Vũ Thảo My And Gelo Rivera On Breaking Cultural Barriers With “Zealous (Gã Săn Mồi)”

It’s no surprise that global collaborations can often spark major waves, just as we’ve seen with the abundance of Western collabs with the growing K-pop scene. Yet here within Southeast Asia, some movements can easily be touted to be as exciting as what we’ve seen across the world, especially with the abundance of rising talent that’s been coming out of the region as of late. 

Vietnamese singer Vũ Thảo My and BGYO’s Gelo Rivera are proof of that momentum. On paper, “Zealous (Gã Săn Mồi)” feels like the kind of crossover that could only happen in today’s hyperconnected pop landscape: a powerhouse vocalist from Vietnam reinventing herself through sleek, performance-heavy pop meets one of the Philippines’ most charismatic young idols stepping into his first international collaboration as a solo artist. But beyond the song’s dark, cinematic pulse and razor-sharp choreography lies something more meaningful — where two artists use reinvention as a means of bridging between cultures, ambition, and identity.

For My, the track marks the arrival of “Mimiana,” an alter ego born from years of pressure, self-discovery, and artistic evolution after winning The Voice Vietnam in her teen years. While for Gelo, the collaboration represents a defining leap outside the comfort of BGYO and into a larger regional spotlight. And together, they channel that hunger into a record that simultaneously flirts with global pop sensibilities and confidently argues that Southeast Asia belongs in the conversation. And as both artists tell it, “Zealous (Gã Săn Mồi)” isn’t simply a collaboration between Vietnam and the Philippines; for it’s become a statement of intent for where Asian pop could head next.

In this exclusive sit-down interview with Billboard Philippines, the two artists open up about how this momentous collaboration came into light, what they’ve each learned from the shared experience, and what they hope such an endeavor can bring about for Southeast Asia.

From The Voice Vietnam to a New Era of Sound

So My, let’s talk about how you were in your teens when you won and joined The Voice Vietnam. Having started your career at an early age and getting recognition from such a big platform, how has your relationship with music changed from then to now?

Vũ Thảo My: Well, back then, I was only 15. When I was in The Voice, I was just like a kid, you know? And basically, I didn’t really understand the music world. I was just a kid who loved singing and loved music, and that’s all I knew. So winning The Voice was also a really huge milestone for me, and it put me on a good platform, but then it also brought a lot of pressure on a young kid.

In fact, I was just really young, an emo kid with a fragile heart, you know? A lot of pressure. So it put me into a place where I really, really wanted to do music, but then I didn’t really know what to do yet because I was still so young. So now, after more than 12 years, I have become more mature. 

Now, I’m nearly 30, and I’m a lot clearer about myself, and I know what I want, and yeah, I know my sound, and I understand myself more as an artist. So I wasn’t like a lost kid anymore. Now, I’m more committed and more serious when it comes to music and being an artist.

Given that you have all these learnings about yourself, especially now that you’re at this point in your career, how would you say that has helped in guiding your direction as an artist moving forward? 

Vũ Thảo My: Well, I really love to explore myself and what I’m capable of. For me, I really love listening to all kinds of music, so I’ve been meaning to expand my music even more. If you knew me before, I was only doing heavy ballads, and that’s because that was all I knew. Though now I feel like I have a lot of energy inside me that I need to release into the world. 

That’s why I chose to do more dance-heavy stuff with more upbeat songs, to try to explore what I’m capable of with different kinds of genres of music, which includes music that involves a lot of dancing and performing. All of that is very new to me because I’ve only practiced dancing for just a few years. (laughs)

It’s clear that you have really evolved as an artist from your time on The Voice up to now. As I was listening to your music, I noticed that your sound is like a distinct blend of pop, R&B, and even a bit of soul here and there. How close are you to capturing the sound that you really want to perfect at this point of your career? 

Vũ Thảo My: Well, I think I’m closer than ever. But then at the same time, I don’t think there’s an end to it. Experimenting and trying out all these types of sounds is a journey for me. As I grow older, I want all these sounds to grow with me, so I would try to listen to myself and realize which sound defines who I am right now, or even which sound I’m feeling right now. 

So ultimately, it’s more of a journey for me — not a destination. I can confidently say that I’m just living through it, you know? 

