Today we’d like to introduce you to Hana Canhasi
Hi Hana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! My name is Hana, I am an artist, singer, and songwriter. I create pop and R&B music.
My story began when my family immigrated to the U.S. from Kosovo in 1999 due to the war in my home country. Growing up in the United States while being surrounded by Albanian culture was tricky to navigate at first. It took me until first grade to start speaking at school; I was learning two languages simultaneously and wouldn’t even talk in class. My kindergarten teacher once asked my mom if she could send a video of me speaking because she had never heard my voice before. I’ve also had to learn how to navigate being immersed in two different cultures and mindsets, pulling what resonates with me from each to become the person I am today.
I started performing when I was just a little kid—probably around 3 or 4. I have these cute little videos of me jumping from couch to couch, putting on shows for my family. As I got older, I’d convince my cousins and brother to join me in mini performances for our family during holidays and birthdays, whether that was making up skits, performing a song on the guitar, or just dancing. I’ve always loved being on stage, which is funny because in my day-to-day life, I’m actually a bit more reserved.
I also started learning instruments at a young age, playing the guitar and viola all the way through high school.
Fast forward to now—I’m surrounded by an incredible team of producers, choreographers, videographers, photographers, and designers who really resonate with my vision and are helping me bring it to life. I’m currently working on my next single and getting ready for a big show where I’ll be opening for Erica Banks and Gloss Up in November in Columbia, Missouri. I’m learning a ton along the way, and I have some exciting moves coming up that I can’t wait to share!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall yes, it has been a smooth road as every challenge I’ve had has helped me learn more about myself and my craft. I’m grateful to continuously learn with every release. I’d say a small challenge has been figuring out how to navigate people. Just like any industry, especially in music, there are people who are difficult to navigate. A lot of people will try to take credit for your success or try to discredit your success. So yeah, I think knowing when to bite your tongue and when to not has been a learning opportunity for me. Thankfully I don’t have to bite my tongue in my music.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an artist overall, specifically a singer and songwriter. I write and record music, perform, dance, creative direct my music videos, and all the many things that come with being a well rounded artist. I am most proud of my dedication to my craft and my commitment to keep going. My whole life, I have been very determined; even if something is hard or will take time to master—I’m going to do it. That mentality comes from my family and their struggles when they came to the United States as refugees with nothing, having to re-build their lives from scratch in a culture they were unfamiliar with. I believe anything is possible with hard work, humility, and kindness to others. I’m proud of that, and it sets me apart from others. Life is very delicate, and I have learned that through the loss of people very close to me. I refuse to not give it my all in chasing something, and I want to inspire others to do the same. Life can be tough, so why not at least go after the things that fuel you?
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Resilience: the ability to bounce back from setbacks or when things don’t go exactly your way. I have learned to be a solutions-based person. I also studied biological engineering, so my whole degree was about finding solutions to problems. That has heavily transferred into my music. You can’t allow yourself to be discouraged for too long or to dwell on it for too long. You will face disappointments, and people will disappoint you, but I see it as part of the journey. It prepares you for how to handle things on a bigger scale when you reach that next level.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hanacanhasi.komi.io/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanacanhasi/?next=%2F
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hanacanhasi?si=T-I-pLZ6K2Q6VAzg
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3DHhnxIEhypYmBJp8CrLrQ?si=RO04ZqZpQ_W3t0pC2rieFQ
