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| Nhan and Phuc performed using self-made instruments |
Born into a family with a tradition of art, Vo Ha Hanh Nhan was surrounded by her mother's music and her father's paintings from a young age. Showing talent early on, she excelled not only in piano but also in composing for traditional instruments and music. Despite this, Hanh Nhan was never satisfied with herself. The colorful sounds of life constantly urged her a feeling of longing with countless mysteries, driving her to find and arrange her own new path.
In her third year of university, Hanh Nhan decided to take a year off to pursue her own musical path. During that year, she interacted, exchanged ideas, and researched the connections between music, painting, and architecture. At the same time, Hanh Nhan met an American teacher, her “online” mentor, who had a profound influence on her playing style.
Returning to Hue to live, following her teacher's advice, Nhan sought out the elderly folk music artisans of Hue Ancient Capital, as well as the ritual singers at Hon Chen Temple, etc. She listened to Hue singing, quietly delving into a genre that was fading due to the modern life.
“What I want to explore is the music of the past. Listening to the performances of elderly artists, you will hear notes that are slightly off-key, notes that are a bit too high, and notes that are a bit too low. But that is the right thing, the traditional music,” shared Hanh Nhan.
By dedicating significant time to observing the interference between beliefs, traditional music, architecture, and nature, Nhan discovered her own sound - the path of experimental music. Nhan's music blends elements of chèo (traditional Vietnamese opera), rock, pop, opera, traditional instruments, electronic music, and visual arts, etc.
Accompanying Nhan on her path of experimental music is Nguyen To Hoan Phuc (born 1989). Despite their age difference, music brought them together. At the end of 2023, they decided to establish ME1111. In which, ME stands for “Music Enthusiast”, and 1111 (the time at 11:11) is the numbers they often see by chance whenever they make important decisions. In English, ME also means “I”, reflecting Nhan and Phuc's desire in their journey of pursuing music, which is to create music that comes from themselves, to create music that is deeply personal.
ME1111 is more than just a music band. It was created with the purpose of documenting Nhan and Phuc’s journey of learning and exploring music. At the same time, it is their aspiration for ME1111 to become a community for those who are passionate about contemporary music and experimental music.
In order to create the sound they desired, Nhan and Phuc researched and built new musical instruments. “At first, we imitated other people's instruments, and then we designed our own instruments, combining them with traditional instruments,” said Hanh Nhan.
To create their own DIY musical instruments, they themselves found the materials, studied shapes and sizes, and became “carpenters, electricians, and mechanics” with the belief that “only by doing it yourself can you truly understand what you have created”. Their “materials” often included everyday items like egg beaters, springs, trolley wheels, pipes, cooling fans, and briefcases, etc. To date, they have successfully crafted five unique instruments that can create the desired sounds.
Starting from the beginning of 2023, ME1111's music was “debuted” to the experimental music world by the end of the year. In 2024, upon invitation to participate in the Oh Art Festival, ME1111 performed live before an audience in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time and received much support and encouragement. In early July, Nhan brought her music back to the Ancient Capital.
In her hometown, Nhan organized an art event themed “The Shape of Sound”, combining her experimental music with 24 lacquer paintings by her late father, the late artist Vo Xuan Huy. “When my father passed away, I chose to run away, not daring to face the pain and loss. Now, “The Shape of Sound” will be a mark proving that I have matured and can face what I once run away,” shared Hanh Nhan. Having found the interference between painting and music, the young girl affirmed that she had been on the right path in the art career she has chosen.