Three questions for singer Nani Vazana, our soloist during Ricciotti In Extase!

How did you get started making music?
“I always knew I wanted to be a musician. When I was 2 years old, I was already imitating opera singers I heard on the radio and I told my mother I wanted to become a singer. For my third birthday, I asked for a piano, and for my fourth birthday, I wanted a microphone. So it became clear quite early!”

In which languages do you sing and speak?
“I speak English, Dutch, Hebrew, and also a little Ladino and German. I usually write my songs in Ladino, English, and sometimes in Hebrew. I also write stories in Dutch, and I sing in about 15 different languages.”

The Ricciotti performs everywhere and for everyone. Do you have experience performing in unusual places?
“Because I had stage fright, I played a lot on the street. I wasn’t able to express what I wanted to do on stage and was always anxious about my performance. Then I thought: where would it be the most difficult? And yes, that was on the street. For several years, I really played on the street 2 or 3 times a week until I was able to say goodbye to my stage fright.” 

More information about Nani can be found on her own website.