Singer Bùi Nguyễn Trung Quân, who placed in the top eight of Việt Nam Idol 2010, released a new music video early this month after a three-year break from the industry.

Reporter Quang Đức from zingnews.vn interviews Quân about the new video and his work. 

Why did it take you three years to release something new?

I planned to have a break in 2017 because I had mental problems. It was not serious but it made me feel up and down. I have bipolar disorder. Sometimes I did not know the reason. It wouldn't  have been okay if I didn't get treatment. 

I met a doctor and he told me that it was not depression and that I should keep calm. 

That made me to decide to take a break. Later, upheavals came to me and they made me upset. I did not have emotion enough to sing. 

What did you do during that time?

I did not create a music production but I still performed. I spent time learning how to play and take care of instruments, things I thought I would never learn. 

And there was a time that it was easier for me to make a cake than to record a song in studio. 

One time, I came into the studio for recording but I found that I did not have emotions to sing. I left the studio. 

What can you tell us about the new music video?

I promise my audience that I will have new rainy song every year. But I think that I would make the audience bored if I sing only rainy songs. 

Plus, I have not found a new rainy song which can inspire me. 

Musician Vương Anh Tú composed a new song for me in the music video. It is not exactly about rain. It is about love. 

I got the song a long time ago and I wanted to make the song the best it could be. It is my best ever music video because I did not have much money. However, the music market now is quite different. It needs high-end sound and visual as well. 

I invested nearly VNĐ1 billion (US$43,000) into the production including paying five times to arrange the song. 

How do you feel when you made the video?

I'm not as nervous as I used to be. Honestly, I sang very nervously in the past even with my hits. I always sing with the fear of being criticised. 

I often read comments on social networks. So, one day when I came back home I read the comments and I couldn't sleep.

Obviously, it is normal to some people. But it is not for me. I cannot be indifferent when anyone says something about me.

Since I was a child I was loved and pampered by my parents so how can I calm down when I read scornful words on social networks? I used to be afraid of social networks. 

I am a carefree person, not strong. People easily think that I am indifferent and careless. But I'm not. I'm very sensitive.

So I never want to get entangled in scandals. Scandals made me confused and I did not know how to explain myself.

Finally, I realised that I am in a showbiz and I have to face scandals and overcome them. Life is like a carpet which can be on the ground but also on a rock.

You can't expect a happy life forever. You have fun and you also have sadness later. That's the rule. 

What have you learned in your time in showbiz?

When I was a child my parents taught me that when I did something wrong I couldn't do it again.

After scandals related to social networks I am now more cautious. Scandals made me lose confidence in life and hesitate to have contact with people. It made people think that I was haughty. Actually I lived in my shell.

However, the audience still remembers me because they like my voice. I'm lucky for that. 

Why have you not made the same efforts to become a star as other Vietnam Idol alumni?

I think I am not suitable to become a star. I am also not strong enough to be on top. I don't want to approach the highest position. 

I'm saving money to make an album and have a concert. Discouragement is my weak point. 

Veteran composer Quốc Trung told me that if I was not discouraged I would be more successful. 

But I think that the key is timing. I will do something at the right time. I am not driven by other people because it is enough for me. 

What did Việt Nam Idol give to you?

I have a bigger audience, a house, and a car. I can travel anywhere that I want. 

I was born to a rural family. I did not have supporters. All rural people want to settle down in HCM City. But an audience is also important for an artist. 

I think I am lucky to be favoured by the audience. Some artists have not experienced this despite performing for many years. — VNS