Who Is Tinna Tinh?

























Tinna Tinh made her debut on Van Son 36 in Taiwan singing “Tra Lai Cho Toi,” a song she wrote during the night when remembering seeing a 13-14 year old that had orange skin poisoning and was without any arms and legs looking out from a dark room. Many of Tinna's songs are inspired by real life events. Her album “Chiec Guong” (Mirror) was released 2006 in March featuring Vietnamese song that she wrote including “Chiec Guong.”

Her real name is Tinna Dihova; she is part Czech (mother) and Vietnamese (father). Tinna won first place for her rendition of the song “Big Big World” by Emilia in a radio competition at the age of 14. When her parents divorced at 15, she was on her own juggling three jobs while studying in an art school. Tinna had already written three songs of her own at the time. Tinna is a singer and also a songwriter. She writes what she feels and sings it the way she wants. Tinna sings mostly songs she wrote, and so many people raised the question of whether anyone will know her if she only sings her songs. However for Tinna, the songs she writes mean a lot to her and a song she said should be compose of the means of life and truthfulness.

























In 2000, at 17 Tinna decided to go to Ha Noi, Vietnam in search of her father’s native place. Ha Noi was big struggle as Tinna live on small amount of pay from singing at a local cafe while learning Vietnamese. Besides having to deal with living in a strange place, and looked down upon as singer, Tinna was also looking to find herself in her journey. Life in the capital city was tough that she even didn’t have enough money for a bowl of noodles from the vendor on the street. And when she was able to afford one, it was like the best food she ever had and she drank up all of the soup. After living in Vietnam for a while Tinna had to returned to Czech Republic in 2002 because she was running out of money. Tinna continued working in Czech to save up some money to come back to Vietnam. In Ha Noi Tinna continue to work as a singer and was later introduced to sing at bigger bar place. In 2003 Tinna was discovered and starred in the movie, “Trò Đùa Của Thiên Lôi" (A Game of Thunder) that led her to win the title of the most promising young actress award. Soon many offers came but was turned because they were nude roles. However, Ha Noi did not provide much career opportunity and so a friend told her about Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

























Tinna went to Saigon to pursue her career and in deed Saigon was a better field for showbiz. Nevertheless in her early steps, there were hardships where she was trampled on. Tinna continued on and had better luck afterward. In Saigon, Tinna took vocal, mixing and guitar lessons as well. Part of her struggle is to become an artist and also an identity that she wants to create for herself. Yet one of the main motivation comes from her mother whom she made promised to that if she were not successful and able to help out her mom, she wouldn't return. In the end Tinna was able to carry out that promise and more. “When we do not know how to live life, we find it weary and troublesome. But when know how, life becomes simple, cheerful and beautiful.”

Many see Tinna as a rocker, squirming on stage and carrying on loose urchin kind of style. Inside Tinna is a singer and a person with layers of experience and understanding of life that she puts all into her music. Similar to many other struggling artists who found themselves in their hardship and voyage, Tinna was able to create for herself a distinctive style with personality true to self and perhaps a paradox that not many is able to see.

Credit to sources: Laodong, Nguoi-Viet, Dantri, Viettime, Vietbao, YeuthoiTrang, Suctrevietnam, nhacvietplus, xinhxinh, tintuconline, and vnexpress.net


Comments

Anonymous said…
Excellent article. She was very brave to go back to Hanoi and try to make a living at the age of 17.
Anonymous said…
Tinna Tinh is a talented vietnamese composer-singer-performer, the first in the way of April Lavigne. We don't see her on tour yet in the US. Through the Van Son video, people around the world started to know her. I hope in the future we can see her perform here in the US and gather more fans ! Same for others like Ngo Thanh Van.
Anonymous said…
I love TINNA TINH!!!

I love her voice and style. Her songs are great!!!!

I really want to buy her album but the store don't have it! :(
Karly said…
Did you google search her CD Chiec Guong? As for new songs from Tinna, Van Son will probably release them in the future.
Anonymous said…
Tina Rocks! I can say she is the first truly rock singer style of Viet Nam. Tina Tinh, I can't wait for your live show perfomane in OC,Cali. You really Rockkk
Anonymous said…
Tina is a real deal - true artist.
Please bring her to tour the US.
Anonymous said…
http://www.myspace.com/tinnatinh1
Anonymous said…
Wow reading about her now finally makes me admire her. Excellent article! Hopefully she'll shine as a big star. Many Viets still don't like the rock style she's performing but hopefully more and more will come to accept her as a singer. Many clapped and yelled for her though.
Anonymous said…
Tinna is half Czech? i never knew that! well, ppl say you learn new things evryday. :)

anyway i think Tinna Tinh sings pretty good though i dont like the rock 'n' roll style. :)
Anonymous said…
i really admire her very much.
i love her music!
her music has so many meaning to it she pour her heart into her songs.I hope one day she become well kown around the world and more vietnamese people enjoy this kind of music :]
Cyberdruid said…
I love her rock style in "Hoa Lài Màu Xanh". Even not many people like rock'n roll but her music opens new style in Vietnamese rock.

Anyone knows her blog or where I can buy her CD?
Karly said…
try http://minhtan.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=36486
Anonymous said…
i fell in love with her music the first time she debuted on van son.
she has a different style, and i like that.
and the rock elements that are in her music made me like it more.
anyways good luck tinna
Anonymous said…
To be quite honest, her voice isn't that great compared to many of the singers in America. She has a limited range for a "rocker" and no capability whatsoever to pull off what several American female artists (such as Amy Lee) could pull off. Sure, she may be the "first" Vietnamese female rocker, but if you don't have the voice for it, I'd rather there be no Vietnamese female rocker at all.
aznvi3tboi209 said…
Tinna is the new age of singing... Love her lyrics and the way she perform... Love her outfit and she freak'n rock azs... She better be touring in the US so that we can go and see her... I'm so glad someone so beautiful like her is representing this particular style of music. She fits the part perfectly... Thanks Tinna..
Anonymous said…
i am a fan of tinna tinh......i hope you still continued with the rock songs......remember....dont change the way you sing despite of others trying to change the way you want to sing.......:] stay true 2 da heart....tats waht makes your songs enjoyable..!