Exploring Identity Through Music with Hen Yanni

The album reflects a long journey, starting when I left home around 16 years ago. I was young, rebellious, and eager to push my boundaries—leaving behind school, friends, and everything familiar. That period of exploration and the emotions I experienced during those years have always inspired my writing. Even today, after all this time away, I still feel like a foreigner in some ways, detached from my roots. It’s a strange feeling—leaving behind my people and family. I express that in ‘Beautiful Friends’, where I explore my identity. It’s tough to say, but I’ve always felt a bit like I never fully belonged, whether to my country or even sometimes to my family. There’s a nomadic side of me that I touch on in that song, about always being in-between places.Reflection is about embracing my quirks, like being clumsy, scatterbrained, and messy. It’s about learning to accept myself, my character, and not being too hard on myself. That took time, but I’m much more at peace with who I am today. Music played a huge role in that—it’s been a healer for me, helping me make peace with different areas of my life.Another major influence was my mom’s battle with cancer. She passed away two and a half years ago, and while I was caring for her, I wrote ‘Before You’. That song gave me hope. I wrote it for the future because I knew music would lift me up after the grief, and now, I’m in that moment where everything is starting to happen for me. I also wrote ‘Version of You’ for her. Looking back, I realise it was my goodbye to her. It’s about me understanding that I’m her continuation, her extension—a version of her. And after she passed, I became a new version of myself.

Leaving my home country was essential for me. I felt a deep need to break away from my roots and everything familiar. Growing up in a small country like Israel, with all its complexities, I always had the urge to explore different cultures and see what the world had to offer. It opened my mind, particularly regarding my identity as an Israeli, a Jew, and as a queer person. I needed to step away—not because I don’t feel connected to my roots, but because, at a young age, I needed to discover that there was more out there and to meet people from different cultures and religions. I had questions that I expressed through my writing. When I was 18 I moved to New York , it was the first city that truly inspired me. Being surrounded by so many immigrants and queer individuals made me feel accepted and alive, like anything was possible. I wrote ‘I Am’ about that feeling of freedom—how liberating it was to disconnect from my birthplace and culture and just do what I wanted, whether that was exploring my sexuality, experimenting with drugs, or simply living without limits. Now, living in Paris has opened up a beautiful new chapter for me. I’ve found my place here as an artist, something that wasn’t easy to achieve in Israel. Paris has given me the space to thrive creatively, and I’ve met so many incredible, creative people here, which opens up new avenues for collaboration and creation.

As I was searching for my inner voice as an artist, I also had to explore my identity as a queer person. Since I was young, I struggled with understanding my sexuality, and that search for clarity became a significant part of my artistic process. and that search for clarity became a significant part of my artistic process. Accepting who I am has been a journey filled with challenges, my parents had a tough time with it, and that definitely affected my process of finding my voice. Their struggle influenced my quest to find my voice, both in my personal life and through my art.

Today, I experience a profound sense of freedom in simply being myself. I recognize that I am a complex person, and that complexity is a core theme in my writing. My experiences have taught me the importance of authenticity—embracing my uniqueness and learning to accept myself as I am. I’ve had to confront the reality that I don’t fit the mould of what others might expect, and through that journey I’ve had to learn to feel comfortable in my own skin, which influences my songwriting and performance. This acceptance shapes my songwriting and performance, allowing me to express my truth without fear. Ultimately, Each song is a way for me to express my experiences and connect with others who might be going through similar struggles. Being a queer artist enriches my work and allows me to share my story with honesty and vulnerability. In terms of performing, I can be who ever I want and express my masculinity and femininity at same time. I can feel, I can be who I am and play on it like I want to.

I wrote ‘Keep On Moving’ just a couple of years ago, sitting in my home in the French countryside, reflecting on my life. It’s a song about empowerment—a reminder to myself that I’m strong and can push through, even if I started this musical journey later in life. Transitioning into a new career, especially something as personal and challenging as music, was tough. There were moments when I felt like I had to completely start over, and this song became a way to remind myself not to give up. It’s also about me versus the world. For years, I felt out of place in other careers while my true passion was always music. Staying strong and believing in myself wasn’t easy, especially when, deep down, I knew I wasn’t where I wanted to be creatively. ‘Keep On Moving’ captures that determination—the decision to keep going, no matter how hard it gets. This song resonates deeply with the rest of the album, which is all about resilience and trusting the process. It ties into the larger themes of identity, transformation, and the courage to embrace who you are, even when the journey takes longer than you expect.

