Wholesome and ambitious


Tran Phuong Linh’s prime assets are her commitment, wholesome image and crystal-clear voiceClean-cut Tran Phuong Linh stays cool and clear-headed as her singing career goes from strength to strength.
Up-and-coming singer Tran Phuong Linh is confident about where her career is going and is determined to maintain her wholesome image as an essential part of this.
“It’s steady as she goes for my team and me. We don’t want to flare up briefly then sputter out,” the 24-year-old singing student at the Hanoi Conservatory of Music told Thanh Nien in an interview.
Her debut solo album, titled Pha le (Crystal), was released last Sunday to critical acclaim and contains nine tracks that were composed especially for her by similarly young and ambitious songwriters. The album’s design and photos have been received well too.
“I decided on pop music for this album because the genre is popular and a carefully made, inventive product has a strong appeal.
“I paid for the production myself, and it was quite expensive. I can find sponsorship or assistance later on, but that won’t change my goals or affect the quality of my work.
“Pha Le is the first step in my musical development and will be followed by more albums and shows. I’ll have different projects at different points in time, but whatever the project is, the listeners will certainly know it’s me.
“I’m very picky about what songs I perform and how I sing them as doing a proper job will win me more fans,” she said.
Linh was born in Thanh Hoa southwest of Hanoi in 1984. The first big step in her career came in 2004, when she came second in the Hanoi Singing Contest.
The following year, she strongly impressed the judges at Vietnam Television’s Sao Mai Diem Hen singing competition with her strong, crystalline voice and vivacious performance, and scored second prize in the lyrical music category.
Then in 2006, she made it into the finals of Sao Mai Diem Hen, where they called her the contest’s “Princess of Pop.”
Linh’s first album, a joint effort with Sao Mai Diem Hen winner Ha Anh Tuan titled Ngay hat doi (Duet days), was released in 2007 and won instant acceptance.
These days, she also hosts a few television shows including Lua chon cuoi tuan (Weekend choices) on Channel VTV1.
She is enormously popular among ****agers, her “hardcore” fans, but she would like to broaden her fan base to include a more eclectic audience. “I really hope to win over a diverse group of listeners,” she said.
For Linh, maintaining a wholesome image is paramount.
“After five years in the music industry, I know what I should do to gain an audience’s respect. We never know what lies ahead for us, but I will stick to my professional ethics and maintain my image by leading a wholesome life, though it’s not easy to do!
“Just like in any other profession, we artists must never stop learning, though it’s not an art that everyone can master. Talent is only 30 percent of success; the rest comes from constant striving and learning, plus a bit of luck!
“Talent and knowledge together produce the best work,” she said.
Reacting to comments that the songs in Pha le lack substance and emotion, Linh said, “Different people have different feelings. I simply sing with all my heart both onstage and in the studio. I believe listeners will appreciate my true emotions.”
Her seemingly aloof manner makes some people think she is cold, arrogant even, and she takes a lot of criticism for showing little emotion on stage. Phuong Linh doesn’t see herself that way.
“I’m not putting on airs, it’s just me being me. In fact, some people love what they call my “glacial demeanor.” All I do is let people see my strengths and weaknesses, which might broaden my appeal, who knows?”