Trần Thu Hà, otherwise known as Hà Trần (born 26 August 1977), is a Vietnamese singer and producer.Dale C. Olsen Popular Music of Vietnam Routledge 2008 "Trần Thu Hà" p29, 144–145, 148, 162
Early life Hà Trần is the daughter of Trần Hiếu and Vũ Thúy Huyền. Trần Hiếu was known as a People's Artist and was an opera teacher who served as the former Dean of the Singing Department at Hanoi National Conservatory of Music. She died from cancer when Hà Trần was 14. Growing up, Hà Trần's main influences included her brother Trần Vũ Hoàng, a painter and Dean of the Fine Arts Department at Hanoi College of Arts, and her uncle, the songwriter and singer Trần Tiến.
As a child, she was enrolled in dance classes. Hà Trần applied to learn elementary singing with her aunt at the Hanoi College of Arts at the age of 11 and obtained her bachelor's degree from Hanoi National Conservatory of Music in 2000. Hà earned many awards during this period including: "Most potential" in the contest Best Voice of Hanoi (1993), "First Class" in the National Student Singing Festival (1994), and she earned third place at the Oriole Voice (Giọng hát Vàng Anh), held by Japan NHK Television and Horitro Productions (1995). She later won gold in the National Professional Singer Award in 1995 and the Best Recording Artist award by the Vietnam Musician Association in the following year (1996).
In 1998, Hà Trần signed a contract with Youth Pictures (Hãng Phim Trẻ), which marked her beginning as a professional singer.
1998–2001: Em về tinh khôi (Purity) and Bài tình cho giai nhân (Love Songs For Beauty)
Hà Trần's first studio collaboration with Bằng Kiều Wake up eglantine, produced by Hãng phim Trẻ (Youth Pictures) in 1998, includes songs composed by Dương Thụ, Bảo Chấn, Trần Tiến, and Ngọc Châu . The album gained them both recognition throughout the country and made Hà Trần one of the best-selling new artists at the time.
In 1999, Hà Trần released her debut studio album Purity, which was produced by musician Quốc Bảo. A series of hits from this album established her pop star status including "Purity" (Quốc Bảo), "Lời ru cho con" (Lullaby) (Xuân Phương – theme for drama of Của đề dành (Inherit)), "Tóc gió thôi bay" (Trần Tiến), "Ngày em đến" (Từ Huy) and these earned her the title "Person of The Year" among the most high-profile entertainers.
In 2000, her second solo album Love Songs For Beauty, co-produced by Quốc Bảo, included the songs: "Đêm cô đơn" (Lonely night), "Hãy yêu nhau đi" (Love to love) a duet with Diva Thanh Lam, "Dấu phố em qua", "Em về tóc xanh", and "Chờ em nơi thềm trăng". Both of her albums received positive critiques and became best-selling albums of all-time under her label Youth Pictures. However, she later departed from them and went freelance, releasing other collaborations with her uncle Trần Tiến. Tự họa (Self-portrait) became a national best-selling record, which opened a new chapter of her career, marked by records like: "Em vẫn như ngày xưa" (Forever young), "Dòng sông mùa thu" (River and the Fall), "Phố nghèo" (Old Town), "Tóc gió thôi bay", "Sắc màu" (Colors), "Chị tôi" (My sister), and "Thành phố trẻ" (City of the Youth).
In April, Hà's live performance in FM Blue Wave Awards of the song "Colors" led to its success in sales. She was voted Top 10 Singers by radio program of FM Làn sóng xanh (Blue Wave Awards) from 1998 to 2001 and also won the title "Most Favorite Singer" of Mai Vàng (Golden Orchid Awards), 2000. Later that year, Hà Trần took part in a live concert Chiều Hà Nội (Hanoi evening) created by musician Vũ Quang Trung to promote their previous jazz collaborations. Lullaby for Your Eyes (1999) features saxophonist Trần Mạnh Tuấn. Many songs were performed by Hà Trần, including "Tiếng mưa", "Lời cuối tình yêu", and "Anh yêu em." These expanded her influence as a multi-style soloist.
