands are expected to make a serious career out of their passion for music, while many have begun to sing in Vietnamese to reach a wider range of audiences.