Le poses with her two daughters.

After taking time off to start a family, singer My Le is back and looking to enter the fierce world of fashion.

Listening to My Le sing is like being caught in a wild storm. One moment everything is calm and quiet, her tender voice taking listeners to a peaceful, romantic world but then out of nowhere, her tone changes dramatically. Le’s powerful voice rings out like thunder, stunning listeners with her commanding presence.

Born in the former imperial capital of Hue city, Le has experienced many ups and downs during her 10-year career.

“I used to work under a lot of pressure to earn money to pursue my dream of having a stable, respected position in the local music industry,” said Le.

The singer has now produced four albums including her most successful to date, Cho nhau mot nu cuoi (Sharing the Smile), and her latest, Nhan sac (Beauty).

What makes Le stand out amongst other pop performers is her longevity and the influence she has had on other novice performers over the years.

Cho nhau mot nu cuoi, released in 2003, garnered much acclaim for being the first album in Vietnam to incorporate electrical sounds. The album’s arrangement served to boost mixer and composer Vo Thien Thanh to the status of Vietnam’s leading contemporary musician.

“This experiment marked a milestone in my singing career. We [tried] a new way of making an album and since then, contestants in several national singing contests like Vietnam Idol … have covered most of the songs in my album,” said Le.

Behind Le’s success is her tenacious personality and passion for music. She loves to breathe new life into all her work she said, and “I just want everyone to remember me in a brand-new way.”

Fulfilling other roles

Nhan sac (Beauty), a pop album released this year, marked Le’s return to the music scene after a three-year hiatus to have children. “Pop music [is always popular] so it guaranteed my coming back would be a success,” Le said.

Those who have seen Le’s masterful performances might never guess she is also the designer of her own breathtaking stage outfits.

Not wanting to limit her creativity to her singing, Le recently entered the world of fashion, opening a home-run shop designing costumes for the local arts community including singers, MCs, and actors.

Le said her interest in fashion has grown day by day since she first dabbled in making her own gowns. And though singing is her life-long pursuit, “fashion is my obsession and I need to do something for it,” Le said.

“You have to know what fine art is all about to keep up with fashion. There is a part of me missing, and fashion has helped me fulfill my dream for art.”

Le now has her own staff to help out with the fashion projects. The image of a mermaid, the theme of her third album, will be employed to create her new fashion brand, she said. The collection will be displayed in the upcoming show “Diva’s

Night” in Ho Chi Minh City in late October as well as at her own live show sometime in December, also in HCMC.

Le’s end-of-the-year performance is slated to be a popular event as she will be the first local female singer to perform with Vietnam’s symphonic orchestra. Traditional love songs by famous Vietnamese musicians like Trinh Cong Son, Ngo Thuy Mien and other world-renowned musicians will also be performed during the show.

When asked whether working on too many projects has barred Le from refining her music career, she answered that money is no longer her top priority – she pursues different projects simply because of her passion for them.

“I feel it is the right time for me to sing, to work, and to do anything with all my soul,” said Le.

Reported by Diem Thu