The first Vietnam Idol Phuong Vy talks about how her life has changed after the victory and her confidence in future success.

Winning the top prize at the first Vietnam Idol contest last year saw Phuong Vy hit the ground running in her professional singing career.

Despite mixed reactions to her first album, which she released in March, the 20-year-old RMIT Business Administration student is confident about where her career is going.

She is rumored to be seeing Duc Tri, a musician and music company executive who is famous for making stars out of his girlfriends.

But her private life is strictly off-limits to the media.

Thanh Nien: How do you feel when people say you imitate Ho Ngoc Ha?

Phuong Vy: We are definitely different from each other.

Though we have both signed exclusive contracts with Music Faces Company, I sing pop while Ha is into R&B.

We have dissimilar singing voices. Saying we are similar is absurd.

The only similarity is that we both use the same make-up people.

But once people see my performance, they’ll recognize me as myself.

Many think your first album “Luc moi yeu” (Just falling in love) did not strike a chord in your audiences. What is your reaction?

After Vietnam Idol, I promised to release my first album this January. But it was only completed in March.

We did not have enough time to make it perfect.

My album, produced by Music Faces with its state-of-the-art technology, famous musicians and filmmakers, has received both good and bad responses.

Most praise the album’s design and camerawork but remarks about the music are mixed.

Not some ask me why I chose pop and not blues or jazz.

To release the album in such a short time, pop was the safest choice.

Performing blues and jazz live on stage is completely different from doing it in a studio.

I think the prizes I won at the Vietnam Idol contest and the release of my album are just the first steps in my musical career.

How long will it take you to achieve the success you target?

I am just beginning, so I can’t foretell anything.

I don’t put any pressure on myself to achieve success or stardom at any price.

Working as a singer is not like running a business which can be planned clearly for a five-year or ten-year period.

In my opinion, only by working in comfort, with passion and without any pressure can an artist achieve anything.

There are rumors that you “bought” SMS messages to win Vietnam Idol and now you have become Duc Tri’s girlfriend (Tri is deputy head of Music Faces). What do you have to say about it?

There’s no point in discussing rumors.

So what is your relationship with Duc Tri?

Tri is a talented and farsighted producer. He helps me a great deal in choosing the songs and performing style.

He is an excellent musician whom I always look up to.

Some say you did not perform better than the other contestants at Vietnam Idol but were just prettier. Could you have won because of that?

I think Vietnam Idol is not merely a singing contest. It also assesses the performing skill on the stage as well as the interaction with the audiences and jury.

Any regular viewer of the program surely understands that the winner not only has to sing beautifully but must also know how to charm the audiences.

To this end, being beautiful is an advantage.

But if anyone says I won just because of my beauty, it’s not a fair assessment.

I don’t think I am so pretty that I could beat all the others with talent and good voices.

Becoming a Vietnam Idol must have changed your daily life to some extent. How do you get over criticism?

I am lucky to have parents who used to be performers themselves. They are my greatest encouragement.

Competition in the performing world is inevitable.

I’m easily moved to tears. I used to cry when someone treated me badly. Now I am much more controlled.

My father tells me: ‘You are a singer, you must accept the fact that 1,000 people may not like you. But you have another 1,000 supporters who are always by your side.’

The most important thing a singer should do is sing from the heart.

I can easily forgive the cheap shots and meanness if it is possible to live a better life.

What did you learn from Vietnam Idol and Asian Idol?

Vietnam Idol was an adventure for me.

When I decided to submit the application form, I merely thought it was a challenge and did not dream about winning.

I was possibly the one to forget the lyrics the most often.

I randomly chose the songs to perform because I did not want to waste time comparing them.

I wanted to try out different kinds of music.

Vietnam Idol was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to begin my singing career.

Asian Idol was another great opportunity for me, and it helped me understand that I have to spend much more time improving my English pronunciation if I want to appear on the MTV Asia channel.

Will you part ways with Music Faces once you become a star?

I don’t want to speak about the future. Whether I’ll leave Music Faces or Duc Tri cannot be foreseen.

It will only happen if there is a lack of mutual understanding or respect.

Reported by Diem Thu

   
(Copy Thanhniennews)