How the Vietnam–Philippines Collaboration Came Together

I think that anyone can hear that in your latest single, “Zealous (Gã Săn Mồi)”, which features BGYO’s Gelo. Can you tell me all about how that collaboration came about and what was it that made Gelo pop up on your radar for this? 

Vũ Thảo My: I was actually looking for someone who could match the energy of the song. And considering it’s like a really punchy song (especially since it was the first time I’ve ever done anything like that), I wanted someone who would fit into the energy of the song. 

When I saw Gelo’s performance style and his vocal tone, I thought, “Wow, he’s like perfect for me and this song.” And eventually, that’s how we ended up working together. 

What about you, Gelo? How did you find yourself entering the picture for this collaboration?

Gelo Rivera: Well, it was announced to me when I was in the Philippines. At that time, we had a lot of new releases for BGYO, and then we just had our D.U.N.K. guesting in Japan. And there was so much happening for me at the time. 

But when I was told about the collaboration by our manager, I was so happy to find out that someone had chosen to collaborate with me. I thought that it was really a big blessing, not just for me but for the whole group of BGYO. And since it’s our first-ever international collaboration, it makes it something well worth celebrating. 

Upon doing more research on her, I can definitely say that My is a super talented girl, and I really wanted to collaborate with her. The thing that really motivated me to do this, to create something together, is that I also saw how diverse she is, both in fashion and music. And I saw how it’s also the same with us at BGYO. So when the demo was sent to me (after some online back and forth), I immediately figured out how we could work it out in my head. 

Meet Mimiana: The Alter Ego Behind the Track

My, it’s also interesting to point out that with this song, you introduced a new alter ego for yourself called Mimiana. Do you mind telling us the story behind that? 

Vũ Thảo My: Honestly, I was like a really shy kid. Even now, I still am. I’m shy. I’m awkward. (laughs)

And sometimes I think I’m too introverted. Yet I know that sometimes it’s not a good thing for me, given the work that I do. So I created this alter ego where Mimiana can be a different version of me. I’d say that she’s the most fearless version of myself –– the most unapologetic, strong, and confident side of me. She’s not afraid of anything, and whenever she’s on stage, it’s like she can take on the world, you know?

So I created that alter ego for myself, just so that I can be her whenever I want to be her. And so it’s really comforting in a way, especially for my own inner child as well. Because this represents a more unapologetic side of myself that I’ve always wanted to embrace. 

I think that listening to the song alone, your fans can really see that new side of you. It’s very empowering, and there’s so much character in the way you’re delivering those lines. Yet what made now the best time to introduce an alter ego like that into the world?

Vũ Thảo My: I think that it’s time. As a woman in music, I think there’s a lot of pressure for us in this industry. Because where I’m from, it’s always like, “Oh, you’re nearly 30. You need to step up your game and everything.” And that got into my head. I was like, okay, I can’t just keep on singing ballads, just standing in the middle of the stage, just singing. I think I would need to do more than that. 

I decided that I needed to perfect as many of my skills as an artist. I just wanted to show that to everyone to prove them wrong, and because I feel like there’s a lot of music inside of me that needs to be heard. And that’s just what I did. It came really naturally for me to try different things because I’m the type of artist who wouldn’t want to put myself in a box. 

Inside the Cinematic Music Video Shot in Vietnam

How do you think that was able to come out as you embodied that side of Mimiana in the music video with Gelo? 

Vũ Thảo My: Well, when I created the song and as I listened to it again and again in the studio, I imagined this dark and blurry world with this sort of cat-and-mouse chasing game. It’s very cinematic in a way; it was this whole concept that lived inside my head. 

I wanted every frame of this to look good, so during the process of creating the music video, I had to check it again and again after every time we shot because I wanted everything to be as I imagined. 

I think I was quite difficult towards the director. (laughs) So I don’t know if he hates me, but I had to check every frame and communicate with him what I wanted so that I get the best vision out of it. I’m really glad he followed everything that I wanted because I sent him a bunch of stuff beforehand that I liked, and he was like, ” Okay, I’m gonna do this.”

After like two weeks, he sent me back everything, with every frame set just how we wanted it. And upon seeing it, I just loved it. I even think it came out better than I expected.

For you, Gelo, what were your earliest impressions of how you could complement that side of her, given your versatility as an artist?

