Yakir Vana has earned the title of "Discovery of the Year" by the Haredi commujity.  He has also managed to conquer the secular market with "Believers melodies 2008", his hit song.  He has yet to release his first album but already is top of the charts with Cellcom.  As to women admirers he refuses to react and as to "Big Brother" he passed up on this because of religious beliefs, all this so that he can bring hearts to believe in G-d through his music.

Evrything i do is leshem shamaim picture:Zeev Shtern

Yakir Vana is from Rosh Ha'ayin, graduate of the Army Rabbinate choir.  Not yet 22 years old, but already thinks like a professional singer, soon to release his first album.  He is willing to devote both his title
Discover of the year" of the Haredi community and the surprising success of his song "Angel from Heaven" which he both wrote and composed, and which went straight to the top 10 of Cellcom last May, to opening hearts to the love of G-d.

"I was amazed because this was my first song and I was focused on other songs" said Vana.  "At the beginning I didn't believe it and only when I was sent an official report I was actually convinced.  Sometimes from the places least expected come the surprises".

Yirmi Kadoshi from "Eastern Productions - in ownershiop of Yirmi Kadoshi and Yemin Mesika":

"The cellular downloads are the true sign determining if people like a singer or not.  In the radio there is an editor deciding for the people who to like, but in the cellular websites there is no such a thing, people download what they like and they are prepared to pay for it."

"I met Yakir Vana and it is apparent that he is an artist with incredible talent and he is in the right direction to succeed.  He is young, singing songs of Orthodox style but appealing not only to the Orthodox but to the Secular as well."

"Sometimes it's hard to tell that these are religious songs," says Yakir.  "It's good to connect to songs, but I also want people to understand the significance of the text.  That's why I try for the music to be as catchy as possible to pull listeners who are not religious so that they understand the true meaning of the words".

Vana's biggest hit among the Orthodox community is "Let's look upwards", adopted also by the Secular.  Words:  Yakir Vana and Ziv, Music:  Yakir Vana

"The song has a good rhythm and every body has a soul making it easy to connect also with people who are not religious'" explains Vana.  "Behind the song is my running away from an army base in the middle of guard duty, because I received a phone message with information on a particular person that wanted to put this song on the radio before I did.  I felt the most amazing pressure and I fled the base.  I threw my gun under a caravan and travelled to Udi Damari's recording studio in Rishon Lezion. It was a Thursday, we worked on the song on Friday and Motzei Shabbat and Sunday it was already playing on the radio, Thank G-d".

Is it true that you were a candidate for "Big Brother"?

"Yes, about a month before the show was aired I received a phone call from a religious publicity man who said that the production team had contacted him and asked him to arrange a religious singer to be part of the apartment.  After a few days the production team called me up to tell me about the program, since I didn't know anything about it.  They said that as far as Shabbat was concerned there would be no problem because they would give me a room with a camera so I could do what I wanted over Shabbat.  I was called for photo sessions in Tel Aviv.  I spoke on camera about my life and what kind of person I am, etc."

"But a week before the show was to begin I was deliberating how it would look to see a religious person, one who represents something specific, participating in such a program.  I was afraid that being closed up with all the temptations around me and having to deal with them on my own, would not look good and would lead to bad things being said about me in the community.  I asked my Rabbi and he told me not to go. On the one hand the publicity would be good, but on the other hand it could be the end of you.  I am at peace with the decision I made.  If, from above, I am supposed to succeed, I will in any case.  I depend more on "The Big Father" in heaven.

Maaminim 2008

How do you explain the great success of "Believers melodies 2008", together with DJ Barry Melik and Nitzan Chaimovich among the Ultra Orthodox community?

"If you had told me before I released these melodies that I would succeed on such a level I would have found it hard to believe.  The people of Israel are a joyous people who like to always be happy and the excellent joint work with DJ Barry Melik and Nitzan Chaimovich was most successful.  They processed the melodies in the new dance style music, a style that until recently did not go well with the Orthodox community.  I was delighted at the success with the non-Orthodox.  If this is played in cars and systems of irreligious people and it causes sanctity of G-d - I don't need more than this, because all I do is in the name of G-d.

Yosi Ayzental    Picture:erez Hadad

The song "Aluka" was among the "top 10 hits of the year" on Radio Kol Chai, what lies behind this song?

"I orginally didn't want to release this song, not in the form of a single.  I didn't connect with the text until I spoke to Yossi.  At the time I was in the recording studio of talented Azri Caravani of Rosh Ha'Ayin, where I record almost the whole disk, I didn't do anything special.  I called the radio anchor "Yossi Eisenthal" to ask how he is and he answered me most naturally that he is in hospital after a heart attack. I didn't want to disturb him, I wished him a speedy recovery and I already knew before hanging up the phone what would be my next single.  The song speaks about a man who has had a heart attack.....and how both in good and bad times G-d looks after us "a dark and cold night in the city, a man's heart stops beating without logical reason"...  As I said, this song is dedicated to the healing of Yossi Eisenthal."

Every Secular Rising Star deals in his way with admirers and fans, in the case of religious Vana, this problem is more severe.

"I don't understand this admiration thing.  I understand it is possible to love the songs of a singer but to love the singer?  I find it hard to understand.  You have to be alert."

"It is important for me that people know that I appreciate their support and those that give me a good feeling, from their heart, but you don't have to exaggerate..."

A small bird came and whispered about cooperation with another singer in the near future

"Yes, it will be the first time and I do a duet.  Some of the best people in music say it will be very popular, G-d willing, in fact the song is the creationh of a very talented, young man.  In fact, he was the one who wanted to work together.  His name is "Eli Assaref" that wrote, composed and processed the song "Mimaon Shmecha", which sounds as if you now opened the prayer book and you took it out of there.  The text is deep and has strong meaning to it...I first met Eli on the stage at Nachshonit who was playing there in a summer performance.  We connected musically and we are now almost finished the latest version of the song.  In the song there is a special part in which some of the best secular and religious people sing together.  Until now participating:  Aviad Gil, Avi Ben Israel and Elad Shaar.  The rest of the singers will soon come in to complete this composition."

The "Didi Harari" of religious radio broadcasters, Yehuda Shukrun, connected greatly with the song, did you ever think of asking him to sing together with you?

"A great idea, I will try and bring him to the recording studio.  He is very talented, not only on advertising on the radio.  The song will first be heard on the "Reshet Moreshet" radio station by broadcaster Gidi Sharon.

Coming Performances:

January 15, full performance for citizens of the South who are being hosted in the center of the country at "Tichon Atid", Rosh Ha'Ayin.

February 8, Heichal Tarbut, Petach Tikva

You are welcome to visit Yakir Vana's website