THE OFFICIAL BIO
Having opened for legendary artists such as Erykah Badu, Minh is the rising star to watch - an unlikely yet unstoppable voice emerging in urban music. What, perhaps, sets him apart is his uncanning ability to appeal to the masses, crossing over genre, generational, and ethnic boundaries. As a prolific singer, songwriter, and producer, Minh's eclectic catalog of music reflects an ever-evolving experiment with sounds and styles, fusing them with his pop sensibility and soulful delivery. Having released 4 independent albums and steadily winning the hearts of music fans and industry insiders alike, he is demonstrating an authentic artistry and originality that is a welcomed contrast in today's often gimmicky musical landscape.
Born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, he started writing poems by the age 9 and began writing songs by the age of 13. After immigrating to the U.S. from Vietnam, Minh penned a song that would be sung by his middle school's choir during their annual Christmas concert. This and winning some talent competitions were tell-tale signs of what is to come.
Any potential was nearly destroyed when, in high school, he was caught up in a street gang and ended up selling drugs. After a bad drug deal took place, he had to stay off the streets to keep his own life. During this time, he was invited to church by a friend. Getting involved in church helped him turn his life around. The focus was put back on music when he joined the gospel choir and started an R&B gospel group with his friends for the remainder of his high school years.
When Minh began exploring a career in music, he performed at open mics while writing and producing music in a makeshift recording setup in his mom's basement. This resulted in his first independent album, "Life. Love. Soul.". While the album gained some minor industry attention, Minh continued to experiment with his music privately, gradually improving his songwriting and production quality.
In early 2010, Minh set out to begin his career as an artist. In an experiment with blending electronic music with soul, he wrote and produced "Dreamgirl's Heart". Within a few months of its release in February 2010, Minh landed a film/tv licensing contract for that album with the LA-based company, Hella Good Records. In October of the same year, he would release another album titled, "Layers", which incorporated a more dance-pop/R&B flavor. Still, Minh was only developing his sound through experimentation.
In March 2011, he released another album, "The Shape of You". The album marked a shift in his development as an artist, as he attempts to create music that is more timeless - incorporating a more "natural" sound, much less electronic, and experimenting with rock in his production. Prior to its official release, songs from the album were licensed for placements into films and tv by MTV music supervisor, Jon Ernst (The Hills, Laguna Beach, L.A. Ink, VH1's Behind The Music).
On Black Friday (November 25) 2011, Minh premiered his first music video, "First Christmas", which he directed and produced. And, there's more to come from this multi-faceted artist. With his career managed by E. Jay Mathews of TMC Entertainment, Minh is the artist to follow as he continues to make his mark in his own way. At the end of the day, his work will speak for itself.
Recent Press
"Minh's an emerging artist with a very bright and promising future." - The Hype Life Magazine - Dec. 18th, 2011
"The sound is that of R&B, with Minh's smooth delivery reminiscent of John Legend." - The News & Messenger (on front page/top fold) - Nov. 28th, 2011
"The man's appearance does not match his soulful cadence, but the atmosphere indicates that the crowd approves of his performance. No one expected the young Vietnamese man cracking jokes at the piano to belt out a version of "Someone Like You" that would bring chills to his audience." - The Hoya (Georgetown University's Newspaper) - Oct. 28th, 2011
"Minh is a musical craftsman who takes care in every note he composes and every word he writes. He is THE unsigned STAR of the DMV [DC/MD/VA region]." - DC Life Magazine - July 11th, 2011
"I really really enjoy his music...he's a really great artist...Really really good albums. Really good artist here. Minh's music is both smooth and soulful yet futuristic modern. " - Urban Outside (music blog) - September 12th, 2010