On January 6, 2026, Vietnamese singer-songwriter Wren Evans (real name Lê Phan, born 2001) made a dramatic entrance into the new year’s music scene with the surprise release of his second full-length album, Nổ. If his debut album, Loi Choi, made waves in the country’s pop landscape—earning the coveted Album of the Year award at the 2024 Làn Sóng Xanh awards—then Nổ seems poised to cement his status as one of Gen Z’s brightest musical stars.
Evans, known for his “music comes first” philosophy, dropped Nổ without any prior fanfare or promotional teasers. According to Tuổi Trẻ, the album’s YouTube link racked up over 100,000 listens overnight—a testament to the anticipation and excitement swirling among fans. “Chừng nào còn nhắc tên, Wren Evans vẫn ở đây,” he declares in the closing track, which translates as, “As long as you mention my name, I’ll always be here.” That sentiment, both bold and vulnerable, seems to capture the spirit of this new chapter.
So what’s inside Nổ? The album spans 12 tracks, all co-written with his trusted collaborator, producer itsnk. This dynamic duo previously left a strong mark with Loi Choi, and with Nổ they continue to push boundaries, blending global and local influences. VOH reports that the album experiments with a dizzying array of genres: alternative-pop, hip hop, drill, jerk, new jack swing, UK garage, and electro pop. Yet, despite this genre-hopping, Evans’s signature remains: romantic, accessible lyrics now tinged with a newfound maturity, reflecting his evolving perspectives on life and love.
Before the album’s release, Evans teased fans with two singles—“Thu Đợi” and “Vừa Tìm Thấy Đã Đánh Mất”—in the winter of 2025. Both songs, with their catchy melodies and refined production, quickly shot up the charts on multiple digital platforms. The buzz generated by these singles set the stage for Nổ’s arrival, making the album one of the most anticipated drops of early 2026.
The structure of Nổ is as intentional as its content. The album is divided into two seamlessly connected parts, taking listeners on an emotional journey from the everyday realities of life into a Broadway-like world of heightened feeling. As VOH describes, the mood transitions are smooth, guiding the audience through a spectrum of experiences—sometimes dreamy, sometimes raw, but always honest.
Among the standout tracks, “144” is singled out as the most experimental. This alternative-pop number plays with rhythm and beat in unexpected ways, sometimes flowing smoothly, sometimes surging with intensity, before resolving into a cathartic release. “Không Thử Sao Biết,” meanwhile, surprises with its new jack swing and hip hop blend, telling a story of fear and courage in love. “Ngủ Quên” combines pop with hip hop and jerk for a modern, lilting feel, while “Gió Đưa Tình” is described as a romantic letter carried by the wind, buoyed by an upbeat, lively melody.
The album’s second half, according to VOH, softens the mood, opening with the interlude “Gắn Bó Né Tránh Sợ Hãi” and exploring themes of longing and solitude through songs like “Vừa Tìm Thấy Đã Đánh Mất,” “Mưa Chưa Tạnh,” and “Chờ Trong Trăng.” Nature imagery—moon, rain, wind—recurs as metaphors for memory, loneliness, and the yearning for love. The final track, “Nổ Không?,” is a hip hop, drill anthem that doubles as Evans’s manifesto: a statement of resilience and creative renewal.
Evans’s choice to let the music speak for itself, foregoing any elaborate marketing campaign, has only amplified the impact of the release. As Tuổi Trẻ notes, this commitment to artistic integrity has endeared him to fans, who flooded social media with praise and playful comments. Some joked that they had to “hide under the bed to listen” or “wear headphones all day” because the album was so good, while others referenced past controversies in Evans’s personal life with a wink and a nod. Despite a tumultuous year marked by rumors about his love life, Evans’s musical comeback has been met with open arms. One fan quipped, “Khóa kín cửa xong lót cách âm rồi cắm tai nghe”—meaning, “Lock the door, soundproof the room, then plug in the headphones.”
It’s clear that Nổ is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a statement of artistic growth. The album’s lyrics, while still rooted in romance and everyday emotion, now reflect a deeper sense of introspection and maturity. According to VOH, this marks a distinct evolution in Evans’s musical thinking, signaling a new phase in his career. The boldness of his genre experiments, the cohesion of the album’s structure, and the vulnerability in his songwriting all point to an artist coming into his own.
Of course, with any high-profile release, there are questions about what comes next. Fans are already speculating about where Evans will perform the new material live, and whether his experimental streak will continue in future projects. The album’s moody, enigmatic cover art has also drawn attention, with some calling it “dark and mysterious”—a fitting visual for music that isn’t afraid to explore the shadows as well as the light.
For Vietnamese pop music, Nổ represents a moment of both continuity and change. Evans builds on the foundation laid by Loi Choi, but he’s not content to simply repeat past successes. Instead, he’s forging ahead, taking risks, and inviting listeners along for the ride. In doing so, he’s helping to define what it means to be a Gen Z artist in Vietnam today: globally aware, unafraid of experimentation, and deeply connected to both tradition and innovation.
As the first major Vietnamese album release of 2026, Nổ sets a high bar for what’s to come. If fan reactions are any indication, Wren Evans isn’t just surviving the pressures of fame—he’s thriving, and he’s making sure that as long as people are talking about him, his music will always have a place in the conversation.
