The cover of pop star Phương Thanh’s new album, Trống Vắng (Lonely), a production by talented composer Nguyễn Hà. The album has eight songs from the 1990s and early 2000s. Photo courtesy of the producer

HCM CITY  Pop star Phương Thanh has released her latest album featuring top hits in the 1990s, marking her comeback to recording after 10 years of pursuing a career in movies. 

The album, Trống Vắng (Lonely), has been released in two versions, a digital CD and a vinyl record (analogue recording).

The work features eight hit songs from the 1990s and early 2000s that shot her to fame. It includes Một Thời Đã Xa (Once Time), released in 1999, Khi Giấc Mơ Về (When the Dream Comes Back) in 2000, and Vì Em Yêu Anh (Because I Love You) in 2003. 

Thanh worked with her producer, musician Nguyễn Hà, who has 25 years of experience in the industry, to remix and record the album in the style of acoustic rock. 

"It took me six months in studio to perfect the album, especially for the analogue recording," said the 47-year-old Thanh, who began her career in 1994 in HCM City.

“The music in the album truly reflects my personality and style.” 

During recording, Thanh worked with a guitarist Lê Ngọc Đăng Khoa, drummer-percussion artist Lương Bỉnh Khôi, saxophonist Anh Thi, and vocalists Tuấn Khanh and Minh Trang, who sang background vocals. 

Pop star Phương Thanh has released her new album, Trống Vắng (Lonely), a production in two versions, a digital CD and a vinyl record (analogue recording). Photo courtesy of the producer

Thanh discovered her desire to sing in 1991 after becoming a member of a music club in HCM City. She became well known in 1993 thanks to her music teachers, music producer-composer Bảo Phúc and guitarist Lý Được. 

Her first hit was Xa Rồi Mùa Đông (Winter Has Gone), a pop song by musician Nguyễn Nam of HCM City Television in 2015. 

Thanh won the Làn Song Xanh (Blue Wave) prize for Favourite Singer and Best Singer of the Year 10 times, given annually by Radio the Voice of HCM City People from 1995 to 2005. She received several music prizes presented by prestigious organisations such as the Người Lao Động (Labourer) and Thể Thao & Văn Hoá (Sports&Culture) newspapers.

She has released 40 albums.

Thanh has also played leading and supporting roles in 40 films and TV shows. In 2007, she won a Golden Kite Award for Supporting Actress for her role in director Nguyễn Quang Dũng’s hit film Nụ Hôn Thần Chết (A Kiss from Death God). The prize was presented by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association. VNS