Being the child of a famous artist, I am often scrutinized.

Bao Anh Taruki is the son of People's Artist Thai Bao and Meritorious Artist Anh Tuan. Continuing the family's artistic tradition, Bao Anh is striving every day to assert himself as a Saxophonist. The young artist had a conversation with Dan Viet about his family and music.

Pressure.... because he is the son of People's Artist Thai Bao

Mother is People's Artist Thai Bao, father is Meritorious Artist Anh Tuan. Both are great artists in the music industry. Does Bao Anh Taruki feel pressured when his parents are such great icons that he always has to strive and constantly assert himself to be worthy of being their child?

- When I was young, I was also under a lot of pressure because almost everything I did, especially things related to art, was scrutinized. Everyone said: "That's the son of People's Artist Thai Bao, let's see how he is, how he plays the trumpet". When I went to competitions, people paid more attention to me than other contestants. Those things made me extremely pressured. However, I never felt self-conscious but turned it into confidence. I always tried to be more complete and more meticulous. Because I am the child of two great artists, I may not be too outstanding but I always try my best to study or perform. That effort is partly so that my parents will not be ashamed of me.

Bảo Anh Taruki - con trai NSND Thái Bảo: — People's Artist Thai Bao and his son Bao Anh at the album launch "Sound of Time". Photo: BA

Until now, I realize that being the son of two great artists is an honor. And I always feel happy when someone calls me the son of People's Artist Thai Bao, the son of Meritorious Artist Anh Tuan even though I have my own path and musical style. I am not afraid of people comparing me to my father or mother.

Are People's Artist Thai Bao and Meritorious Artist Anh Tuan the ones who guided Bao Anh to study Saxophone since she was a child?

- My parents have really influenced my career orientation and musical path. Since I was a child, my parents have oriented me to study classical clarinet. When I was in 6th grade, I studied clarinet at the National Academy of Music. At that time, I really liked classical music. But one day, when my knowledge was expanded, I really liked Kenny G's music. When I learned about Kenny G's music, I thought that one day I would switch to playing light music even though I still loved classical music.

When I finished my intermediate level, I was still very confused. I kept wondering whether I should continue learning Clarinet or switch to Saxophone. If I continued learning Clarinet, would I be better than my cousins because I had several cousins who were very successful in classical music.

One time, I saw my mother cleaning the house with a pile of records that was too high. In that pile, I accidentally saw a record by Kenny G. Before that, I had listened to the music of this Saxophone legend, but his music at that time had not really "awakened" my musical senses.

When I took the CD upstairs to listen to it, immersed in Kenny G's music, I exclaimed: "Oh, this is my path. I will definitely follow this Saxophone path". I felt like I was enlightened and had my path opened when Kenny G's music touched my soul deeply. I was determined to learn Saxophone from that day.

Pursuing art is a difficult process, but learning the saxophone requires even more hard work. What difficulties did Bao Anh encounter during her studies?

- I think that all arts have their difficulties and the saxophone is no exception. I found it very difficult to switch from classical to light music, from clarinet to saxophone. I had to change my playing style, my playing style, and even my French horn. There was a time when I was influenced and mixed the two together. I also had to be very persistent to separate them.

At the Vietnam National Academy of Music, I was taught Clarinet by Mr. Quoc Bao. But when I switched to Saxophone, I learned from many teachers such as: Tran Manh Tuan, Quyen Thien Dac, Hong Kien, Tung Sax...

I wonder, in a family of artists, with high egos… how do people bond with each other?

- My family often connects with each other through meals, during which music is still the most lively and joyful topic of discussion. During meals, we will talk about artists and the things we like. My mother often tells my wife about the artists I like and my wife will learn about those artists to discuss with me when it's just the two of us.

In a sense, it seems that the love and marital happiness between Bao Anh and his wife was built on music?

- That's right. We met through music. My wife also graduated from vocal music and is now a vocal music teacher. We have just been married for a short time, so we are still trying to cultivate our love and marital happiness every day. Thanks to music, we understand each other, are closer to each other and share more things with each other.

Every night we turn on MVs or live shows of famous singers, singers that we both like, to watch and discuss with each other. Sometimes it’s just a Celine Dion song, but my husband and I are willing to stay up all night to watch her entire live show.

Why did Bao Anh decide to join the Vietnam National Music and Dance Theater - where her parents are working?

- When I first started playing the saxophone, I also thought about applying to work at a theater. However, at that time I was still too young, thinking that I still had a lot to learn. What I liked most was that my cousin (who was also the drummer in my album "Thanh am thoi gian") was collaborating with the Vietnam Music and Dance Theater. He and some members had formed a very strong and talented band. I went to see the band play and kept dreaming about when I would be able to perform with them. At that time, I just thought that I needed more time to improve and had to go to many shows to gain experience. From then until now, all my efforts have been rewarded when I was finally accepted to work at my parents' theater.

Overcoming the shadow of parents, trying to assert yourself

What was the reason Bao Anh started making the album "Sound of Time"?

- I have cherished making an album since I was studying saxophone. At that time, I cherished the idea that I would have my own playground, would follow my own music genre. The older brothers were successful, so I had to try to find my own identity and my own path. I have nurtured many ambitions and dreams since then.

One time, Tung Sax came to my house to borrow my trumpet to record his album. That day, he repeatedly emphasized that I had to make an album. Tung Sax said: "If you want to have the Bao Anh sax brand, want people to know and acknowledge you, you have to make an album, otherwise no one will ever know who you are." It was that encouragement that made me determined to make the album "Thanh am thoi gian".