Gelo Rivera: When we met, it wasn’t hard for us to click. Not just in terms of ideas, performance, and how to take the song. But even as friends, we connected quickly, so it was easy for us to do all of that. [With her,] I think I saw similarities with my experiences before BGYO, where I was part of a dance team. So upon doing all the dance styles that My taught me, I really enjoyed doing it. 

So My, was there a lot of adjustment for you in learning how to really perfect your dance skills, especially since you mentioned that you practiced dancing over the last few years? 

Vũ Thảo My: Oh yeah, of course. I felt a lot of pressure because I had to look good while dancing with Gelo, right? He’s like an amazing performer, and if I don’t do well, I would look so crazy next to him!

So there was some pressure for me as well to break through my usual mold as an artist. But then I had to practice a lot with my choreographer, and that helped me a lot with all the music videos. That, of course, included a lot of training for myself to have enough stamina that was strong enough to do all the choreography we’ve planned throughout the whole day.

Given that, how did you approach your role in shaping the visual energy, especially in the song’s choreography-driven music video? Because it’s one thing to really match her energy on set as Mimiana.

Gelo Rivera: I think what came to my mind was that we were both going to do our part. When I saw her in person, when I was rehearsing with her, her dance team, and her management, nakita ko (I saw that) she was really serious and intentional about what she was doing. And she’s very passionate — like, if she wants something, she’ll do it. 

She’s very disciplined. You can see the soul in what she’s doing. So I was more inclined to give my part, embody all that, and practice the character that I’m portraying for this collaboration.

What This Means for Gelo Rivera’s Solo Career Beyond BGYO

Considering that this is your release as a solo artist, how different is it from performing with your BGYO brothers? Especially as you’re going into this as a solo artist collaborating with someone from another country. Did it scare or excite you even? 

Vũ Thảo My: I think it excites me more. Especially because I want to open doors for BGYO with this opportunity. I’m representing my group. And the feeling I had while working there as a solo artist, iba din eh. You’ll realize that you don’t have a dance coach there, nor do you have 

a voice coach with you. You don’t even have the time to be with your group. But there, everything there was done solo, and I had to really bring my A game for this. 

There’s extra effort put in, and I really want them to know how good we are as Filipinos. So, best foot forward. And when I was there, I felt at home with My and her Vietnamese team. And of course, My is very caring, very thoughtful, and she’s very cool. I think we click together nicely.

I also heard that the music video was shot on location in Vietnam. Given the cultural differences there, how was that like for you? 

Gelo Rivera: For me, even though we had a very tight schedule, I was really able to see kung paano nagawa yung (just how it was made) music video and lahat ng mga (all of its) pieces niya. And dahil diyan (because of that), I felt like I was so driven and sobrang fueled ‘yung passion and excitement ko for a collaboration such as this. It’s a new experience kasi eh. And being in a room where everyone is Vietnamese, I felt so at ease, because I didn’t feel any negativity or energy from the people in the room since they were all so professional. Everyone has the same goal and wants the same thing. And that’s what I admire about the team — especially My. She really is one of the most hands-on people I’ve worked with. 

Vũ Thảo My: That’s Mimiana. (laughs)

Where does that side of your artistic persona come from? Would you say it’s from all your years in this scene, or is it something that you’ve had to learn for yourself? 

Vũ Thảo My: I think I’ve been doing this long enough for me to have all the qualities I have right now because it’s been more than 12 years since I started to sing professionally. And over time, I learned a lot along the way, even the hard things. So having gone through a lot of hard times, challenging trainings, practices, and everything like that — it’s kind of made me into who I am. 

I’m so grateful for all of that. Those are the things that shaped me into who I am today. I think these qualities will just grow over time when you have more experience in life, and you learn where to channel your energy into. And even with Gelo, I can learn a lot from him as well. And I say that because I’ve never experienced a sort of energy like that before. 

Oh really? And what energy would you say he has? 

Vũ Thảo My: I think he’s very young, very energetic, and is very, very humble while also being very talented. It’s crazy. And everything on set, he was so attentive and so professional. Everything we asked him to do, he would just say yes right away. So it was really nice and really sweet working with him. 

It actually made the rest of the process so smooth. For some reason, everything worked out perfectly, even if I was a little bit nervous, but then everything turned out to be better than I expected to be.

