From Hanoi to Brussels – a cross-cultural musical journey

Belgian music producer Fabien Leclerg, known as Le Motel, has created a powerful cultural bridge with his project Odd Numbers, blending traditional Vietnamese sounds with modern electronic music.

The project draws powerfully from his experiences in Vietnam, particularly his time in Hanoi, where he recorded the vibrant street sounds that would later form the basis of his sonic creation. Through this project, Le Motel not only explores the fusion of cultures, but also offers a glimpse into Vietnam's rich heritage, from the bustling streets of Hanoi to the serene northern mountains.

Odd Numbers is not only a musical project, but also a meaningful cultural journey. The project demonstrates the intersection of two cultures, the combination of tradition and modernity, and above all, Le Motel's respect and love for Vietnam. It serves as a bridge to help Belgian and European people gain a better insight into the country.

Le Motel shared on his Facebook page: "I was invited to play a DJ set (live electronic music) in Hanoi and took the opportunity to travel around the country. I gradually met a lot of people, artists, poets, musicians, dancers... I recorded a lot of sounds, human voices, street noises... Back in Brussels, I started to compose drafts based on these recordings and I contacted all the people I met to participate. It was a real collaborative and multidisciplinary project between Vietnam and Brussels."

What makes Odd Numbers particularly distinctive is its seamless integration of modern electronic music with traditional Vietnamese sounds. The dan bau  (monochord) - Vietnam's iconic one-stringed instrument - has had a profound influence on Le Motel.

The instrument is at once characteristically Vietnamese and indescribably sacred. Pervasive throughout Vietnam, the sound of the dan bau is an inseparable part of Vietnamese culture, touching the deepest corners of the soul.

The project transcends music to become a stunning work of visual art. Footage of Vietnam, from the bustling streets of Hanoi to the majestic northern mountains, is subtly interwoven to create a multi-dimensional experience for the audience. Notably, tattooed dancer Dung Tran Quoc, who is passionate about numerology, also appears in the video, creating a mysterious and captivating focal point. The name of the project is particularly significant, reflecting Le Motel's interest in Vietnamese culture and beliefs, especially the concept of odd numbers. The name of the project, Odd Numbers, also has a special meaning, reflecting Le Motel's interest in Vietnamese culture and beliefs, especially the concept of odd numbers.

Le Motel explains: "Odd numbers are very important in Vietnam. For example, if you give a gift, it has to be 1, 3 or 5. Not 2 or 4. Even architecture works according to this odd number symbol.

The Odd Numbers exhibition has attracted the attention of many people, including Lorraine, a Frenchwoman living in Brussels. Lorraine said that she came to Vietnam many years ago, but only stopped in Ho Chi Minh City. Through the exhibition, she had the opportunity to admire the majestic beauty of the mountains and forests of northern Vietnam and the daily life of local people.

"I was really impressed by the images in the exhibition, which made me want to go back to Vietnam to explore interesting things in that country," Lorraine said.