Itzik Dadya: "There's Nothing to Do, Something from Childhood and Youth is Lost"

"When I step out of the darkness / My soul has no peace and I have no rest / Between moments of despair and moments of hope / I always call to you, for your kindness / Listen to my soul, calling to you, my God / Give me light, embrace and protect me / Our God, King of the universe / Beloved God of my heart, with you until the end of my days / I feel within my heart – the light within me / You are my King, the light of my eyes, God of my life"

 (From the song "God of My Life", from the album "Focused on the Light")

He was a child, just six years old, when he first danced on stages across the country, alongside the greats of Eastern music of those years. It's unclear if he believed what place of honor he would eventually reach, and only time will tell what additional heights he will conquer. But just fourteen years after that, as he is considered a rising star in the world of religious music - Itzik Dadya pauses for a moment from the race, and gives us a special interview on the occasion of the release of his new album, "Focused on the Light".

"Torn Between Youth and Adulthood"

As noted, most of you have probably already come to know the name Itzik Dadya, even though he is one of the youngest creators in the market. He is only 20, but has managed to travel a remarkable path at a young age and in a short period, which others can only wish for.

Itzik Dadya. Started his career as a child (Photo: Yossi Appllo)

As stated, he began his musical career already as a child. Later, at just 12 years old, he performed with the famous children's band "Kinderlach", and subsequently released his first album, "Am Yisrael Chai", followed later by the second album - "Singing from the Soul". Additionally, in 2011 he participated in the religious Festigal, "Songs and Wonders from the School", where he starred in the lead role.

He recognized his musical destiny already in childhood, he says. "Since a young age, I was considered the star of the class", he describes, "and I was consistently chosen to be the lead soloist in class performances. So, continuing with the Kinderlach band was pretty much expected".

It seems that alongside the brilliant career, over the years Dadya had to make many sacrifices for the coveted goal: while many of his peers lived through their regular teenage years, Itzik Dadya danced on prominent stages across the country and the world, working on an extensive musical career; as others studied for exams or went to the beach – Dadya was secluded whole days in recordings for the sake of a new album, recently released.

You were very young when you started your musical career. How did it affect your personal life?

"Thank God, my social status in class always remained stable and good. My friends were aware that I was combining studies with a musical career and respected that".

Still, age 16 is a peak time for gathering youth experiences. Don't you feel any sense of loss?

"No. This commitment to a career is something you understand and live by, and there's no place here for regret. You might not go on trips with friends from the yeshiva, but you do other equally important things. I agree with you that my 16th year was somewhat confusing, where you're quite torn between youth and adulthood. There's nothing to do; something from your childhood and youth is lost. But on the other hand, you also gain not only your future but also the maturity and responsibility that are built within you, on the way there".

Itzik Dadya performing (Photo Credit: Jonathan Fadida)

"I'm Still at the Very Beginning"

Recently, Dadya released another album, titled "Focused on the Light". Dadya and his team worked for an entire year on its production, and many of the songs in it were even recorded by Dadya's independent work from his private studio. Just two weeks after its release, the album is already marked as a huge success since its appearance in stores – it has already sold over 20,000 copies. There too, it turns out, Dadya nurtures a successful career in parallel. Mexico, France, and Brazil are only part of the places where he is considered an emerging and promising star.

Unlike his previous albums, it seems that the current album presents Dadya in a more mature and profound version - one that has no connection to the young age he holds. "When I hear my first album today, I hear a confused kid, lacking the proper maturity to come out with what he has to the world. Its uniqueness is also that the subjects I sing about belong to everyone and speak to everyone. Today, after maturing through internal processes with the two previous albums, in this album – I feel more mature and constructed and already know what I want from myself".

So what do you want from yourself, really?

"Every person aspires to something in life and would want to be guided towards his destiny, the best he can offer the world and the world can offer him".

The two-year gap between albums, that's not a bad achievement.

Dadya laughs. "I personally feel I'm still at the very beginning. Though this album does make me quite happy, it includes writers and composers from the top tier, like Yoeli Dickman and Adi Leon, who composed the hit 'The One Who Believes is Not Afraid' for Eyal Golan, among others. The warm responses we're receiving about the new album prove that all the folks who worked with me on the album – definitely did a great job, and I am grateful for that. But even so, the vision is big, and the path to it – is still ongoing".

I am alert and ask if this means we'll talk again in two years. "Why two years? Be optimistic," Dadya laughs, allowing himself to indulge in the arms of the next dream, "Let me relax a bit from this album, and talk to me, God willing, in a year and a half. Perhaps we'll both be surprised by then".