Que Tran has launched the song "Cham Ngu Cung" (composed by DC Tam), marking her first collaboration with a 90s-born rapper. The artist and her team chose a pentatonic melody, a common element in traditional music, and blended it with hip-hop influences. After Que Tran performed the traditional singing part, guest artist Tia rapped over a rhythmic EDM track. The lyrics convey the young artist's sentiments towards cai luong and her pride in performing vong co (traditional southern Vietnamese singing) on stage.

Joining Que Tran were two descendants of the Minh To family, artists Thanh Son and Chi Bao. They performed choreography in the Ho Quang (Chinese opera-influenced cai luong) excerpt "San Hau" in memory of Que Tran's father, artist Thanh Tong, known as the "commander" of classical opera.

An excerpt from "Cham Ngu Cung," performed by artist Que Tran and Tia, from the series launched in mid-June. *Video: Provided by the crew*.

The song marks the beginning of the "Nghe Thuat va Cham" (Art and Touch) series, a project Que Tran has nurtured for years in her efforts to revitalize cai luong. In addition to Tia, she invited singer Vo Ha Tram and rappers Tieu Minh Phung and Bin Yet to contribute their voices to each episode. The artist stated that when she sent demos to the young vocalists, they were excited by the traditional music's modern arrangement. Vo Ha Tram even suggested singing a vong co line in the "Nu Tuong Quan" (Female General) performance. "For me, helping these singers try their hand at cai luong is already a success for the series," Que Tran said. The program spans six episodes, airing weekly on the artist's YouTube channel.

The project serves as Que Tran's tribute to her father, who introduced her to the profession. The shock of her father's sudden passing in 2016 left Que Tran disoriented for a long time. The actress revealed there were times she couldn't accept the truth and considered abandoning her singing career, feeling she had lost her spiritual anchor.

She managed to shed the psychological burden by recalling artist Thanh Tong's advice. During his lifetime, he didn't pressure his children to achieve grand goals, only to strive within their capabilities. "Whenever I felt weak, looking at my father's portrait, I remembered his words: 'Never stop striving, never give up, always love and respect your profession'," the artist shared.

Artist Que Tran performing "Cham Ngu Cung." *Photo: Provided by the crew*.

Que Tran is the second child of artist Thanh Tong, and from a young age, her father instilled in her a love for the stage. At the age of 9, after training with the Bach Long child troupe, her father took her to perform at many professional theaters. Starting her career step by step, guided by her father, Que Tran became deeply connected to the stage, achieving many acclaimed roles and winning a gold medal at the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Award at 18.

She is remembered by audiences for many distinctive roles, such as Nga in "Khuc Ly Huong," Phuong in "Con Mat Thoi Gian," and Princess Thien Kieu in "Trang Hoa Mai." In 2024, at 43, Que Tran became one of the youngest individuals to be honored with the title of People's Artist by the state in Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM).

In recent years, several artists have experimented with blending cai luong with rap and electronic music. While some songs received praise for their creativity, many products were deemed difficult to listen to. In 2023, "Tia Sang Cuoi Cung," a music video by artist Bach Tuyet featuring rapper Wowy, received many reviews calling it "hard to grasp" with difficult-to-understand lyrics. The artist explained at the time that she aimed to adapt the old to suit modern times, hoping to offer a new experience.

Mai Nhat