During 1998–2001, Hà Trần participated in other collaborations including: Môi hồng đào 1,2,3 (Red lips); Nghe mưa 2 (Listen to the rain) (with songs composed by Bảo Chấn and Dương Thụ), Thanh Tùng Love songs 1 & 2, Vừa biết dấu yêu (Puberty), series of Quốc Bảo's albums (Ngồi hát ca bềnh bồng, Vàng son) and ứa featured in many popular concerts such as Duyên dáng Việt Nam, Đồng Vọng Bốn Mùa, Dòng thời gian, Mai Vàng Awards, etc.
2001–02: Nhật thực (Solar eclipse)
In 2002, Hà Trần and musician Ngọc Đại performed Nhật thực (Solar eclipse) live show throughout Vietnam to promote their album, also named Nhật thực (Solar eclipse). Songs on the album were written by Ngọc Đại and with lyrics from poems of Vi Thùy Linh. Composer Đỗ Bảo also contributed, along with singers Minh Anh – Minh Ánh (2M band). The live show was created by choreographer Quỳnh Lan, vision director Việt Tú and the stage decorator Trần Vũ Hoàng (Hà's brother).
Nhật thực faced a number of issues upon release. There was a copyright dispute between Hà and Hồng Nhung for the song "Det tam gai" (Weaving Tam Gai). In December 2001, the Performance Administration raised concern that the lyrics on the album were such that they may "cause bad effects to the culture and ethic of Vietnamese music" (Mr. Lê Nam – Director of the Administration). Therefore, the album was delayed, so that the artist could revise the track listing and make amendments to some lyrics.
After settling the above matters, the show took place in April 2002, and then Nhật thực, the album, was released in May. It includes seven songs: "Nghi ngại" (Shadow of doubt), "Đừng hát tình ca du mục nữa" (Don't sing the nomad's love song), "Phía ngày nắng tắt" (Other side of sunset), "Dệt tầm gai" (Weaving Tam Gai), "Tiếc nuối" (Regret), "Ảo ảnh" (Illusion), "Nhật thực" (Solar eclipse). Two songs "Mơ" (Dreaming) and "Tự tình" were removed, reducing the album from originally nine to now seven songs, and "Cây nữ tu" was changed to the new name of "Ảo ảnh". Nhật thực was promoted as a concept album, with a completed story of seven songs expressing seven stories told by a girl in love expressing feelings of desperation, doubt, regret and obsession.
The show became a special music event, soon after its release, and was then voted by presses as one of the most important cultural phenomena of 2002, a landmark of innovation in music in terms of its original style and performance in Vietnam. In addition, the existence of Nhật thực is said to've oriented the music audiences in Vietnam to be interested in music harmony, arrangement and mix of an album. Nhật thực was also an important step in the career of Hà Trần, causing prominent development of her style: Stronger, Special and Diversity. As from Nhật thực, Hà was called as one of 4 divas of Vietnamese music.
Nevertheless, after success of the first show, dispute arose among the members of the show, Ngọc Đại – Trần Thu Hà – Vi Thuỳ Linh. As a result, after Nhật thực 1, Trần Thu Hà announced to the press that she had quit Nhat thuc. Ngọc Đại continued with his own Nhật thực 2 in 2003, without Hà Trần and Vi Thuỳ Linh, but there were many stars of Vietnam such as: Thanh Lam, Hồ Quỳnh Hương, Linh Dung, Tùng Dương, Khánh Linh, Ngọc Khuê... However, "Nhat Thuc 2" live concert and the album (sold at special price of VND 6000, equal to about US$0.5 at the time) was not as successful as the first one.
2002–04: Thanh Lam – Hà Trần
In October 2002, Hà Trần and Mỹ Linh went to San Jose, California, USA for a charity show. The show was held by Vnhelp to raise a fund for the poor students. Hà Trần not only performed her hits but also sang many prewar songs, such as "Yêu" (To love) (Văn Phụng), "Hương xưa" (Memory of Incense) (Cung Tiến)... At the same time, a famous rock band of Vietnam The Wall noted that they would only invite Hà Trần in their show, but she could not participate.
In November 2002, Hà performed with Ian Shaw in the special show held by British Council.
In 2003, her voice appeared on vol.3 of Quoc Bao – Bình yên (Peaceful) with the songs: "Bình yên, Gió" (Windy), "Tình ca" (Love Song), "Là yêu chưa từng yêu" (To love as the beginner), "Tình ơi" (Dearest). "Bình yên" a duet song with her father – Trần Hiếu – received many supports and good compliments from the audience. Her voice in the song of "Là yêu chưa từng yêu" was taken in to Hotel Vietnam album of Japanese musician, Makoto Katoba.
In April 2003, she appeared in the second live show of The Wall band with the song "Khám phá" (Discovery) as a female rocker.
In August 2003, she was invited to be a judge of the Sao Mai Singers' Contest (former name: National Music Festival of VTV) when she was 26, the youngest judge in the history of the national music contest to date.
In October 2003, Hà held a live show in the series of Âm nhạc và những người bạn (Music and friends show) with theme of Colors. This show was supported by Vietnam Television and live broadcast on VTV3 channel with the participation of Ha's friends: Trần Hiếu, Trần Tiến, Thanh Lam, Phương Thanh, Nguyễn Ngọc Ánh, 5 Dòng Kẻ, etc.
In 2004, Hà cooperate with her friend, Thanh Lam, to release the album Thanh Lam – Hà Trần. The album included songs written by Trịnh Công Sơn, Thuận Yến, Kim Ngọc, Niels Lan Doky, Lê Minh Sơn and Thanh Lam (Thanh Lam wrote some songs for this album). While most of the songs were duets, Hà Trần had 3 solo songs "Sao đổi ngôi" (Kim Ngọc), "Chạy trốn" (Lê Minh Sơn) and "Trái tim lang thang" (Thanh Lam). At the same time, Hà also participated in Nghiêng nghiêng rừng chiều album of Nguyễn Cường with 2 songs "Cho tình yêu bay lên bồng bềnh" and "Để em mơ".
In October 2004, Hà Trần participated in the Lời của giòng sông – Trịnh Công Sơn and guitar. The album included 5 classic solo guitar song and 8 songs with singer and guitar, in which Hà Trần sang 4 Tình xa, Tình nhớ, Mưa hồng, Xin trả nợ người.
Ha was married in 2004 with a person of Vietnamese heritage in the United States. She later moved to the United States with her husband.
2004–05: Hà Trần 98-03
Since moving to the United States, Hà has collaborated with Thúy Nga and had some performances in Paris By Night.
In 2005, Hà released Hà Trần 98-03. The album included remixed versions of Hà Trần's hits from 1998 to 2003: Mùa xuân gọi, Phố nghèo, Dòng sông mùa thu, Sắc màu, Chuyện tình thảo nguyên (Trần Tiến), Lời chưa nói (Xuân Phương – theme of drama Phía trước là bầu trời), Mưa tháng giêng (Việt Hùng – Nguyễn Việt Chiến), Tình ca, Em về tóc xanh, Em về tinh khôi (Quốc Bảo), Hoa gạo (Ngọc Đại – Phan Huyền Thư). The album was released in the USA under the name of Sắc màu – Tình ca by Thúy Nga, with an additional song Tiến thoài lưỡng nan. The album has 3 tracks recorded with some American musicians in 510 Studios, Fremont, California.
In July 2005, she performed in Miss Vietnamese USA Contest. In November 2005, Hà came back Vietnam to perform as main actress in the musical Mythology Night dedicated to Trinh Cong Son by Phuong Nam Film. She sang three songs: Nắng thuỷ tinh (duet with Quang Dũng), Lời thiên thu gọi, Tự tình khúc (with 5 Dòng kẻ).
2006: Communication 06
In September 2006, Hà released the 5th album Communication 06 (Đối thoại 06). This album was the first album produced by Hà Trần Productions (a company found by Hà Trần since 2005) implemented with her coordinators: musician Trần Tiến, Nguyễn Xinh Xô, Thanh Phương, Ben Doan (her husband), and 2 American sound engineers John Vestman and Max Neutra. The album was recorded at Kingkong Music Group (North Hollywood), Sound Matrix and Vestman Studio in Orange County, California and was published by Viết Tân Studio. The album was also released in the US, and was sale on some website, such as CD Baby, Amazon, Target.