The album "Thanh am thoi gian" has Vietnamese - Japanese musical colors, including 7 medleys: Melodies of life (Nobuo Uematsu), Giac mo noon (Giang Son), Laputa (Joe Hisaishi), Con mua thang 5 (Tran Lap - Tran Tuan Hung), A town with an ocean view (Joe Hisaishi), Even though it's not you (Dinh Manh Ninh) and Trong mat nhung giac mo (Lan Pham). In addition, this album is accompanied by the MV Giac mo noon , A town with an ocean view and Sora mo toberu hzu (I can fly up to the sky). The album was arranged by musicians Luu Ha An, Thanh Vuong and Nguyen Viet Hung.

Why did Bao Anh choose the 7 songs above to include in her album?

- The reason I chose the 7 songs above to include in the album is because they are all associated with major events in my life. From the first song to the seventh song, they are all intentionally arranged in a linear chronological order like a narrative, a nostalgic line about what has happened and passed in my life. That is why Bao Anh decided to name her first music product "Sound of Time".

The name "Thanh am thoi gian" means sounds that have gone through time, songs that have lived through the years. Through this album, Bao Anh also hopes that her trumpet and her music will live forever in people's hearts, becoming a timeless sound that goes with the years.

Among the 7 songs, Melodies of life is a song that I really liked when I was a 6th grader. I learned about this song through a game. Before that, I was still a playful boy, always carefree, always just liked to be naughty, not really feeling the wonderful things of music... then Melodies of life changed me. Each word of the song helped me understand music more deeply, just like the name "Melody of life".

The song Giac Mo Muang by musician Giang Son is associated with a memory when I was in 10th grade. I was fascinated by this song when I heard singer Thuy Chi sing it live on stage. It was the first time I felt how good our country's country music was. And at that time I kept thinking, songs like this will definitely be in my album in the future.

The final song in the album is "Innocent Dreams" which is also related to my most recent event. This song was composed by my sister Lan Pham (currently living in Ho Chi Minh City). We have known each other for 10 years now and this song by Lan Pham was once featured on Bai Hat Viet. I love this song as much as Giac Mo Muang because I heard it sung by Thuy Chi herself. When I told Lan Pham that I wanted to include this song in my debut album, she was very happy and gave me full authority to "do whatever I want". This song is a testament to our 10-year friendship.

What difficulties did Bao Anh have to overcome to make this album?

Before making the album, I thought that I would encounter difficulties. But when I started making the album, I realized that there was a mountain of work to be done. But I told myself that this was my product, and if I couldn't solve the immediate difficulties, I wouldn't be able to do anything in the future. That's why, despite facing many difficulties, I persevered to the end.

The first difficulty was meeting Mr. Thanh Vuong to convince him to arrange 4 Vietnamese songs for me in my album. When we met, Mr. Thanh Vuong said that he would only work with the band he chose because working with familiar colleagues would be much more effective. Finally, after many discussions, Mr. Thanh Vuong agreed to work with my band. When I received Mr. Thanh Vuong's nod, I was very happy. During the working process, we communicated very well with each other.

MV "Sora mo toberu hzu" with Bao Anh playing the Saxophone. Clip: BA

After Thanh Vuong, there was Luu Ha An. I was very happy because my mother introduced me to Luu Ha An and he liked him very much so he agreed to arrange two songs for me. As for Nguyen Viet Hung, we have been friends for more than 10 years. We both love Vietnamese and Japanese culture and have many similarities in interests, personalities and musical tastes.

I feel very excited and happy because in my first music product, I received support and cooperation from my great teacher and two older brothers.

How did People's Artist Thai Bao and Meritorious Artist Anh Tuan respond when their son let them listen to the album?

When I brought the album "Thanh am thoi gian" home for my parents to listen to, they said they really liked it. My parents encouraged me that this music product would be the first step, the first brick for me to have more motivation to go further, to leave more marks on my musical path. Towards the image of a Saxophonist with his own style, his own musical path.

Thanks Bao Anh for sharing the information.

People's Artist Thai Bao confided to Dan Viet that, since childhood, Bao Anh was considered a good child by his family. Although he was an only child, he rarely made his parents upset. Bao Anh resembles his father in being gentle, sincere and calm. Like his mother, he loves his job, is passionate about it and is constantly enthusiastic.

At the age of 10, Bao Anh was admitted to the National Academy of Music, majoring in Clarinet. Bao Anh also learned Piano and loved to dance to Michael Jackson. At that time, Bao Anh also made her parents uncertain about "where the boat would go?". But her parents still let everything happen naturally, not stopping her because it was also one of her healthy hobbies.

One day, Bao Anh borrowed Kenny G’s CD to listen to. The music of that talented artist touched her heart and inspired her to love the Saxophone. Bao Anh was fascinated by Kenny G’s trumpet and considered this music legend as a role model to learn from.

In 2015, my mother and I went to London to find a school to study. With the enthusiastic help of a friend's family, my mother took Bao Anh to LCCM for admission. Bao Anh calmly played the optional piece "The Moon Speaks for My Heart" and a performance. The teachers were extremely surprised and praised her emotional trumpet playing. A few months later, I unexpectedly received an admission notice to LCCM - London. However, after much consideration, I finally decided to stay in Vietnam to study with teachers Tran Manh Tuan, Quyen Thien Dac, Hong Kien, Tung Sax... Day by day, I love the Saxophone more than anything else because that trumpet has awakened my passion...

In 2016, like a dream come true, I got to see Kenny G perform with my own eyes and take pictures with my idol at the National Convention Center. From then on, Bao Anh decided to stick with, nurture and pursue her passion for Saxophone.

Source: https://danviet.vn/con-trai-nsnd-thai-bao-lam-con-cua-nghe-si-lon-toi-rat-hay-bi-soi-20241111105636093.htm