STAYING POWER

BY TI'JUANA "MAMARAZZI" HARDWELL

Some entertainers are born to own the stage. As a child, singer Lê Khoa would listen to Whitney Houston records and his mom would encourage him to perform for family and friends. Today his love for high heels and high fashion, hair, makeup and nail polish make him an artist you won’t soon forget. Lê Khoa released “Humanity” last year to push back on titles and labels. His video for his single “Stay & Say, ” featured on the album, is a reminder that the intrinsic artist is here to stay.

The artist hails from Saigon, Vietnam and may look familiar to those who tuned in to watch X Factor Vietnam when it launched in 2013. At age 17 Lê Khoa’s vocal talents earned him a place among the competition’s top 10 male finalists.

His powerful rendition of Lady Gaga’s “U and I” grabbed the attention of viewers–like he had done before at parties and weddings of friends and family.

“When I was little my mom was already pushing me to sing and to perform so I’ve never been shy to be on stage,” says Lê Khoa, the youngest of his

...Continued parents’ three children. “From the time I was five years old my mom would turn to entertainment TV shows and I’d be dancing.”

Despite coming from a family that made a livelihood from teaching, his

03 L Khoa I Staying Power

Lê Khoa connects with many of his adoring fans at live performances across the country. His music video for "Fire Heart"addresses critics and naysayers. The video has earned more than 60K views to-date.

family hadn’t pressured him to follow in their footsteps. But in the years following the X Factor competition, Lê Khoa pursued a degree in Music Performance. When asked why he would slow down for school after already getting a feel for stardom–he says it’s because he respects the craft enough to study it.

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Lê Khoa describes his sounds as “Cinematic Pop.” He enjoys creating pieces of art that can last always. He wants to tell a story and make statements that will resonate with his listeners

The “Humanity” album included an 11-track song list recorded in English. Often asked to “identify” and adopt labels–Lê Khoa wants people to see him as a human.

“It’s not about boy or girl, White or Black, gay or straight, or any other labels,” says Lê Khoa. “When you look at people you should see their heart–the heart of humanity.”

“There shouldn’t be sexism, racism or any stereotypes. Meet the person and know the person,” he added

Lê Khoa works closely with videographers to ensure the visuals capture the essence of each of his songs and help him tell the story. They discuss everything from wardrobe, location, props and lighting.

He hopes that “Stay & Say” will be yet another beautifully mastered visual that he can use to introduce his artistry to the world. It will be the seventh song from the album to receive video treatment.

Lê Khoa’s growing fanbase proves he’s still a factor with staying power even years after his X Factor performances. Watch what he does next!

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