Risk-taking rebel or misunderstood artist? Singer Mai Khoi is known as much for her songwriting as for her suggestive appearance.(PHOTO BY TRAN MANH CUONG)

Who is Mai Khoi? A romantic singer-lyricist or a sex symbol?

It’s hard to tell if singer Do Nguyen Mai Khoi is known more for writing her own songs or her unrestrained nature.

Though her contemplative lyrics portray a wide range of emotions felt by an introverted, romantic woman, her low-cut shirts, racy statements and highly-publicized love affairs have made her an enticing riddle for media hounds, music fans and gossip lovers.

“Many doubt that I write the songs myself, because they don’t think a woman my age can write such thoughtful lyrics,” says the confident 23-yearold, famous for being one of Vietnam’s only female singers to write her own words and music. She’s also known for playing the guitar onstage and on her albums, as well as arranging and mixing her songs.

Khoi says she draws on her own romances, which she says began at an early age, to write her songs. And if you read the papers you know that she has had plenty of flings and the tabloids have drawn on them for material as well.

But Khoi says it’s her art that’s important.

“I aspire to become successful both as a singer and songwriter like many notable figures in the world,” she says.

“I’m content with where I am in the music scene now. My music isn’t trendy and doesn’t have a huge following, but it carries my individual spirit and is supported by hardcore fans.”

Khoi gained instant fame when she cut her first album with famous composer Quoc Bao, Khoi, in 2004.

There were two highlights to the album.

One was the hit song De gio cuon di (Let the Wind Blow Away) by revered composer Trinh Cong Son. The other was the relationship between Bao and Khoi and the rumors that began to fly in the media.

New rumors grew when she toured with 60-year-old composer Duc Huy for a few months later that year.

In 2005, Khoi went on to make Mot ngay Khoi (Khoi’s Day), an album featuring a mix of pop and folk songs she wrote and mixed herself.

Playing passionate guitar on stage and writing all the lyrics and music herself, the album won lavish praise from critics and audiences alike.

Then Khoi wrote and released Mai Khoi hay hoa hong (Mai Khoi or Rose) in 2007, which also won instant commercial success.

Her album Hoa dai (Wild Flowers) came out earlier this month. Its title track is now the theme song for the popular TV series Mot ngay khong co em (A Day without You).

But since then, rumors have begun to fly again with her second collaboration with Quoc Bao, “Mai Khoi Sings Quoc Bao.”

Known as the “Vietnamese Lolita,” Khoi has never been media-shy and is rarely less than a firebrand during public appearances and interviews.

From an old habit of not wearing a bra to saying she doesn’t believe in marriage but does believe in living with her boyfriends, she’s gone against the grain in sexually conservative Vietnam.

She even wrote a song in response to media criticism called Ngam minh tren mang (Behold Myself on the Internet) in which she says she reads harsh words about herself on the internet everyday but doesn’t care.

Known for a series of flings and relationships with other celebrities like Duc Huy and singer Le Hieu, she says she’s now considering a bigger commitment to her current boyfriend, an art dealer.

But whether it’s for her music, her cleavage, or because she finally settles down, our eyes will be set on Mai Khoi for some time to come.

Reported by HAI MIEN