In our first Spotlight Interview of 2021, Edward Burnett sits down from afar with talented singer and friend of the page Hana Canhasi. She talks about her new single ‘You’ll Never Change’, her New Year celebrations and her plans for what we hope is a much brighter coming year. RNRR: Firstly I’d like to wish everyone a happy new year and say that we are all hoping that 2021 is better than 2020. I’m here with Hana Canhasi who is our first featured guest on this year of Spotlight! How are you doing Hana? Are you happy to be here and be the first Spotlight feature this year? HC: Thank you for the love on the song! It's something different that i was nervous to release (laughs). I'm doing alright today thank you! I’m just finishing up finals! Yes I'm so excited to be collaborating with you all again, after all the love on ‘Drama’ with the Amplified Analysis last year. RNRR: So since this is a New Year’s special edition of Spotlight, I feel like I have to ask as soon as possible, how did you spend the New Year’s holiday? Was it a close-knit family affair thanks to the current global pandemic? HC: I'm actually excited to be here in Miami right now for the New Year season with my loved ones. It's been a tough couple of months for my family and I can assume for others as well, and it's really helped me slow down and appreciate those closest to me. So yes, we were out on the beach (socially distanced) and just in the sunlight. RNRR: That’s a really great way to mark the occasion. Staying on the New Year’s topic, what would you say your resolutions are for 2021 or do you not believe in such annual shenanigans? HC: I think to learn how to be patient with myself and how to learn to slow down. It's very easy to always want to do more and be better but I find it hard to sit with myself and allow myself to soak in an accomplishment. I also have set goals for my music that I can't quite share but I am so excited to reach a bigger audience with my creativity. RNRR: You say that you can’t share but you could give RNRR a small teaser? Are there any concrete plans regarding your music releases or even some music videos perhaps that you’d like to get on during 2021’s schedule? HC: Let's just say you will be able to visually see me more as an artist. Yes, tying into that second question I know music videos are a top priority (after the music) and I'm excited to collaborate with some amazing creatives for them. As for music in general, I am now able to dedicate more of my time to it since I will be graduating this year and I can't wait to become more consistent in what I do. RNRR: So now we are on to the topic of your music, let’s now talk about your brand new single that has just been released. ‘You’ll Never Change’ has more of a trap RnB vibe to it when compared to your previous hits including ‘Drama’. What was the thinking behind this small genre shift? Throughout your career do you want to stay in the same general genre or could you see yourself fully changing from time to time as you yourself change? HC: As of right now I haven't developed my own sound or found something I want to stick to genre wise. I wanted to make something a little bit more upbeat with this new single all while still keeping an RnB foundation under it. In time I can definitely see myself switching back and forth from different genres. I want to be able to grow as an artist with my music and there's no better way to do that than to be open to different sounds, so it's what I continuously try to do with every project. RNRR: What are you personally most looking forward to in 2021? Would you say you love the rest of the arts such as movies as much as you love music? HC: I'm definitely looking forward to graduating college in May after a long journey, and being able to spend a lot more time on putting out content! I can say for sure that as a new artist, you start to realize just how many people come together to push a vision out and make it come to life. Whether that's digital storytellers for lyric videos, a grip for your music videos, a songwriters, producers, creative directors, choreographers, lightning crews- it's all crazy how much "behind the scenes" there is to making a vision come to life and how equally important everyone is in the whole creative process. RNRR: Indeed there are many cogs in the process for sure. So Hana, let’s have your very own New Year’s roundup. What music did you listen to last year that impressed you to the most? Any particular artists that came through and who’s work helped you through the tough times of 2020? HC: This past year I've listened to a lot of Kehlani and Ariana Grande. Also have become a big fan of Dvsn and Kaylee Ameri. 21 Savage's new album helped me zone out and just allow myself to become distracted from over arching emotions so I guess you can say his album has helped me through tough times (laughs). Aside from musical artists I've been really big into podcasts as well and finding other ways to cope through difficult times. RNRR: Now you mention podcasts, do you feel that the future of digital media and entertainment lies in podcasts? Is this something Covid has fast-forwarded, now there is much more of a podcast presence in the digital entertainment landscape? HC: Ooo I think yes, especially as times are changing and we are sort of being forced to sit down with ourselves now more than ever. I think that opens this sort of door for self exploration on certain topics and having podcasts to lean towards whether it's a self help podcast or something fun, having something to listen to on the side for sure makes things seem less "alone" if that makes sense? It is definitely a wave of technology that's been there but hasn't been utilized (personally) more than it has this year. RNRR: So now we are celebrating the New Year, is seems as appropriate time as any to ask how was your Christmas Hana? What did you do to celebrate and are you a big Christmas person? HC: Since I work at a hospital I had to work all day for Christmas this year but honestly I think this Christmas was different in its way that it didn't feel like "Christmas". It was the first Christmas my family spent without my mom being here and it was very hard and I assume it's been hard for a lot of other people to feel the holiday spirit after the year it's been. However it was nice to be able to view the holiday for what it is-a time to be with your family and to appreciate the time you spend with them. For the past years we've always celebrated Christmas in a way which we gather together with close family all day and appreciate the day! RNRR: I am sorry to hear that and I think this year has made us all think differently and appreciate life more so than ever. So finally I have to ask the question that we always ask our guests on Spotlight. The desert island album conundrum. One album for the rest of your days on said island, what are you picking Hana and why? HC: Oh this is a very hard hard question! I'm gonna have to say 6lack's ‘East Atlanta Love Letter’. It brings me back to really good times and it has my favorite song of all time from any artist on there ‘Sorry’. RNRR: It’s refreshing to hear a modern pick on here with the album being a 2018 release as guests usually go for older “classics”. Well Hana it’s been a pleasure and all that leaves us to say is that we wish everyone a very happy and productive 2021! If you would like to know more about Hana Canhasi or keep up to date with her 2021 releases, the links to all her social medias are below via the icons:
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