Whether you are a filmmaker looking for a unique sound for your production or someone who has always wanted to learn how to play a Vietnamese instrument, I can help you get where you want to go.
Hi, I’m Mạc Vũ, a musician, composer, and producer based out of Southern California. I specialize in Vietnamese traditional music instruments, especially the one-string đàn bầu. The đàn bầu has a unique design amongst world instruments: by plucking harmonics with one hand and bending the pitch with the other, you can reach every note on just a single string!
About twenty years ago, I apprenticed to one of the greatest đàn bầu masters in the world, Phạm Đức Thành. My Thầy (teacher) passed to me his knowledge about traditional genres from every region of Việt Nam. Some of my favorites include cải lương musical theatre, nhạc lễ ceremonial music, and ngâm thơ poetry recitation. Before studying with Thầy, I already had a strong foundation in Western music. I had played the violin since first grade, sitting as concert master in high school and regional orchestras and playing in both university and professional orchestras in college. Born and raised in North Carolina, I also loved hip hop. I even spent a lot of time in my teens and twenties freestyle rapping, and I first taught myself music production by making beats. Check out my TEDxCincinnati talk to find out more about how I blend traditional and pop music.
Đàn Bầu: A World of Music on One String | Jason “SoulGook” Nguyen | TEDxCincinnatiAfter college, I wanted to do more than learn how to play Vietnamese music—I wanted to learn WHY Vietnamese people make music. I entered the graduate program in Folklore & Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, focusing on diasporic Vietnamese identity and performance. That work eventually became a dual-PhD between Ethnomusicology and Communication & Culture, which I earned in 2021.
What I Offer
- Vietnamese music. I play most genres of traditional music. Instruments include đàn bầu, đàn tranh, đàn nhị, and more.
- Pop music production. I love drum machines, samplers, and other techniques commonly heard in pop, dance, and hip-hop.
- Composition for film, media, and theater. I enjoy soundscapes that layer acoustic sounds over beats and atmospheric effects. I can also compose in orchestral and ensemble styles.
- Experimentation and technology. Processing đàn bầu through electric guitar effects is a specialty, as is performing traditional music with electronic instruments. Other interests include sound design, synthesis, and MPE MIDI.
- Research and consulting. Whether your project is about Vietnamese music or you want to make sure that the musical world of a broader project feels authentic and true-to-life, I either have the knowledge you need or I know where to find it.
- Teaching and education. I teach music and culture at the college level and regularly give public lectures. I also do private lessons on đàn bầu, đàn tranh, and other instruments.