Previous success creates an advantage, but also puts the female singer before a more difficult problem of novelty, accuracy and the boundary between creativity and preservation.
After three years since "Co Bay Universe", Phuong My Chi returns with the studio album "Folk Players". The album includes 10 songs, exploiting many cultural and traditional music materials spanning the three regions.
If "Co Bay Universe" once helped Phuong My Chi make a move away from the image of a "folk song girl", the new project faces another challenge: continuing to refresh folk songs but not repeating the same formula that brought success.
Renew but not do wrong
Folk Players" exploits eight traditional art materials, including Phu Tho Xoan singing, Xam singing, Thai Xoe, Hue folk songs, E-de folk songs, Cai Luong - classical opera and Khmer culture of the South.
Putting many materials of different origins and characteristics into the same album makes the research requirement important. A detail used inaccurately or modified too far from the original can create controversy, especially when the product is aimed at a young audience.
Phuong My Chi admitted that she had prepared psychologically for opposing opinions. The female singer said she was not afraid of being criticized for believing in her choice, and was ready to receive feedback.
To limit risks when creating on traditional materials, Phuong My Chi and DTAP work with a team of professional advisors. Including People's Artist Bach Tuyet in the field of Cai Luong - Tuong Co, People's Artist Thanh Ngoan with Xam singing, People's Artist Nguyen Thi Lich with Phu Tho Xoan singing and experts on Hue folk songs, Xoe Thai and Khmer culture of the South.
The crew also went to localities, met with communities that are practicing and preserving cultural forms to learn before putting material into the album.
Pressure over old success
Another challenge comes from the path Phuong My Chi has chosen. After "Co bay universe", combining folk music with modern music is no longer a new thing in her career.
Therefore, "Folk Players" need to show progress instead of just expanding the quantity of cultural materials.
Phuong My Chi participated more deeply in the writing process, directly writing some segments with traditional influences. Her role has therefore gradually shifted from performer to co-creator.
The name "Folk Player" also expresses this approach. According to the crew, the album name can be understood as people "playing" folk songs together, or "players" in the sense of people who have knowledge, ability to explore and create with this material.
DTAP also does not use a common arrangement for the eight types. Each material is processed based on the characteristics of melody, rhythm, instrument and performance spirit before being placed into the new musical structure.
The final problem still lies with the audience. An album with many cultural elements risks becoming heavily introductory if listeners must have certain knowledge to be able to access it.
Phuong My Chi determined that the goal is not to make the audience immediately understand all the traditional materials after listening to the album. She wants music to become a starting point that makes young people curious and actively learn.
That is also the biggest challenge of "Folk Players": balancing between popularity and traditional values.
