Her sweet smile captures your soul and her voice creates divine sounds. At Osteria Futurista, leaning on her guitar, Isabel was waiting for us, her hands already sweaty, eager to pluck the strings.
Hi Isabel! Can you tell us about yourself?
Hi Luce, my name is Isabel and I'm 19 years old. I was born and raised in Verona, to an Italian mother and a German father. The "international" atmosphere I breathed from childhood led me to develop an insatiable propensity for travel over the years, in what I like to call a constant search for the "Self." At the age of seven, captivated by music for the first time, I picked up the guitar and shortly after started singing. Although I struggle to remember the exact timing of when it all began, I vividly recall how both components of this passion integrated immediately with great naturalness and speed.
Do you write the lyrics for your songs?
After spending most of my time reproducing the songs of the artists I admired most, I started writing. It was my very first original piece (written in my garage) that made me adopt a different perspective on music. From that moment, I truly understood how much this art, which I initially considered a mere pastime, defined and fulfilled me. Even today, the way composing allows me to wander through thoughts and get to know myself has no equal in any other activity.
You moved to Barcelona, how has this change impacted your music?
Yes, in September, since I shifted my center of gravity to Barcelona, my musical journey has taken unknown, but at the same time exciting, paths that I hope will lead me to turn my passion into a job. In the meantime, in Spain I am studying Business Administration, which, with all its logic and systematicity, acts as a counterbalance to my creative and abstract nature.
Tell us about your inspiration…
Since I was little, I've always felt an urgent need to move, learn about, and explore the world. For this reason, today I can say with certainty that travel is my greatest source of inspiration. Still, whenever I set foot in a new place, I'm overwhelmed by a wave of stimuli that I can only "process" musically. I strongly believe that the freshness of encountering an unknown reality, along with the feeling of being able to change shape and appearance depending on the place, makes travel a genuine stimulus.
Which piece best represents you?
To be honest, I haven't found a piece that fully represents me yet, and sometimes I wonder if I myself will ever be able to "write" my self-portrait. To tell my story sincerely and completely in one song, one for life, seems impossible to me at the moment. However, I believe that the dynamism and unawareness of youth make it all even more difficult. But one thing I am certain of is the hope of being able to write music that can one day become a place of encounter and sharing. That said, among the songs I've been listening to most lately is *On my Mind* by Jorja Smith, a singer who has had a great impact on my "musical development."
Your Life Motto?
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how" (Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche)
My life motto, I believe, is all about "living consciously and intensely." I have always thought that happiness derives mainly from knowing oneself and from searching for a personal "reason to live." Therefore, in my opinion, a necessary consequence is that anyone who finds their reason for living can enjoy such overwhelming happiness that they would not want to give it up for a second longer. In other words, for me, touching happiness with one's own hand means cultivating oneself and one's talents, learning to know and value oneself.
What did you dream of as a child?
As a child, I dreamed of singing on stages and doing so with such mastery that I wouldn't have to fear the judgment of others. In this regard, I've always been particularly shy about my music, and I've always feared comparison, both with those who know me best and with strangers. For years I was a victim of this insecurity, and even now it's not always spontaneous for me to open up about what I write, sing, or play. Despite this, I am aware that the change from the past has been significant, and for this reason, I believe that "child Isabel" would be happily surprised by the progress made in recent years.
