Lana B (born Lana Banic; 1978) is a Kresimirian pop singer, television personality, and cultural icon. Often referred to by the state media as the “Sweetheart of the Republic,” she is one of the most recognizable celebrities in the Divine Republic of Kresimiria.
Since 2005, she has hosted the variety show Saturday Night in Sinj (Subota U Sinju) on Tele-Radio Kresimiria (TRK), the nation’s highest-rated television program. Her music and public persona are characterized by a blend of modern pop production with traditional folk motifs, projecting an image of wholesome, apolitical patriotism that aligns closely with the values promoted by the Council for Education.
While she publicly maintains strict political neutrality, her career has been dogged by persistent rumors regarding a private relationship with the Chair of the Assembly and Blue Dawn leader, Ari Stov.
Lana B frequently competes with Sinj-based boyband Josie Dropout for the most-streamed Kresimirian artist.
Early Life and Education
Lana Banic was born in 1978 in the suburbs of Sinj. Her father was a mid-level manager at GradnjaMC and her mother was a schoolteacher.
She attended Vijrje City University (VCU), graduating in 2000 with a degree in Media Studies. It was at VCU that she began her performance career, singing in the university’s “Tram Bar” circuit and hosting campus radio segments. Her professors noted her unique ability to appeal to both the urban youth of the capital and the working-class students from the industrial districts.
Music Career
Lana B rose to national fame in 2001 with her debut single, The R9iver Flows Home (Rijeka Teče Kući). The song, a ballad about the Kambel River, became an instant anthem.
Her musical style is a synthesis of Western-style pop and Kresimirian folk. She frequently performs wearing stylized versions of traditional dress. Her 2003 hit, Plavo Jutro (Blue Morning), was adopted as an unofficial anthem by supporters of the Blue Dawn party, though Banic’s management denied any intentional political subtext.
She is a fixture at national events, having performed the national anthem at the opening of the Vjetar Dam in 2008 and at every Holy Derby cup final in the last decade.
In 2010, Lana B released a controversial cover of the Arbor State classic Fields of Gold and Grey. While the single was a commercial success and reached number one on the TRK charts, it was criticized by folk purists and the surviving member of Arbor State, Toma Soric, for stripping the original of its somber meaning.
Television Career: Saturday Night in Sinj
In 2005, the Council for Education selected Lana B to host Saturday Night in Sinj, TRK’s flagship variety show. The program features musical performances, comedy sketches, and interviews with “heroes of the Republic” (usually soldiers, athletes like Katarina Joric, or workers from state enterprises).
Under her tenure, the show has become a critical tool for social cohesion. Lana B’s interviewing style is famously gentle; she avoids controversial topics, focusing instead on “unity” and “pride.” Media analysts note that during periods of political crisis—such as the 2014 Sprodvice Earthquakes or the 2015 Digital Vigilance Act protests—Lana B’s show often runs extended specials focused on charitable giving or historical reenactments.
Personal Life and Controversies
Lana B cultivates a heavily curated public image. She has never married, claiming in interviews that she is “married to her art and her country.”
The Stov Rumors
For nearly a decade, rumors have circulated regarding a romantic relationship between Lana B and Ari Stov.
- Origins: The rumors began around 2013, shortly after Stov assumed the leadership of Blue Dawn. Lana B was frequently seen at gala events hosted by YakaSys, Stov’s former company.
- Censorship: The Kresimirian Herald and TRK enforce a strict blackout on the topic. Any mention of the alleged affair is scrubbed from the Kresinet by CIA censors.
- Opposition Coverage: In contrast, the northern independent outlet Northfocus and tabloids in neighboring Boskenmark frequently report on the pair dining together in private villas in Lipovljana. Critics argue that her prime-time slot on state TV is a direct result of this patronage.
Criticism from the Arts Community
While beloved by the general public, she is viewed with disdain by independent artists. The late director Zarko Zaki once famously described her as “a facemask on a cactus.”