HÀ NỘI — Emerging singer-songwriter Sơn Tùng-MTP won Singer of the year award at the annual Music Devotion Awards by the Vietnam News Agency’s Sport & Culture daily on Sunday.

Sơn Tùng’s victory came as a surprise; he beat three other A-list singers -- Hồng Nhung, Thu Hà and Tùng Dương. Tùng Dương holds the record for having received eight trophies at the awards.

“On this occasion, I would like to first thank veteran musician Nguyễn Cường, who recommended my first song for the Bài Hát Yêu Thích (Favourite Song) television show,” Sơn Tùng said at the award ceremony. “I would also like to remember my counterparts, who have always been there for me during my loneliest and most difficult times.”

“Actually, I’m very embarrassed. I don’t think I deserve to be one of the four nominees – the others are established singers. It is a great honour for me,” Sơn Tùng said.

The multi-talented Sơn Tùng got his start by posting videos online of himself singing. Besides his singing talent, his composing skill is also noteworthy, defining him as a unique singer-songwriter.

Only three years in the music industry, Sơn Tùng is already very popular and has composed many of his own songs. He is being called a phenomenon of Vietnamese pop music because his songs are always on top of the online music billboard charts.

Last year, the singer composed 10 songs and was named the Best Southeast Asia Act of the 2015 Europe Music Awards. He also held the M-TP Ambition Live Show in HCM City and Hà Nội.

The Music Devotion Awards were also given to musician of the year, song of the year, album of the year, music video of the year, live show of the year, concert series of the year and new artist.

Tùng Dương’s live show titled Thập Kỷ Hoan Ca (Decade of Joyful Singing) won the award for live show of the year. It is the sixth live show of Tùng Dương’s career, celebrating his professional maturity.

Musician Lê Đức Hùng won the musician of the year award for his song titled Thật Bất Ngờ (It’s Very Surprising), also fetching him the song of the year award. Emerging music director Nhu Đặng bagged the MV of the year award for the same song that was performed by Trúc Nhân.

“The award for the song Thật Bất Ngờ shows I have the support of journalists who voted for the song,” Hùng said.

The Monsoon Music Festival 2015, an international music festival organised by the Thanh Việt Company, won concert series of the year.

The festival is the second series by veteran Quốc Trung aimed at bringing new music and creating a festive atmosphere in Hà Nội and building a professional music industry.

The album Bóng Tối Jazz (The Shadow of Jazz) by Giáng Son was awarded album of the year. After nearly a decade of being silent, Son launched her second album Bóng Tối Jazz. The album orchestra was conducted by artists Thanh Tâm in Việt Nam and Vũ Quang Trung in the United States.

The New artist award went to Tiên Tiên. Her song My Everything was also nominated for the song of the year awards. Tiên’s songs are causing a “storm” in the music industry.

Most of her songs, which are performed by herself or by other artists, are quickly becoming hits and moving to the top of the domestic music charts. — VNS