By Joe Kellen, Minnesota Daily
When Thao Nguyen performs, she’s something of a contradiction.
Thao Nguyen may have a shy exterior, but underneath is a pile of dynamite. (Lauren Tabak/Minnesota Daily)
At Bonnaroo in June, Nguyen shyly walked on stage and waved hello at the audience with a small smile that matched her diminutive frame.
Then, in an instant, she looked back at her band, the Get Down Stay Down, and her quiet presence toppled into an explosion of energy for the lead single from “We The Common,” the group’s latest record.
Nguyen sighed and swayed with passion as the group’s anthemic folk prompted a similar response from the festival crowd. She returned to her laid-back personality during her conversation with A&E this week, though it’s clear that her vibrant performance energy is just a guitar lick away.
The songwriter said her intensity reaches its peak when she plays material from “We The Common,” which draws from Nguyen’s work with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Since 2011, Nguyen has visited prisoners in California, talking with them during visiting hours.
“The writing was a lot more visceral and connected because of it. It’s not out of the ordinary to spend the next day crying after a visit,” she said. “It was an education I’ve received and am receiving. It helps me want to try to be better and appreciate things for people.”
“We The Common (For Valerie Bolden)” is the album’s first single and it’s based on the first person Nguyen met through the women prisoners program. The song plays like a rallying cry, combining twangy strings and a steady, thumping drum beat that builds to an erupting chorus. Though “We The Common” is a record with social justice themes, Nguyen said her intention isn’t meant to be didactic.
Read the full article by Joe Kellen from Minnesota Daily.
