Born and raised in a family with a musical tradition in Vietnam, An Tran decided to bring her passion for music to Boston to do something different.
“I’m just finding new directions for a better future,” said Tran.
Tran is currently a student ambassador at Berklee College of Music. She is pursuing music production and engineering with a minor in music business on a full ride. She is also a multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter active in both Vietnam and America.
“I play saxophone as my main instrument, and I sing too,” she said.
As a versatile artist, Tran has made a certain mark in the Vietnamese market, yet she still wants to bring her music internationally and use it as a bridge between cultures.
“The cultural difference is huge, but with music, we can still share and express ourselves,” said Tran.
Tran started playing piano when she was four years old. However, she tried many other art forms before starting to play the saxophone. With this musical instrument, she said she felt more deeply connected to music.
According to Tran, the first time she performed in front of a large audience was when she was only nine years old. At the time, Tran had just been learning how to play saxophones for two months.
In America, she has had various shows in different cities. Tran said these were valuable experiences for her and her future career.
“The one thing I learned the most from previous shows I went to in the U.S. is how great musicians are performing,” she said. “They are not just playing the instrument but really performing it and entertaining people with it.”
In September, Tran was honored to perform at the Unity through art program as a part of the first anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership celebrated in New York. The ceremony was attended by top leaders of the two countries, including Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan and Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
“Standing on the stage of New York, wearing Vietnamese Ao Dai and playing a familiar folk song, at that moment, I could only close my eyes and feel every breath of music, searching for the connection between people and sounds,” Tran wrote on her Instagram.
In October, Tran had four different shows in Boston and New York. Oct. 26, she had her pre-20th birthday party mini-show in Sommerville. This show also features artists from different cultural backgrounds, such as William Benitez-Graham, Trinity Mei, DJ Jun, DJ Pino, DJ Nhi Daddi and Lilith.
She is currently in the process of making an EP. Rather than simply wanting to express her unique musical imprints through this EP, she will collaborate with her friends in America and also from home in Vietnam with the goal of achieving more.
“I hope I can connect and break the ice between the bridge of genre and distance,” said Tran.
Despite her efforts to develop herself and her music career in America, Tran said she would never forget her roots.
“I’m very proud to be Vietnamese and to be a Vietnamese artist living in the U.S.,” Tran said. “I always introduce my name and where I’m from and include at least one Vietnamese or Vietnamese-related song wherever I perform.”
In Vietnam, she was previously widely known as the daughter of Tran Manh Tuan, a famous Vietnamese saxophonist who was also a Berklee student when he was young. More than two decades ago, he was the first Vietnamese student to receive a scholarship from this college.
“I’m grateful to have a cool dad,” said Tran. “I loved that he inspired me so much to become who I am today, and I’m glad I’m following his footsteps.”
In recent years, Tran is gradually asserting herself with Vietnamese audiences through her talents and efforts.
This is demonstrated through her presence at prominent music events in her home country. She has collaborated with well-known Vietnamese artists such as WEAN, HURRYKNG, Tlinh and Wren Evans. Notably, in 2023, she was nominated in the Rising Artist category in the WeChoice Awards, which selects outstanding people with inspiring stories in Vietnam.
Having a successful father is not easy, especially when working in the Vietnamese music industry. Therefore, when developing her musical ability in America, she said it felt very different.
“There is no bias to their opinion, and they don’t know about my background and further,” Tran said. “I get to be myself, my truest form and my realest form, without worrying about being judged or ruining my dad’s image somehow.”
On Oct. 24, she just released an English song titled “NO MORE” with Tanny Ng, who is also a Berklee student.
According to Tran, this is a bittersweet song with the message that even though “we don’t love no more,” we can still be friends after a breakup.
“NO MORE” explores the shift from a romantic to a platonic relationship. It is an anthem of relief to mark the end of an untenable romance while also opening the door to new beginnings, where a meaningful friendship can emerge.
“It’s a celebration of letting go but not losing everything; it’s about finding peace and joy in a different kind of love,” Tran said.
Through this song, Tran and Tanny Ng want listeners to ask themselves whether exes can stay friends too.
Tran will not have any other upcoming shows in the next few months. However, she revealed that she is producing a show called GAT GAT GU GU, which will happen at the beginning of next year. This project marks a turning point in her music career.
“Starting out as a performer, I realized we don’t have enough venues and opportunities to perform and gig,” said Tran. “So I decided to start shifting my career goal to become a live show producer, creating playgrounds for musicians to play and express themselves through music.”
Looking ahead, Tran said she wants to spend time in both Vietnam and America since it allows her to connect with people of different cultures through her music, continue developing herself as an artist and explore the world.
