#NtseegKuv10Years: Why "Cia Rau Txoj Hmoo" Is Special
In the living room of my apartment, my two youngest siblings, Pader, 18, sat with her guitar and Tchoua, 16, with his keyboard. It was 2009, and they were spending their spring break with me. There was no agenda, just jamming and playing whatever was on our minds.
In front of me, as I mixed tones and hummed melodies, the lyrics of "Cia Rau Txoj Hmoo" waited for me like a child waiting for her mom to go home. As my siblings played in unison, I struggled to find something special.
All of a sudden, Tchoua began to play a chord. He had heard a melody in his mind and knew exactly what came next. He knew he needed to play it out. As the piano filled the room, Pader strummed along, adding depth to the sweet sound.
Immediately, I felt a stream of excitement. The music drew me in. The lyrics willingly poured themselves out through my voice in a melody that would stun me and make me want to sing it again and again.
All the elements felt like strangers meeting for the first time, but as they began to speak, they became lovers. The piano, guitar, and vocals effortlessly flowed as one. No one intended for this and that made it even more special.
It was magic. "Cia Rau Txoj Hmoo" was born.
In July 2010, the track became the first single off the "Ntseeg Kuv" album. It was selected as the main title track for an independent film before its release and has touched many listeners in the last decade.
With gratitude, "Cia Rau Txoj Hmoo" is a very special part of my musical journey. I’d like to know—what does the song mean to you?
