Mai Khoi’s music – from the muse of praise to protest’s spirit

On April 8th, 2021, the US Vietnam Research Center, University of Oregon, conversed with Mai Khoi, a famous Vietnamese singer, music composer, and political-social activist.

Mai Khoi, whose full name is Đỗ Nguyễn Mai Khôi, was born in Cam Ranh, a town in one of the most beautiful bays in central Vietnam. National Review, a magazine based in America, described Mai Khôi as the “Lady Gaga of Vietnam” and compared her to Pussy Riot, a dissident punk-rock group in Russia.

Singer Mai Khoi has become famous since 2010 when she was awarded the “Album of the Year” Award by the Vietnam National Television (VTV) for her song “Vietnam,” which she composed and performed. In the past few years, she has gained international attention for her socio-political songs expressing the spirit of resistance. 

In 2018 she received the “Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent“, an award established in 2012 by the New York City-based “Human Rights Foundation” (HRF), that recognizes individuals “who engage in creative dissent, exhibiting courage and creativity to challenge injustice and live in truth” (See: HRF President Thor Halvorssen). Currently, she is a visiting scholar at SCHOLARS AT RISK program, the University of Pittsburgh’s Global Studies Center.

In this conversation, Mai Khoi shared with us about her musical journey, from the period of “praise of country” to the period of “protest.” Mai Khoi shared her thinking on the relationship between the vitality of art and the social and political commitment of the artist and the music trends she wants to develop in the future.