Vũ.

A gentle-voiced Vietnamese singer/songwriter whose romantic, acoustic songs attracted a devoted grassroots following in the mid-2010s, Vu has frequently been referred to as the Prince of Vietnamese indie. Going against the grain of his country's pop scene, Vu's stripped-down arrangements set him apart from other acts, and songs like "Đông Kiếm Em" and "Lạ Lùng" became streaming hits. Following the independent release of his ambitious Hanh Tinh Song Song album, he paired up with Warner Music Group to release 2019's Vũ Trụ Song Song. Based in Hanoi, Hoàng Thái Vũ began writing songs during his school years, taking influence from Western singer/songwriters like John Mayer, Damien Rice, and Jason Mraz. He began releasing music in 2013, billing himself simply as Vu and his soothing vocals and quiet fingerpicked songs began to find an audience despite his lack of media presence. In particular, 2015's "Đông Kiếm Em" and 2016's "Lạ Lùng" both racked up major streaming numbers and by 2017, Vu had begun to sell out shows. After taking a year-long hiatus, he returned in late 2018 with the Hanh Tinh Song Song project, his first long player, which saw him expanding his sound into a lusher territory. With his profile significantly raised, Warner Music Group signed him and released his next single, "Mùa Hè Của Em," and follow-up album Vũ Trụ Song Song in 2019. ~ Timothy Monger