Recently, the gorgeous from the central province of Thanh Hoa granted an interview to reporters from the People’s Army Newspaper’s Online Edition, telling about her music passion, fashion style and future plan.
Reporter: Why have you chosen music as your career even when you are from a family without music tradition?
Singer Tuyet Nga: I was born from a farmer family. I lost my father when I was 14. As my father was my idol, his death was a terrible shock to me. Although my father knew nothing about music, he sang lovely, and he passed on his music passion to me. I listened to his singing so much that I had the songs, revolutionary ones, by heart without learning their lyrics.
When my dad died, my mum fell ill. My family faced numerous difficulties, and as the eldest child of my family I had to shoulder the family’s burden, working on the farm, doing housework, caring for my ill mum and my younger brother.
Sometimes we did not have anything to eat but I still tried to go to school. After school, I often biked 10km into forests to find bamboo shoots to sell for money. So we had dinner, more often with rice and bamboo shoots, after 9pm.
Reporter: What motivated you to overcome all difficulties and hardships in life and pursue your music passion?
Singer Tuyet Nga: In fact, I was very depressed sometimes. As I had to spend much time on farm and housework, I did not have time on study. I failed in the National High-School Examination. I was low-spirited at that time. But then I remembered my father’s teaching and I regained my position as the main support of my family. I was determined to learn hard and I passed the exam in the next year. I started my study at an accountancy higher school and planned to continue my study till I would get a university diploma.
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Singer Tuyet Hoa in Ao dai |
At that time, I met People’s Artist Thanh Hoa [a renowned singer] by chance. She found that I had a good voice and especially a big passion for music, so she admitted me to her vocal music class. I decided to quit school and moved to live and learn vocal music at Ms. Thanh Hoa’s home. After some time, Ms. Thanh Hoa asked artist Quang Tho and artist Quoc Hung [two famous singers] to teach me more, and advised me to enroll in the Vietnam National Music Academy.
It can be said that my music career was so lucky as I was instructed by high-profile singers. I passed a Vietnam National Music Academy entrance examination. I studied there but I still took time to go home to help my mum and younger brother.
Now I’m a third-year chamber music student at the academy and I’m instructed by artist Anh Tho, another great singer.
Reporter: Why have you named your music project “Net Viet” (Vietnamese characteristic)?
Singer Tuyet Nga: Since the beginning of this year, I have fostered a music project named “Vietnamese characteristic.” I implemented the project for my love and passion for music rather than money.
I love the country’s landscapes and want to do something to promote the sights to the world.
The MV brings popular folk songs performed and instrumented in a new style as well as sights across the country to audience.
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Singer Tuyet Hoa in a new style of Ao dai |
Reporter: You are a singer but why did you participated in the Ao dai contest?
Singer Tuyet Nga: A female cousin of mine told me about the Miss Ao dai Vietnam. She advised me to join the contest when saw me usually wear Ao dai on stage. I followed her advice as I love wearing Ao dai. In fact, I have been keen on wearing Ao dai since I was small. When I entered the Vietnam National Music Academy, I chose chamber music because I loved Ao dai. Actually, I feel more confident on stage when I wear Ao dai.
In the MV “Vietnamese characteristic,” I wear various Ao dai, each with a typical landmark of a region, designed by different fashion designers.
Reporter: Why did you wear Ao dai when you attended Cannes 2019?
Singer Tuyet Nga: When I received an invitation to Cannes 2019, I immediately called fashion designer Ha Duy, asking him to design a new style of Ao dai with lotus and phoenix patterns on it. I thought, international guests at the grand movie festival would recognize me as a Vietnamese girl from Vietnam when seeing me in Ao dai. Ao dai has been universally praised as a simple but delicate and charming costume, which holds Vietnamese cultural values and national spirit. In fact, when I showed up at Cannes 2019, I was complimented by the audience. I knew I was not a movie star at the event but I has been proud that I had left a good impression on the audience by wearing the Vietnamese traditional costume.
Reporter: What do you think about the title “Miss Ao Dai Vietnam 2019” you have won?
Singer Tuyet Nga: I think, I have been proud of the title as it has somehow satisfied my keenness on wearing Ao dai since I was small, even though the beauty contest itself is not very significant. I do not use the title to seek fame, and I always speak to myself “I’m a professional singer so I should win audience’s heart with my voice and serious work in arts.”
Reporter: What is your plan in the time to come?
Singer Tuyet Nga: I’m going to hold a news briefing on my MV “Vietnamese Characteristic” in early August. Later, I will release an album on new songs in Ballads genre. In 2020, I will focus on my study as I will take final exam.
In the remaining months of the year, I have planned to hold various charity activities for cancer patients at K Hospital. I always want to relieve pains of cancer patients. As I spent a long time caring my dad with cancer, I can feel empathy for cancer patients as well as their families. So I have mobilized donors to support cancer patients.
Reporter: Thank you very much for the talk!
Interviewed by Khanh Huyen
Translated by Thu Nguyen