User:Tree.twa/sandbox/Ngọt (band)

Ngọt is a Vietnamese indie pop band comprising of four members: Vũ Đinh Trọng Thắng (lead singer, rhythm guitar), Nguyễn Chí Hùng (lead guitar), Phan Việt Hoàng (bass guitar) and Nguyễn Hùng Nam Anh (drums). Ever since the formation of the band in 2013 in Hanoi, Ngọt soon garnered traction in the Vietnamese underground community and online recordings posted on social media. The band soon became one of the most prominent players in the Vietnamese indie scene.

In 2015, Ngọt released their self-titled debut album in July. Their second album, Ng'bthg, was released in September of 2017. Single "Em Dạo Này" (roughly translates to "You right now") taken from the aforementioned second album received positive feedbacks from both fans and critics alike, landing them the Giải thưởng Âm nhạc Cống hiến (roughly translates to Contributory Music Award) for "Bài hát của năm" (Best song of the year) and "Nghệ sĩ mới của năm" (New artists of the year) at the 13th ceremony in 2018. Their third album, 3 (tuyển tập nhạc Ngọt mới trẻ sôi động 2019), was released in October of 2019, bearing many musical elements of funk and pop. The ensuing album premiere live-show "3 (chương trình văn nghệ mới trẻ đặc sắc 2019)" is also their first nation-wide tour spanning Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, featuring many artists.

1995 - 2015: Formation and debut
Vũ Đinh Trọng Thắng, Nguyễn Hùng Nam Anh and Trần Bình Tuấn (all born in 1995) met each other in primary school and have been playing music together ever since enrolling in THCS Tây Sơn (middle school), Hanoi. Other than Vũ Đinh Trọng Thắng who was raised in a family with their tradition in arts and frequently performed, Nam Anh and Bình Tuấn were both self-learners. The three-man-band started with café gigs in Hanoi, to then slowly build their presence in the city's underground community.

On the latter end of 2013, after graduating high school, the three decided to become a professional band, composing and performing their own music under the name Ngọt. In 2013, they released their first songs on social media titled "Quan điểm" and "Đam mê", generally recorded as they performed live. "Cá hồi", released at the end of June 2014, is their first song to have been recorded professionally in a studio. Positive reception from the local indie community helped them to continue recording "Khắp xung quanh", and is their first song to be showcased on Vietnamese radio channels. A coterie of fans then formed, calling themselves "Kẹo" (translated to Candy, which plays off of the band's name Ngọt - sweet).

Ngọt met Phan Việt Hoàng (born 1991) at a performance of The Beatles in December of 2012. Việt Hoàng is also the bassist contacted by the band in their infancy in November of 2013. But only until finishing his studies abroad and returning in September of 2015 was Việt Hoàng able to join Ngọt during their recording of the self-titled debut album.

2016: Ngọt
Most of Ngọt's songs were written and composed by Thắng. The harmonisation, however, has the entire group's contribution and Hoàng is entrusted with public relations and image. In the end of 2015, through several social media pages, the band started a fundraiser for the production of their self-titled debut album. After 60 days, they garnered 50 million Vietnam dongs in proceeds for the recording of their album.

Ngọt's first album were made in five months from October of 2015 in Hanoi, featuring 10 songs. The recording and post-production employed the help of foreign professionals. Up until April of 2016, the newly-written song "Cho tôi đi theo" was selected by the band to be showcasing the album, which again received positive reception. Nam Anh then designed the album CD cover with the help of other band members.

Ngọt (album) was officially released to a Hanoi audience on the 13th of May 2016, and they sold 1 000 CDs within the first four days. Three months after release, their stock of 1 500 CDs were sold out, and 2 000 downloads through distribution services was seen. Confronted by the unprecedented initial success, a re-premiere show and a small live-show was conducted by the band mid-May at REC Room, Hanoi. Afterwards, their first shows in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City were also done throughout the summer. On 2nd September, Ngọt released their single's music video "Không làm gì", directed Scott Homan and produced by Banana Island TV.

October 2016, Bình Tuấn parted with the band to pursue his studies abroad, and Nguyễn Chí Hùng (born 1997) were casted and filled in the part while also taking charge of recording and musical engineering.

2017–18: Ng`bthg and first tour
January 2017, Ngọt began preparations for their second recorded album, Ng'bthg. Not long after, 500 tickets to two of their April shows in Paris, France were sold out. More than 3 000 tickets for their first nation-wide tour in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city were also sold out in August of the same year.

