In a city where guitar-driven music still fights for space, Empathize is doing more than just showing up; they’re kicking down doors. Formed fairly recently by a group of young showgoers connected through the local scene (and, funnily enough, a bit of early beef), this Saigon-based hardcore unit is raw, honest, and wildly driven. While most of the members are new to being in a band, their energy, curiosity, and unapologetic love for heavy music are impossible to ignore.
From day one, Empathize has embraced the hard work that comes with the craft: rehearsals, self-promotion, DIY organizing, and a growing international outlook. Yet for all their ambitions, they remain grounded and grateful to the Vietnamese scene that raised them. With two big releases around the corner and a national tour with District 105 already in motion, they’re making a serious case for becoming one of the most exciting young bands in Southeast Asia.
First-Time Musicians, Full-Time Dedication
Ethos:
The first question is very basic, very simple. How did the band start? Did you guys know each other before?
Empathize:
(Kien) The origin story for this band goes like this – me, Hieu Minh (Under Pressure), our ex-bassist, formed this band in late 2023. Later on, we found a drummer. Soon after we went through a few changes, Bao joined, Mai on drums, we made up the name, and in the end we got our second vocalist, Anh Khoi, fresh out of the army.
Ethos:
You didn’t answer. Did you know each other before, like from school, or the neighbourhood?
Epathize:
(Kien) I met these guys in the scene, at shows and around the shows. At first, me and him (Bao) didn’t talk even. We had a beef with each other.
Ethos:
So it started with a beef?
Ethos:
(Kien) Yeah, it started with a beef. But we worked it out. Hehe
Ethos:
We know you (Kien) played in several other bands, and you still play in some other bands. What about the rest of the gang? Is this your first band?
Empathize:
(Phuong) It’s the first for all of us, yeah.
Ethos:
How does it feel to be in a band out of the sudden?
Empathize:
(Bao) Ohhhh, it’s shit (haha). It’s very hard but great!
(Phuong) At first, you’re very happy. But after that you realize it’s so much, so much work to do. In the band we don’t just play music, it’s a lot of other work too. Promotion for example.
Ethos:
Who’s in charge? For things like promotion and social media, for example.
Empathize:
(Phuong) It’s mostly me, because it’s what I’m studying basically. But lately, Bao and Anh Khoi do a lot of these things too.
Genre-Bending Influences
Ethos:
Why did you pick hardcore in particular? A lot of people would say “hardcore is a genre that said it all,” everyone already did everything. So why did you decide to do hardcore, why not indie or V-pop?
Empathize:
(Bao) It’s because I feel the energy in this music. The first time I heard it, I was like, ”What? What the fuck is that?” The band is playing on a stage and the audience is moshing around. And, I was like, “Wow, is this this kind of great! I love it.” Then I started to listen more of this music.
Ethos:
Do you remember who was playing at that show?
Empathize:
(Bao) It was a long time ago. But I think it was ElbowDrop và Knife Sticking Head.
Ethos:
This was our follow-up question, but since you already brought it up. How did you get involved in music in the first place? Was it a show, like in Bao’s case, or was it something someone played you, a band/album you heard by accident?
Empathize:
(Phuong) For me it was a show too. A band from Thailand, Whispers. Around that time, I just moved and went to see the show. Their drummer is so crazy!
(Anh Khoi) Show too. It was 5 or 6 years ago, so this is the collaboration between rap and hardcore artists. I saw District 105 performance and it changed my life. I instantly wanted to make something like that. To write a song, feel the energy.
(Kien) Shout out to Khoi, guitarist of Diarsia. We live in the same district. He took me to his first gig, and then I was like, “Wow, this is mind-blowing, it’s nothing like I ever witnessed before.” Then I searched more on YouTube. And then later on, I go to a show of District 105. And it was amazing, the energy, the people, the atmosphere is like top tier. Nothing can beat it.
Then I started playing with Quan, vocalist of ElbowDrop. But I still played like shit, so he kicked me out (haha). Then I formed my band with Pchan (GrudgeBound).
Ethos:
Once you got to know about this movement, was there something that followed and glued you to this culture?
Empathize:
(Anh Khoi) For me it was Slaughter To Prevail. I’ve seen them here, and Alex convinced me, this is what I want to do.
(Kien) For me it was Asking Alexandria. All of that crabcore actually!
(Bao) The band that cemented it for me was Zulu.
(Phuong) For me it was “No Blame Just Facts” by Pain of Truth. New York hardcore!
Ethos:
Ok, quick check. Go to your preferred streaming platform and tell us your last three albums/artists you listened.
Empathize:
Hazard Clique, Rust, No Face No Case, Gridiron, Travis Scott, Mind Force, New Wave Hip Hop… a bit of hardcore.
Ethos:
Ok! So there’s a bit of techno, there’s a bit of hip hop, hardcore, of course. How does this all influence your writing?
Empathize:
(Kien) I’d say, when writing, we’re mostly influenced by the Indonesian scene. But we all like groovy shit, you know. A bit of rapping is not out of our music writing style.
Ethos:
What’s your writing process like? Since you mentioned it. Do you come up with riffs and bring them to the rehearsal, or do you record at home and then send to the rest of the band?
Empathize:
(Kien) Mai actually starts the process with drums. Then I’m going to fill up that structure with my guitar riffs, and then these guys figure out the lyrics.
Ethos:
Do you write song by song, or do you already have an idea of, like, a bigger piece of music, like an E.P. or an album?
Empathize:
(Kien) Anh Khoi writes stories first. Then the drum comes in, and in the end, I add the guitar to it.
