Composer and music producer Do Hieu (R)  has been nominated as Favourite Composer in the HTV Awards competition. — Photo saoonline

HCM CITY (VNS) — Young talented composers like Do Hieu and Pham Toan Thang are introducing quality songs that are expected to win them new achievements in the new year.

It took only one year for composer and music producer Do Hieu to become popular among local music fans. His compositions have become hits of pop stars like Ho Ngoc Ha, and young singers like Noo Phuoc Thinh and Dong Nhi, who are finding ways to renew their music styles.

"Working with pop star Ho Ngoc Ha allows me to professionally experiment and improve," said Hieu, who wrote two songs for Ha's latest album Moi Tinh Xua (Old Love Affair) released last May.

The ballad Minh Em Voi Em (Only Me) and Nguoi Tinh Oi (My Darling) with a gentle melody and moving words about the loneliness of a woman after an affair has attracted millions of listeners on local online music channels like Zingmp3.vn and nhaccuatui.com.

The 24-year-old musician's Gat Di Nuoc Mat (Drying Tears) for Noo Phuoc Thinh and Bad Boy for Dong Nhi are still in the top list of the local music board, although they were released a few months ago.

To pop singer Thinh, the ballad about broken love changed his image from a sweet boy singing about love to a mature man.

For Nhi, the work which Hieu gave her changed her music style and image from sweet pop songstress to sexy dance performer.

Composer Pham Toan Thang

"The change is necessary, and it will open a new road for their career," Hieu said.

Both songs helped Thinh and Nhi win nominations for Favourite Music Video of HTV Awards, which is given by HCM City Television for artists who have made great contributions to the local entertainment industry.

"I'm on my way to win audiences' hearts by creating quality music products," said Hieu, a graduate of HCM City's Culture and Arts College.

In recognition of his contribution to the local music industry in 2014, Hieu was nominated as a favourite composer in the HTV Awards.

Like Hieu, composer Pham Toan Thang was nominated for the awards.

Thang was a pop phenomenon in 2014 after winning the Journalists Council Award with Bon Chu Lam (Four Important Words) at Bai Hat Viet 2014 (Vietnamese Song 2014), a television show that runs throughout the year and showcases new songs by Vietnamese writers.

The song, performed by new singers Truc Nhan and Thao Nhi, is about the feelings of two lovers when they are apart. It has a sweet and warm melody.

"I want to put dong dao (traditional music for children's songs) in the songs to make them gentle," Thang said.

The Bon Chu Lam music video was recognised as the most watched video in Viet Nam by YouTube in 2014. It was also nominated for the HTV Awards' Favourite Music Video.

The 27-year-old Thang started to compose when he was in the 10th grade.

Although Thang has not taken classes on music or composing, he has received many prizes at Bai Hat Viet in recent years.

His compositions like Ve (Paint) and Dau Mua (Trace of Rain) contain simple lyrics, and melodies featuring contemporary folk music with rock or blues.

"I love to mix Vietnamese traditional music with different music genres," he said.

Hieu and Thang are among 36 nominees in 12 categories of music, theatre, performing arts, emcee, modelling and TV series for this year's HTV Awards.

HTV will launch a public poll in the middle of March which will close in early April. The awards ceremony will be held on April 4. — VNS