Zaw Win Htut

Zaw Win Htut
ဇော်ဝင်းထွဋ်
Birth name Zaw Win Htut
Also known as Nyi Htut
Born (1964-01-21) 21 January 1964
Yangon, Myanmar
Genres Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Rock, Country, Blues Rock
Occupation(s) Singer , Music producer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1980 - present
Labels EMG, Master Recording
Associated acts Emperor
Lazy Club
Iron Cross
Notable instruments
harmonica

Zaw Win Htut (Burmese: ဇော်ဝင်းထွဋ်, pronounced [zɔ̀ wɪ́ɴ tʰʊʔ]; 21 January 1964) is a Burmese Hard Rock singer. He is the founder and lead vocalist of the band Emperor.

Early life

Zaw Win Htut was born into a musical family in Yangon, Myanmar. His father Kyi Khin was a physician, and his mother Tin Aye was a famous Burmese's classical singer with the stage name Htar. His maternal grandfather was Shwe Taing Nyunt, a famous songwriter of classical Burmese music.[1] His nickname was Nyi Htut. He received a bachelor's degree in zoology from Yangon University.[2]

Career

Zaw Win Htut began his career in music as a drummer in a band called Oasis. He formed his own band, Emperor, in the 1980s with five members, Zaw Myo Htut (his brother and lead guitarist), Kyin Kham Phone (bass), Wai Tun (drums), Maung Maung Lwin (keyboards), John O'Hara (acoustics). He was strictly a country, rock and roll singer in his early career. His first album, released in 1983, was not a success. His third album Hlyatsit Moe Kaungkin, released in 1989, made him a star.

Wearing someone else's clothes

Like most Burmese pop singers, Zaw Win Htut became famous with Burmese language covers of foreign (mostly Western rock and pop) hits, written by successful cover "songwriters" such as Thukhamein Hlaing, Min Chit Thu, Win Min Htwe, and Saw Khu Sae. Unlike most Burmese pop stars, this grandson of Shwe Taing Nyunt was actually embarrassed about it. He famously said that singing those songs were like wearing someone elses shirt. In a 2004 interview he said that his goal was to make original music.[2]

He decided to make only "original" (i.e. non-cover) albums in mid 1990s. He was one of the first artists in the Burmese pop music industry to break away from the cover song mold so may Burmese artist follow. He did score a few hits with A-Hnaing-Me and Achit Mya Thu Si Mha. He continues to perform his famous cover hits in concerts although he performs only the original songs in his overseas concerts. In a 2010 interview, he admitted that he refused to do any concerts overseas for many years because he did not have a sufficient number of original songs, and that he began doing overseas concerts only after he had collected enough original songs. In the same interview he said he had done over 20 overseas concerts.[3]

In 2000, he introduced the blues to his records.

Politics

"Though their profession calls for them to strut onstage like rebels, Burma's rockers can only mime the anti-establishment part. Zaw Win Htut works in the sanitized vacuum of a country run by military rulers who view him automatically as a threat, a potential subversive, because he holds a microphone. Burma's cultural input is zealously monitored and artistic expression heavily censored."[4]

"As one of Burma's biggest rock stars, Zaw Win Htut faces constant government scrutiny of his lyrics, album covers and music videos, but some of his biggest clashes concerned the length of his hair."[5]

Emperor band

The Emperor band consists of six members. Original founders are Zaw Win Htut[Vocals], Zaw Myo Htut [Lead Guitar], John Ohara [Rhythm Guitar], Boe Kyin [Bass], Leonard Maung Maung Lwin [Keyboard] and Wai Tun [Drums].

Current Band Members

Former Band Members

Personal life

Zaw Win Htut has a love for and is a supporter of other forms of arts. One of his dreams is to live in a house full of beautiful paintings. He has a collection of about 100 paintings by famous artists and others who are not so well known.[6]

His passion other than the music career is painting.

Zaw Win Htut is married to May Khaing Ohn, and they have a son who is also a singer, guitarist and songwriter Ito (Win Htut Thawdar) and a daughter Chan Chan (Win Htut Tara).

Discography

Single albums

Compilation albums

Couple albums

References

  1. ↑ Khin Nyein Aye Than (7–13 February 2005). "Everything old was new again for Myanmar classical music concert". The Myanmar Times.
  2. 1 2 "Zaw Win Htut Biography". People Magazine Myanmar (in Burmese). 2. January 2004. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Moh Moh Thaw (2010-09-20). "Singers play away". The Myanmar Times.
  4. ↑ TIME: "Hard Rock" by Phil Zabriskie Taunggyi - May 6, 2002
  5. ↑ New York Times International Edition: "A Gadfly, With or Without Hair" by Thomas Crampton - July 28, 2001
  6. ↑ The Myanmar Times: Myanmar rock icon, Zaw Win Htut, lives his artistic dream By Moe Moe Oo - May 9–15, 2005
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