23rd September 2017, Ng'bthg was officially released in 4 000 CDs. The entire recording and producing process saw the participation of all four members. Their premiere show was conducted in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, attracting media attention. Not only that, Ngọt continued their digital success with another 2 000 downloads on distribution services. 11th October, the band released another single music video "Em Dạo Này", directed by Đỗ Như Trang and produced by Ngô Đào Trang. The video reached 8th in YouTube Trending with more than 800 000 views within only one week of release. "Em Dạo Này" drew inspiration from French waltzes, as well as describing feelings of nostalgia and lingering in past love affairs. Composed as he drove back home from school, the recording for the single was done during the band's France tour, also showcasing elements of gypsy jazz.

Ngọt is also one of the three artists representing Vietnam at the Monsoon Music Festival 2017. They also experimenting with other musical genres, most notable being participating in the hip-hop music show Tử Tế 6 and 7 in Hanoi.

Concert Ngọt - In the Spotlight was organized by the band on the 24th of November 2018 at Viet Xo Friendship Labour Cultural Palace, produced by Mỹ Thanh (company).

2019–now: 3
October 2019, Ngọt released their third album titled 3 (on Spotify it is titled 3 (tuyển tập nhạc Ngọt mới trẻ sôi động 2019)) after some time of preparations and refining. This album's conception was right after them finishing their tour of Ng'bthg 2 years prior, and has been in the works since.

With 14 songs, Ngọt brought forth new colours and tales through each songs. Most notably, their two singles "Lần cuối (đi bên em xót xa người ơi)" and "Chuyển kênh (sản phẩm này không phải là thuốc)" received exceptional response from listeners. Prior to that, Ngọt shared in an interview that this album marked their maturity as a band, encased soundly within the 14 songs of the album. This album also received the help of Michael Choi and Benjamin James from InQ International in the production and mixing stage. It was also mastered bu Christian Wright from Abbey Road Studios and featured keyboardist Hoàng Chí Trung and the Saigon Metropolitan Orchestra.

Ngọt also conducted album premiere concerts in Hanoi (on the 18th and 18th October, 2019) and Ho Chi Minh Chity (25th October, 2019) with starting acts featuring Pink Frog, 7UPPERCUTS, Bụng Mỡ, etc. August 2020, Ngọt released video "Tìm Người Nhà". The song marked their return after a period of inactivity and obscurity in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artistic style
From their formation, Ngọt has long been considered one of the newer players in the Vietnamese indie scene. While their target audience is teenagers aged 16 - 25, that didn't conform them to any limitations and they experimented with new genre, colours and exciting musical elements in their music. Their general ideal was prioritizing quality over quantity.

Việt Hoàng once remarked:

"We have school, work and only play music at night. Music to us is like a game, and once you've played you have to see it through.... Following a paved path with a clear vision, engaging the audience more closely and sharing our music to the world."

The charm in Ngọt's music are denoted by critics to be bearing something very youthfully 'Hanoi': ''"Innocent, flamboyant, honest, open..." '' Their musical vision soon got the approval of fellow Vietnamese artists. Musician Đỗ Bảo opined it was "a new mindset, a unique attitude that is matched by no other.", while Quốc Trung praised the band as "personalities not seen or had in the market". Their appearance at the Monsoon Music Festival 2017 at the request of Quốc Trung and Thanh Bùi received positive feedbacks, accurately portraying "the lingering mentality of youth".

Ngọt's music are noted to "revolve around practical, day-to-day problems" and all ofer "unique visions and perspective". On the other hand, their compositions often bear ''"seemingly simple and naive words yet deeply philosophical and embedded in life. Melodies natural sounding, not confined and free." ''

Members

 * Current members


 * Vũ Đinh Trọng Thắng – lead vocal, composer, rhythm guitar (2013–now)
 * Nguyễn Chí Hùng – lead guitar, rhythm guitar (2016–now)
 * Phan Việt Hoàng – bass (2015–now)
 * Nguyễn Hùng Nam Anh – drums, timpani, back-up vocal (2013–now)


 * Guest members


 * Hoàng Chí Trung – keyboard (2017–now)


 * Former members


 * Trần Bình Tuấn – lead guitar (2013–2014; 2015–2016)

Danh sách đĩa nhạc
Recorded albums


 * Ngọt (2016)
 * Ng`bthg (2017)
 * 3 (2019)

EPs


 * Cñgđc (2019)
 * Ở Đài Truyền Hình (2021)

Awards and nominations
At the thirteenth Giải Thưởng Âm Nhạc Cống HIến in 2018, Ngọt won in both nominations for "New artist of the year" and "Best song of the year" (for their song "Em Dạo Này").

Other sources

 * Ngọt on Spotify
 * Những chàng 9x đa tài của Ngọt band vừa nhận giải Cống hiến là ai? on Tiền phong
 * Phỏng vấn on Thể thao & Văn hóa
 * Phỏng vấn on Thể thao & Văn hóa