VietNamNet Bridge – H'Zina Bya, a hugely popular singer among the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) youth, will release her first album – a blend of highlands music and rock music – in HCM City this week.

Highlands diva: H'Zina's first album Mat Troi Say will be released in HCM City this week. (Photo: VNS)

Mat Troi Say (Sun's Drunk) features 11 pop and rock songs written by well-known ethnic composers Yvol Ksor and Krazan Dick.

Highlights of the album include Nguyen Cuong's Loi Ru Bu Nong (The Lullaby of Bu Nong People), Yvol's Doi Chan Tran (Bare Feet), and Krazan's Nong Nan Cao Nguyen (Passionate Highlands).

As is her style, her voice in the album is simple, with no artificial modulations.

"Ethnic minority music is like a river that runs in my soul forever," says H'Zina.

"My voice becomes stronger and more powerful when I breathe, eat and drink as a Highland girl."

The simply dressed H'Zina isn't as fashionable as young pop stars but she's more popular. She is one of the country's most talented singers who has been chosen to attend international music festivals in Asian countries like Thailand and South Korea.

In Viet Nam, she has travelled around the Central Highlands region to perform for her people.

At the ASEAN Golden Vocalists Festival held in HCM City early this year, she drove her fans wild, competing with many participants from other countries to win the Silver Prize.

H'Zina studied at the Dac Lac Culture and Art School when she was 16, and was with the HCM City Music Conservatory in 2010.

With her simple beauty and strong voice, H'Zina won the first prize at the 2010 Television Singing Star Contest launched by the HCM City Television (HTV).

The 24-year-old rock star hopes that her album, Mat Troi Say, will bring to mind Highland scenes of young girls and boys working in the fields in the Highlands.

"I love my compatriots and I love the trees, springs and mountains in the highlands. I sing with my soul, my blood and my passion."

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News