The album "Made in Vietnam," marking the group's six years in the music industry, has been widely acclaimed. Across 16 tracks, DTAP takes listeners on a journey through Vietnam, celebrating various art forms and showcasing scenic landscapes like Mu Cang Chai, Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha - Ke Bang, Hoan Kiem Lake, President Ho Chi Minh's Sen Village, and coastal fishing villages. They view each song as a piece of Vietnamese culture, memory, and dreams.

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MV "Made In Vietnam".

The group's desire to honor Vietnamese culture through music stems from their love for their roots and homeland. "Vietnam has over 4,000 years of history, and traditional values need to be preserved and promoted," said member Thinh Kainz.

The three members at the album launch event in mid-August in Ho Chi Minh City. From left: Kata Tran (Tran Khanh, born in 1997), Thinh Kainz (Nguyen Hoang Thinh, 1996), and Tung Cedrus (Vo Thanh Tung, 1998). The group's name is a combination of "Double Tap" (the action of liking a picture on Instagram) and "De Tu Anh Phong" (disciples of Mr. Phong), as they were mentored by musician Nguyen Hai Phong.

They draw inspiration from everyday life, arranging music by combining traditional instruments like the dan bau (monochord zither), dan tranh (16-string zither), drums, and flutes with EDM, R&B, and electropop. The group has successfully transformed genres once considered unfamiliar to young people into catchy tunes on digital platforms.

"De Mi Noi Cho Ma Nghe" (2019) begins with the sounds of the khen (mouth organ) and flute, characteristic of the Northwest region, blended with electronic music. The song helped Hoang Thuy Linh reinvent herself and gain popularity among young audiences. They expanded on this idea with the album "Hoang" (2019), also with Hoang Thuy Linh, featuring notable tracks like "Lam Moi Toi Ngoi Khong" and "Duyen Am."

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Excerpt from the "See Tinh" MV.

In 2022, "See Tinh" became a music phenomenon, spreading internationally. The remix on TikTok garnered over one million video uses in just over a month, and in China alone, it reached 4 billion views on Douyin. Volleyball players Lee Da Hyeon and Kim Yeon Koung, along with Kpop idols like Lee Seung Hoon (WINNER), Shindong (Super Junior), Sunwoo (The Boyz), and Blackpink all danced to the tune. Many TV shows in China and Japan incorporated the song into their performances.

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"Buon Trang" - Phuong My Chi's popular performance on Sing! Asia, produced by DTAP. Video: FPT Play

The group has applied a similar formula when collaborating with other young artists. They worked with Duc Phuc and Suboi on "Nguoi Oi Nguoi O Dung Ve," combining Bac Ninh quan ho (folk music) and pop. In 2023, Phuong My Chi's album "Vu Tru Co Bay" made a significant impact. Recently, they were behind several of Phuong My Chi's performances on Sing! Asia, including "Trong Com," "Buon Trang," "Bong Phu Hoa," and "Rock Hat Gao," helping her secure 3rd place overall. They introduced international audiences to various Vietnamese art forms, such as Bac Bo (Northern Vietnam) folk music, Binh Dinh hat boi (classical opera), and Southern vong co (narrative singing).

They are now a sought-after name, having won the Cong Hien Award three times and being honored at Lan Song Xanh. During the National Day holiday (2/9), their music was featured on many music programs. Performing "Mua Gio Thoi Tren Mai Nha," My Tam expressed her connection with the lyrics and the emotional melody crafted by DTAP.

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My Tam discusses the collaboration process with DTAP.

Performing "Nha Toi Co Treo Mot La Co," Ha Anh Tuan said, "I appreciate and enjoy the project because of its pure and sincere love for the homeland. Music is magical in that it creates a large embrace from the natural vibrations of our roots and bloodline, and above all, gratitude. I am happy to be a part of this work."

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DTAP and Ha Anh Tuan in the MV "Nha Toi Co Treo Mot La Co".

Twenty-five artists from different generations, including Bach Tuyet, Hong Nhung, Thanh Thuy, My Tam, Hien Thuc, Ha Anh Tuan, and Den Vau, participated in DTAP's debut album. Performing the title track, artist Thanh Hoa was surprised by the group's youthful energy and creativity. According to her, they understand the structure of folk music well enough to incorporate it into pop without losing its essence.

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Artist Thanh Hoa and singer Phuong My Chi discuss the making of the "Made In Vietnam" MV.

Hoang Thuy Linh said she is always inspired when working with them. "They are always thorough, ensuring that every note resonates with culture. This gives the music its own life and resonates with the audience," she said. Phuong My Chi believes that "DTAP is no longer behind the scenes but has stepped into the spotlight, deserving recognition."

Before achieving success, they faced many challenges. Having studied economics and marketing, the group ventured into music without formal training. The three young men once lived in a 9 m2 rented room, sharing a 17,000 VND vegetarian lunch box, arguing over disagreements and contrasting personalities. After writing "De Mi Noi Cho Ma Nghe," they sent it to 10 singers but received no response until Hoang Thuy Linh agreed to perform it. After a series of collaborations with her, they unexpectedly rose to fame. However, this inadvertently put pressure on the group. Around 2020, DTAP experienced a period of stagnation, unsure of their next steps. However, by focusing on culture as the core of their music, they gradually rediscovered their inspiration.

The members also had to prove to their families that their decision to pursue music was the right one. Kata Tran's father is a lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, but he did not want his son to pursue art. Thinh Kainz's family encouraged him to study economics for a stable future. Now, they are more comfortable pursuing their passion, having gained the support of their loved ones.

According to the group, the current challenge is exploring traditional materials appropriately, avoiding repetition. Despite this, the three members want to persevere because their ultimate goal is to make the younger generation proud of Vietnamese music and to integrate culture into life in an accessible way.

"We have never stopped exploring materials and learning. In the future, DTAP wants to continue the dream of bringing Vietnamese music to the world," said a representative of the group.

Tan Cao

Photos, video: Provided by the artists