Popular local DJ Slim V switched from training to become an orthodox pianist to becoming an innovative DJ and composer who ingeniously fuses different genres with his strength - electro music.

One of the earliest works composed by Slim V, whose real name is Cao Van Vinh, is a brief prelude for piano, which he harmoniously fused with the five notes of the traditional Vietnamese pentatonic scale.

Revered Vietnamese-French composer Nguyen Thien Dao, who works mostly in contemporary classical music, was so impressed by Vinh’s work that he awarded him a one-year overseas scholarship.

Vinh, 25, learned to play the piano at 7 and obtained formal piano training at the National Music Academy for some years before realizing that he wasn’t cut out for a conventional pianist career.

“I’m so passionate about music, but in my own way. I’m eager to explore a genre which melts my heart and write my own tunes,” Vinh confided.

After some years of studying piano at the academy, he switched to its composition department.

Back in 2006, Vinh fell in love with hip-hop, though exposed to classical music at school. He then learned from famed local DJs and taught himself the music before performing it and composing his own.

He and some others who also majored in music composition formed  a band called “Master Fader” and have been composing and performing mostly electro music since.

“In the global music arena, almost all boundaries among various music genres are blurring. I myself don’t discriminate against the so-called academic music or more common, popular songs. Just like anything else, if a genre survives and is embraced, it must have a certain value,” the young DJ-composer shared.

As soon as Vinh mastered electro music, he began to fuse it with other genres and has garnered remarkable success since.

He has performed successfully with the Rhapsody Philharmonic Orchestra over the past four years, writing his own tunes and rewriting famous pieces.

Vinh is set to launch his debut album next month.

“I know too well that such an album may be quite new in the local market, which is inundated with pop love songs, but I’ve set my mind on its release,” Vinh confided.

The album consists of five pieces which were composed by Vinh himself and are rich in experimental, innovative elements.

His album will feature the original fusion between brostep, a new kind of dubstep, which is also electro music but differs from other types of electro music in its fervent bass sounds,  its structure, and the orchestra.

Vinh’s maiden album will also boast his ingenious blend of northern mountainous Vietnamese peoples’ iconic folk music and electro music.

“There are actually significant similarities regarding mixing principles between Western contemporary and Oriental folk music, including Vietnamese folk music. We just need to grasp these principles and the fusion will be harmonious and captivating,” Vinh noted.

“I’ve nurtured the ambition to boost local audiences’ appreciation of electro music with my work. Electro music  isn’t merely fiddling with sounds and state-of-the-art devices or associated with drug abuse at clubs. It does have its own artistic value,” the young artist stressed.