Award-winning singer Ngoc Anh says she’s driven by family, not fame

Though she’s technically in her prime, a famous singer says her career takes a back seat to the more important things in life.

Anh shot to fame after winning the Sao Mai Diem Hen (Stars of Tomorrow) singing contest in 2006. On top of the local music world ever since, her most recent achievement was the gold prize at the ASEAN Golden Voice festival last year.

But since then, Anh has been focusing more on her personal life in Hanoi rather than filling her schedule with touring, concerts and recordings. She stands by her choice.

“My daughter is the greatest happiness in my life… everything like glory, beauty, success means nothing without familial love and children,” she says. “My family is more than all my other achievements in life.”

But Anh is by no means “taking a break” to be with her family.

She’s busy as ever running her recording studio Phuong Anh, named after her two-year-old daughter, while also lecturing at the Ha Long College of Culture, Art and Tourism and studying for an MA in Cultural Studies at the University of Culture in the capital.

Her husband works, but she says she’s the main supporter of her family.

“Being the backbone of the family involves spiritual and emotional support, not just financial.”

She says honesty is the most important thing in raising a strong and healthy family.

“The most terrible misery is the breaking of trust… I’m so happy to have a daughter and a big family I can count on.”

‘Balance’

Anh has only released one album, her 2008 hit The gioi tuyet voi (A wonderful world), produced by her own company. She says she had plans to record another but is not worried about rushing into more work just for the sake of her career.

She says that artists often suffer from a stressful lifestyle and that it’s best to take life at one’s own pace.

“An artist’s job is to bring joy. Why should we be unhappy?” she says.

But it’s not easy to live a normal life after professional success thrust Anh into the spotlight.

“After such success, it’s difficult for female artist like me to just come back to real life,” she says, adding that she still has the normal worries and responsibilities of any mother.

“I just hope for balance in my life… Getting the best of both worlds is sometimes very difficult but not impossible.”

But Anh says that even with a popular following and a loving family, there are times she can’t escape loneliness.

“Loneliness and the artist are inseparable friends. At times, it’s the loneliness that motivates artists to create beautiful things.”

Real success

Anh shrugs off critics who say she’s not focusing enough on her career.

“The road of self-realization is a long and slow one. I could follow it my whole life without ever being in a hurry,” she says. “I just do it in my own slow way with my own heart… the greatest victory is winning your true self.”

Now, Anh says she only works for her daughter.

“My daughter idolizes me, so it is very important for me to be a good example. Respecting yourself is a way of respecting others.”

Reported by Thanh Trung