What was it that made you nervous about approaching this thing? 

Vũ Thảo My: I don’t know, maybe I’m just a Virgo, you know? I always worry. It’s always anxiety and madness and chaotic energy surrounding me. (laughs) So I just, I would lose my mind if, you know, like anything fell out of the way it’s supposed to be.

So, did working on this project together challenge you in any new ways, whether it was creatively, physically, or culturally?

Gelo Rivera: I think the biggest challenge was preparing for this to be my first song as a solo artist. Because at some point, I got intimidated that this is my first-ever solo release. My name that’s credited here is Gelo Rivera, and not as BGYO.

It’s very overwhelming, maybe. But while I was preparing here in the Philippines before flying to Vietnam, I had guidance from my local coach, from my management. So every time I did something, I got insights from them. And once we started that exchange with My and her team, I realized that we were just sharing ideas and practices in terms of our respective cultures. 

So to see the final music video and the final mix of the song, I realized that it was so nice that it’s a combination of two different cultures, coming from two different perspectives, and two different ways to attack the performance and the storytelling of it all. It’s very rare to see this kind of collaboration. I’m very grateful and proud of what we’re doing. And off course, that’s the goal. I’ve been given a chance to collaborate again with My, and I’ll definitely do it again. 

The Bigger Vision for Southeast Asian Pop on the Global Stage

But what learnings did both of you get out of working with a cross-cultural collaboration such as this? 

Vũ Thảo My: Wow, I think it was a very, very fun experience for me. Because I think this is the first time I’ve experienced anything like that. Because normally I was just working around my country. Yeah. And the only time working outside of the country for me was when I was a guest on a singing show that was on live TV as well. So I was really, really nervous. 

And now, this is the first time I’ve worked with a leader of a boy band from the Philippines. And the whole thing was bizarre when I think of it. I feel like I really, really stepped out of my comfort zone and did something with a person from a different country. I think it’s a cool way to explore and make new friends, and hopefully we can keep doing it in the future. Not just for me, because maybe there are a lot of Vietnamese artists as well who would want to do it. 

I’m glad I took a step to do this, and to do it with Gelo as well. I’m really happy to close a little bit of a gap within our differing cultures, especially with our SEAblings.

Gelo Rivera: For me, it was nice to collect all these learnings we’ve had from one another to create better and better music. People can also see the other side of the world in terms of music, culture, how we mix style and fashion, and even language. Even before the collaboration, I really admired Vietnam and the communities there. Sometimes I’d just watch their dancing and their singing online.  So when I met My, I was really happy because I got to know the perfect Vietnamese artists that I could think of in my head.

For my final question, what kind of global audience are you hoping to reach with “Zealous (Gã Săn Mồi), and what do you want them to take away from both the track and its music video?

Vũ Thảo My: I hope this song would be able to reach the international audience that it could reach, because I know the sound is something that would fit a lot of international audiences. And that’s why I’m doing this — to really expand the presence of Southeast Asian music onto the global stage.

It’s also my favorite thing to do because I grew up listening to a lot of US and UK music. And it’s really different from where I’m from. So I hope it would reach the audience that it could. And I don’t know, we’ll just let it happen naturally. Who knows how big it’s going to be? You just really have to try. And then, I don’t know, maybe something would come out of it later.

Gelo Rivera: What I want people to take away from this is that Filipinos can do it. The Vietnamese can do it. Filipinos can do it. Southeast Asia can do it. You can really create something that can resonate well across various cultures and backgrounds from all over the world. And there is a lot of excellent talents in the Philippines and Vietnam.

So yeah, excellence and talent — I think that’s our goal as Filipino artists. Because ever since, it’s been [our goal] to look for excellence. So pwede rin tayo mag-(we can still) register, learn, and evolve, from the people around you, even if galing sila sa ibang bansa (they’re from another country). And I think I’m just glad to have been a part of this as well.

Vũ Thảo My: I mean, it’s going to pave the way for more collaborations of this scale. I think that’s what’s very promising about this. Because we’re opening the door between the Philippines and Vietnam. And hopefully, between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.

Listen to Vũ Thảo My and Gelo Rivera’s collaboration, “Zealous (Gã Săn Mồi)”, below: