The highly anticipated German national final, Unser Lied für Liverpool, is just around the corner. All eyes are on the event as we anticipate the big reveal on Friday, where Germany’s representative for the upcoming Eurovision contest in May will be selected. We are excited to share another interview with you today, as Trong graciously took the time to speak with us. Throughout this interview, Trong talks about his music career, his passion for dancing and cooking, and his dream to participate in Eurovision.
Greetings Trong! We appreciate you joining us today. Could you kindly introduce yourself to those in our audience who may not be familiar with you?
Hello, my name is Trong and I am a participant in the Unser Lied für Liverpool national final. I am from Bavaria and have lived there my whole life. In 2015, I had the opportunity to compete and win Vietnam Idol while on vacation in Vietnam, and since then I have been pursuing my music career there.
How would you describe the overall sound within your music?
I fusion the sounds of the Western and Eastern World. Mixing Funky, Nu-Disco sounds with a traditional Vietnamese Instrument “Dan Tranh”
I am very grateful to get an education, openness, and freedom in Germany and I am very proud to carry Vietnamese heritage. So my music is a reflection of my life.
As you mentioned just before, you are already experienced with competing on the big stage as you won Vietnam Idol back in 2015. How has your participation in the show impacted and shaped your following music career?
That was definitely an exciting time for me! Participating in Vietnam Idol not only taught me what it’s like to compete, but it also helped me to learn more about myself and the country of my parents. Since then, my life has taken a complete 180-degree turn. I am now a recognizable name in a country where I have never previously lived.
Thanks to the unwavering support and belief of my fans, I have been motivated to create more music and have also started singing my songs in Vietnamese. However, I have always wanted to remain true to my personal style by incorporating funky and nu-disco elements into my music, which is largely influenced by my musical idols such as Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, and Beyoncé. You can definitely hear the influence of these artists in my songs.
Your background also includes winning multiple dance competitions and tournaments. Has this talent influenced the music you like to produce and perform as an artist?
Yes! Definitely, my love for dancing and singing has greatly influenced my music. My ultimate goal is to produce songs that not only sound great but also make people feel good and want to dance along. This is a reflection of who I am as an artist – someone who is passionate about bringing joy to others through music.
To get a bit away from your life in the music industry, how do you spend your pastime? Any specific hobbies?
Staying physically active is a huge part of my life, and I love pushing my limits by participating in challenging events like marathons and triathlons. My ongoing goal is to continue to improve my personal bests.
Aside from sports, I have a deep appreciation for FOOD! I enjoy the process of cooking and experimenting with different ingredients to create delicious dishes. Sharing these meals with friends is something that brings me great joy.
If you could collaborate with one former or newly announced Eurovision artist, who would you pick and why?
Actually in 2020 during Covid I wrote the song “Under the same Sky” and I invited 17 artists from all over the world to sing this song with me. From Eurovision Michaela from Malta, Alma from France, Vincent Bueno from Austria, JJ (Equinox) from Bulgaria, and Julia Samoylova from Russia joined the song.
The Song was chosen to be the theme song for UNICEF Vietnam’s “Blue Heart” Campaign against Violence on women and children.
I would love to do a collaboration with NETTA. She represents Diversity, breaking out of the rules, and being energetic and powerful. Of course, she is an incredibly talented artist =)
This isn’t your first time attempting to compete at Eurovision. Could you please describe your drive towards participating at ESC, and what the contest means to you?
The Eurovision Song Contest holds a very special place in my heart. As a young child, I looked forward to the show every year, and as I grew older and completed my studies, I decided to apply to Eurovision with my first song, “Peter Pan”. From then on, I continued to apply almost every year, working tirelessly to get one step closer to my dream. I love the sense of community and the way music brings people together, regardless of language or background.
How was the experience of working with Elise Bay, who is a well-known producer and performer having been involved in the past three Norsk Melodi Grand Prix contests, in the production of your song? Can you share some insights on working with your team of producers on this new song?
First I wrote “Dare to Be Different” with the Companions from the Netherlands – we created the Funky-Nu Disco Sound. First, we had flirty lyrics but I wanted to make the song personal.
So I asked Elsie Bay to help me because she knows how to put your own story into lyrics. She knows exactly what is needed to have a good song and I totally trust her.
I’m guessing that you’re slowly getting ready to put on a show on the 3rd of March. Can you give us a little insight into what we can expect from the staging, your performance, etc.?
I can confidently say that my performance in the national final will be like nothing Germany has ever seen on TV before. As the first German-Vietnamese to compete in the contest, I feel a great sense of pride in representing my community and showcasing where I come from. Through my performance, I hope to spread positivity and inspiration, encouraging people to stand up for themselves and their beliefs.
Before we finish, do you have any words you would like to pass on to our readers at ESCUnited?
I am very grateful for your support, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be here at this moment- I will give my very best in the live show.
I encourage everyone to tune in and enjoy the performances of all the talented artists. Each one of my colleagues has their own unique style and I am looking forward to sharing the stage with them. It’s going to be an amazing experience!
Trong is one of the nine artists in this year’s Unser Lied für Liverpool competition. Tune in to www.eurovision.de at 22:20 CET this Friday for the start of the live stream.
Do #YOU want to see Trong at Eurovision? Share your thoughts with us on social media @ESCUnited, Discord, or our forum page. Follow @tronghieuofficial on Instagram to keep up with Trong’s current and future projects.
