Hanukkah Gets a Fun New Theme, Thanks to This 15-Year-Old Pop Star
In a holiday season with Christmas songs to spare, one talented teenager is giving Jewish kids a song of their own to help ring in the festival of lights.
Edon Pinchot, a 15-year-old performer from Chicago, comes from a Jewish Orthodox background, but his faith isn't the only thing he inherited from his family. His mother and sister are pianists, and he started playing when he was 9 years old. Edon has been singing since he was a little, and he eventually combined his talents to create a popular YouTube channel showcasing his impressive performances.
Edon's videos got the attention of "America's Got Talent," and he made it all the way to the semi-finals when he was just 13. He was referred to as the "Jewish Justin Bieber" due to his smooth vocals, boyish charm, and unabashed pride in his faith.
After leaving the show, the teen launched his own pop career, and is now writing and performing his own music. His first single is the mid-tempo tune "8 Days," a contemporary ballad about Hanukkah that could easily fit on Top 40 radio.
"It's the holiday season, all you hear is Christmas music," he tells us. "There's nothing wrong with that, obviously, but I thought it would be cool to be the first to create this crossover."
"On one hand, ['8 Days'] is clearly a Hanukkah song, but at the same time it's radio-playable and something that anyone could be listening to," he continues. "I tried to focus on these overall views of hope, freedom, resilience, persistence, standing up for what you believe in. I tried to make it this sort of universal feel that anyone could relate to, while still making it a song that is Hanukkah-themed."
As for how he's celebrating the first day of Hanukkah on Thanksgiving - something that won't happen again for 70,000 years! - he says he'll be with family, and is excited to light the candles during the feast. "We're putting [both holidays] together in one - it's gonna be fun!" he says.
Edon's new single "8 Days" is available on iTunes now. Check out more of his music at his official site.
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