Artist in Exile: Mai Khôi & the Dissidents (Vietnamese Pop)

Photo Credit: Renee Copeland. Photo Courtesy: Mai Khôi

Pittsburgh’s resident pop star and powerhouse Mai Khôi is leaving the city and starting her next chapter in Philadelphia—but not without a rockin’ farewell show. The alumna City of Asylum Artist-in-Residence returns with her group, the Dissidents.

Mai Khôi & the Dissidents was originally formed in 2016 with Vietnamese musicians, but the group was forced to disband due to government pressure. Khôi herself fled to the US in 2019, where she has lived in exile ever since. In 2021, she re-formed Mai Khôi & the Dissidents with American musicians, alongside pianist and composer Mark Micchelli. The new band features prominent members of Pittsburgh’s jazz, experimental music, and activist communities. For this performance, Mark and Khôi have composed and arranged a powerful style of music that reflects the turmoil of the world and the hope that continues to shine.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see Mai and Mark in their farewell show and give them a warm sendoff!

Featured Musicians:

Mai Khôi: vocals

Jeff Siegfried: saxophone

Mark Micchelli: keyboards

Eli Namay: bass

PJ Roduta: drums

About the Artist:

Award-winning singer, composer, and activist Mai Khôi rose to stardom in 2010 after winning the Vietnam Television Song and Album of the Year awards. As a pop star, Khôi released seven albums in genres of Vietnamese pop and dance, and performed on national television. In 2016, her conscience was stirred after witnessing protests around the Formosa Ha Tin Steel discharge of chemical waste off the coast. Protestors were in the streets demanding transparency from the government. Instead they were subjected to mass arrests and police violence, which Khôi saw with her own eyes. After this, growing uncomfortable submitting her work to government censors but finding community with a small group of activists, Khôi nominated herself to run in the National Assembly elections on a pro-democracy platform. But her activism came at a high price: she had her concerts raided, was evicted from multiple residences, and was detained and interrogated by the police. In recognition of her work at the intersection of art and activism, Khôi was awarded the 2018 Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent and the 2022 Four Freedoms Award for Freedom of Speech. Khôi has continued her activism, finding that music and performance give her the courage to continue speaking out. She was also a City of Asylum Artist-in-Residence from 2020 to 2022.

About Your Visit: 

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