Ethos:
What is your main inspiration when you’re writing these stories?
Epathize:
(Anh Khoi) Lately, is mostly about my perspective on life. What I’ve been through, how I see things roll out.
Upcoming Splits and Collaborations Across Southeast Asia
Ethos:
You have a split coming with four other bands from four different countries in Southeast Asia. Can you tell us everything about that? How did you get to connect with all these people?
Epathize:
(Phuong) It was very random. I talked with the merchandise guy who came with Kenya và Fraud last year in October. We talked about music and, after that, when they texted me back. He asked me what’s my WA. And I didn’t understand for two months, he wanted to know my WhatsApp (hahaha). We almost missed the chance. So I gave him my WhatsApp and he told me about all the bands from all the countries. And I was so surprised because all this is a big chance.
Ethos:
That’s going to be released when?
Empathize:
Mid-August. Just wait!
Ethos:
Before that, you have your first run around Vietnam with District 105. Can you tell me more about how you were picked to be the supporting band?
Empathize:
(Kien) Huy (vocal District 105) came with this idea because we were supposed to release a split album with Bornxhatred. So that was an opportunity to make a proper release. The release was postponed since but he (Huy) still wanted us on the bill.
Ethos:
When is that split going to drop?
Empathize:
(Kien) In October.
Ethos:
How many songs will be on that release?
Empathize:
(Kien) There’s going to be eight songs. Four of our own and four theirs.
Ethos:
If we’re following right, you’re about to release two new songs on the SEA split, and another four with Bornxhaterid?
Empathize:
(Kien) Our latest single will be on the split with Bornxhatred, the rest are all new songs.
Facing the World: A Dream Tour Becomes Reality
Ethos:
Do you expect any extra exposure from the tour with District 105? They are a hot topic at the moment after their first EU tour. Maybe some of their new followers notice you too.
Empathize:
(Kien) Yeah, I guess so. It’s a big chance for us, for the world to recognize us. When I first came into the scene, I really wanted to perform with those guys. So it’s like an achievement for us just to play those shows with them.
Ethos:
And after that, you’re supposed to go to Indonesia, right?
Empathize:
(Phuong) Yes, that’s the plan. Still waiting on the final confirmation tho.
Ethos:
Are you guys anxious about this? Do you feel a bit scared? You’re in a way representing the whole of Vietnam as the only Vietnamese band on the split.
Empathize:
(Phuong) Yes, but I think of it as just like a tour. So just have fun!
Ethos:
We’re aware you have one straight-edge person in the band. What was the motivation behind it and do you follow any other “hardcore rules”?
Empathize:
(Anh Khoi) Yeah, I’m straightedge. It kind of came from Huy. He’s always on point with his performance, and I’d like to be the same and not let anything affect me. Just have fun.
(Kien) Gym for me! (hahaha) A lot of guys from the scene pay attention to their bodies. Vocalist of Harms Way, my man.
Band Dynamics and the Phuong Factor
Ethos:
How do you (Phuong) deal with all this high testosterone around you, especially him (Kien)? Does it feel more like you’re their mom or a little sister?
Empathize:
(Kien) She’s bullying us!
Ethos:
So like a mom?
Epmathize:
(Phuong) I think they are useless. They cannot do anything. I cannot trust them anymore. (ahahah)
Ethos:
Do you guys protect her when you go to shows? Not just because she’s the girl, but she’s very tiny in general.
Emathize:
(Bao) First of all, she doesn’t mosh, so we don’t care that much.(hahaha)
(Kien) She just stands there, looking at the drummers. But I don’t like people going to the shows just so they can touch girls’ asses. Yeah. They are doing inappropriate things. I don’t stand with that. If I saw anyone who harasses any girls, I’m going to punch their face.
Ethos:
Have you (Phuong) ever had an unpleasant situation in the scene? Perhaps someone is underestimating you for doing what you do?
Empathize:
(Phuong) I don’t remember because I don’t care!
Vietnam’s Scene Needs More Than Just Noise – “Don’t Be NPC”
Ethos:
What do you think is missing in the Vietnamese scene? Not just hardcore, but in general guitar-based music.
Epathize:
(Phuong) People are not getting it. I mean, hopefully I’ll be able to make music forever. But for most, is just a hobby, not a job, because music cannot make money.
(Kien) Especially, heavy music. It is new to us, hardcore is a really new thing for “regular people”, and all the heavy music and the subcultures, they’re not used to it. Regular people don’t want to stick around with us. They are mocking us a lot. And we’re just trying our best to introduce our music to the world, and we’re going to do all the hard work to prove to them that we love this music, and we want to make it big. And represent Vietnam.
Ethos:
For most of you, this is the first band. But what is your advice to a kid who is 16 now, and they just heard your band on YouTube, and they want to start playing music? Maybe someone is mocking them, like you said, or they’re saying, “Oh, this is bullshit, it’s just noise!”
Empathize:
(Bao) Just fucking do it! You gotta work, but don’t give up.
(Anh Khoi) My advice is – don’t be the NPC!
Empathize may still be in their early days, but their intentions are crystal clear: they’re here to leave a mark. Honest to a fault, passionate without pretense, and still unjaded by the industry’s cynicism, this crew represents the next chapter of Vietnam’s heavy underground. Bold, local, and hungry for the world! Whether it’s through an upcoming SEA split, their first overseas shows, or just a blistering set at a sweaty local venue, Empathize is here to grow loud, proud, and together. Keep your eyes open, the future’s already screaming.