Looking back at my early 20s in Israel, after returning from a modelling career, I found myself struggling to find work and juggling bartending and acting jobs. Those years were really hard for me. I often felt very lonely as I tried to figure things out, trying to do my best but not really knowing where I was heading. At that time, I was focused on acting, but I wasn’t happy. I was really struggling to find work as an actress, and I didn’t feel like I was tapping into my creativity.There was always this voice in the back of my head telling me that I should be creating, but I didn’t know what form that would take. Music actually came into my life during a time when I was feeling depressed and lost, and that’s when I started writing. A lot of the songs I wrote back then were very melancholic, reflecting where I was emotionally.Those early experiences shaped my artistic style in a big way. They taught me how to channel my struggles and emotions into my music, which is something I carry with me today.

My writing process often comes from what I’m going through in life, specific experiences, or the people around me. Collaboration plays a big role in that. Sometimes I co-write lyrics or work on composition with others, and I really love it. Working with people inspires me and opens up new creative possibilities that I might not have thought of on my own. A memorable collaboration was on ‘Burning Forest’, which started as a half-written song in the countryside with my friend Martin Rahin about six years ago. One day, while we were working on the track, my dog showed signs he was going to pass away. After 17 years, he passed, and that experience deeply affected both of us. It inspired us to write about life and death in a more raw and personal way.’Where Do We Go’ was written during the COVID pandemic, when everything felt uncertain. At the time, I was in a long-distance relationship with my ex due to the circumstances, and I was away working on my album. I worked on this track with Benjamin Labeau, who helped me express my feelings about the situation. The song became an internal monologue about the feeling of having someone important in your life but being physically far from them. I even added a voice note of her speaking to me into the song—it felt like a natural part of the story. These collaborations added layers of meaning and emotion to the album. Having others involved helped me tap into deeper parts of myself and allowed the songs to evolve in unexpected ways.

One thing I’m particularly proud of in my music career is showing that it’s never too late to pursue your true passion. Music has always been a big part of my life—it started as a hobby when I was young, but I got caught up in other paths. I modeled for years, then transitioned into acting, but there was always this voice in me, pulling me back to music. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I finally decided to answer that call. It was a gradual process, fueled by passion, and now, in my 40s, I can look at where I am and say, “I’m really doing it.”The journey wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of myself for staying the course. There were so many moments where it felt like I had to start over—whether it was switching careers or rediscovering my artistic voice. But I never let go of that dream. It took time, but here I am, fully immersed in what I love, and that feels incredible. I’m proud of all the work, the growth, and the resilience it took to get here. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to live your passion, and that’s something I carry with me every day.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received about life outside of music came from my Mom. She often reminded me to always believe in myself, especially during challenging times. She would say, “Imagine you’re standing in a long corridor lined with doors. Some doors will be closed, but you have to keep moving forward because there will always be one door that’s open just for you.”

One unexpected source of inspiration that has significantly impacted my music comes from my dreams. Lately, I’ve been experiencing nights filled with vivid soundtracks and melodies that resonate deeply with me. Sometimes, I hear songs I already know, while other times, it’s entirely new melodies that emerge from the depths of my subconscious. These dreams leave a lasting impression, and upon waking, I find I can vividly recall the melodies.I’ve started recording these snippets as soon as I wake up, capturing the essence of those dreamscapes before they fade away. It’s fascinating how the subconscious can conjure such unique soundscapes, feeling like a direct channel to my creativity.

What’s next for me is diving into the live performance aspect of my career, which I can’t wait to experience. I feel that performing will be a huge part of what I love, allowing me to connect with my audience more deeply. In the meantime, I’m also focused on writing my next album. I’m eager to explore new collaborations with different artists, . Overall, I’m excited about the journey ahead!