FIGHTER (Joel Hokka)

3. WHO IS ISABEL

February 25, 2021. Gran Vía, Madrid. Rock FM Studios, the most important radio station of rock at national level.

"Good morning Spain, how are you? I hope you are having a great day today and if not, don't worry it will get better because today we have a very special guest who I was looking forward to meet. A shout out to Isabel Maese, our candidate for this year's Eurovision Song Contest." The broadcaster, whose name is Manuel, introduces me. 

"Thank you so much for this friendly welcoming Manu. It's a pleasure to be here today, I've been listening to this station since I was a child singing songs of iconic artists like Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Sugarcubes or The Doors and to be here now is a pleasure for me". 

"If it's alright with you, I'm going to do a quick bio for those who don't know you. Isabel you are also known for participating in The Voice in 2019 being your coach the italian singer Laura Pausini." I nod "mmm exactly." 

"In the blind auditions you sang "Say So" by Doja Cat but in a rock version that you composed yourself. You got three of the four coaches to turn around and, I quote, Laura stated that "you were the voice". How did you feel at that moment and why Laura was the chosen coach?" 

"I was in a state of shock, I couldn't believe what was happening. I felt grateful that great artists, not only from our country but also from Latin America and parts of Europe, supported me, it was a dream."I answered Manuel, trying to control my anxiety, I'm not good at communicating. I hated doing oral projects in school and it's not something I'm doing very well nowadays.

"And I chose Laura because she is an artist whom I have admired since I listened to her album "Primavera in advance". She is a very inspiring woman with an amazing voice and a pure soul." 

"Did you have a clear choice at that very moment?" He asked me "Of course, she is Laura Pausini!!" We both laughed. 

"In the contest you sang well-known songs like "Un corpo un'anima" by Umberto Tozzi, "Horses" by Patti Smith, "Kickstart my heart" played by Mötley Crüe and you even went out of comfort singing a song by the Mexican artist Luis Miguel called "Suave" He starded to number "The last one was wild" I remember shyly. 

"You finished second in the final of The Voice with your spectacular performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. And after that Laura called you to be her opening act for her tour in Italy, regardless of whether you didn't have any album at that time. However you had covers of songs that have blow up on the internet." 

"Yes, I had multiple covers, even of some Eurovision songs from previous years. I've been living in Italy this past year, writing and producing some songs. But most of all, I've been learning from all the wonderful artists around me and such a beautiful country. And at the beginning of the year I returned to Spain to finish my university degree in Translation, Interpretation and Applied Languages. I love learning, especially foreign language, is like an addiction."

"So much is your love for Italy that there were rumors that you would join the competition for Sanremo Music Festival this year" says the interviewer playfully "Oh no no, it's true that the asked me and advised me to participate but I do not know if the Italians would feel comfortable with me representing their country. Besides, I've grown up watching the performances of Spain and nothing makes me happier than representing my country. You know, ever since I was a kid, I've always liked the Olympics, when I look at the athletes winning their medals and getting here with them, see that joy and pride, I wanted to feel the same, but unfortunately I'm a mess with sports" Manuel laughts at my short story "You should have seen me, I look like a dwarf compared to my classmates. Also I am asthmatic, so ir was chaos, but I was good at baseball and field hockey! At least I was good at something" I said smiling and trying to contain the giggling.