Ira Losco is currently incredibly busy with an imminent double album launch (featuring over 20 original tracks) and a Christmas concert coming up on the 23rd of December, so we managed to have a chat with her in between shooting these stunning images taken exclusively for Buzymummy.com by the fabulous Kris Micallef.
Ira comes across as super professional and down-to-earth, yet at the same time one can’t help but feel in awe of her. I don’t know what it is about her. I guess she has that X factor that people talk about.
Yes, she is talented, yes she is beautiful, but there is something else that sets her apart from other beautiful, talented singers. I can’t really put my finger on it, though I can definitely say this girl knows how to work the camera, just as well as she can work the stage.
At one point, in between shots she shrieks as she checks out a message on her phone. I can’t help but snoop (she did shriek really loudly). Ira shows me an image of someone’s arm with a fresh tattoo of her face on it.
This is not the first person who has tattooed Ira’s image on his body. How do you feel about this? I ask her. “It’s an honour!” She laughs. “I think it’s crazy that they would actually do something as permanent as a tattoo but it is undeniably flattering!”
Photo credit: Kris Micallef for Buzymummy.com
Ira has been recording music for the past 15 years. She has recorded 8 albums in total including 4 studio albums, 1 unplugged album, 2 remix albums and a compilation album entitled ‘LOVE me or HATE me’. She also released a music DVD: ‘Living it’, back in 2006 and a 400 page photographic journal with Allen Venables and Allied newspapers in 2009. In total Ira Losco has written almost 100 original tracks and released over 20 singles locally. She is also one of Malta’s top influencers with over 151,000 followers on Facebook and close to 34,000 followers on Instagram.
“Looking back now, it’s quite surreal as I realise how young I was when I broke through locally more than 15 years ago. People expected a lot out of me, and being a perfectionist I put a lot of pressure on myself. The few times that people gave me a hard time, it would hit me 100 times harder, because I was already so hard on myself.”
“I am so at ease on stage. Motherhood, on the other hand, is something that I am learning along the way”
Apart from writing music, one of the things that Ira absolutely loves doing is performing. “I come alive when I am on stage and I am so excited to be performing live so soon.”
Ira’s upcoming live concert entitled: ‘Ira Losco in Concert’, will be held on 23rd December at the Hilton and will feature tracks from the past and present and some very special guests. All seated balcony seats are sold out so if you want a ticket, get one here before they sell out.
Photo credit: Kris Micallef for Buzymummy.com
Ira tells me how music and performing come very natural to her, “I am so at ease on stage. Motherhood, on the other hand, is something that I am learning along the way, I guess like many other parents do.”
“I remember when the sun used to set, a wave of sadness used to take over me”
“When I became a mother I experienced a kind of identity crisis,” she smiles, “I have built my career in the music industry and worked extremely hard to accomplish what I have achieved. Becoming a mother has proven to be challenging in the sense that it hasn’t been easy for me to relate to my new role and the new identity that comes along with it.”
Ira continues to say that she is prone to depression and in fact struggled with post-natal depression after having her son, even though she did not realise it and was not officially diagnosed at the time.
“I remember when the sun used to set, a wave of sadness used to take over me. If I let my mind wander for too long, I would fall into a very dark place. It could be related to the fact that I am perfectionist and that so much is expected of us as mothers. I felt I failed a lot and it was tough.” She smiles, “at least there was one thing I managed to achieve which made me feel I was doing okay. The fact that I managed to breastfeed for over one year. It kind of makes up for the fact that I don’t know how to do much else,” she jokes.
Photo credit: Kris Micallef for Buzymummy.com
Here are some highlights from our interview:
On what surprised her the most about parenthood:
“The deep love I felt immediately for Harry.”
Ira tells me how she is actually very self-critical and that it is not easy for her to love herself and show love to others. “Thankfully I have friends and family who help remind me about my positive points, but with Harry it was just simple. I love him and he loves me back.”
“I thrive on creating and sharing special moments with people through my music and my shows.”
Photo credit: Kris Micallef for Buzymummy.com
On what she has found most challenging:
“I think my biggest struggle was the fact that I did not want to stop making music once I became a mother.”
She tells me how people tend to wrongly assume that when a female artist becomes a parent, this automatically means her career is over. “I am more driven than ever to keep making music. Entertainment has value. It lifts people, it makes them feel and live in the moment and I thrive on creating and sharing those special moments with people through my music and my shows.”
“If you do not focus on your image, people will criticize you and if you do, people will also criticize you.”
On being a woman in the music industry:
“I think there is more pressure on women when it comes to image. Like it or not, image is important in this industry and people can be very critical on both sides of the spectrum. If you do not focus on your image, people will criticize you and if you do, people will criticize you too. You can’t win really so I have just learnt to do what makes me feel good and what complements my music in terms of my image.”
Photo credit: Kris Micallef for Buzymummy.com
“I wish to help empower and inspire other female artists. You can be a mum and still nurture your talent.”
On her advice to other mums:
“I wish to help empower and inspire other female artists to keep going, even after they have children, if it is something they want, naturally. I fully respect those who don’t. My message is you can be a mum and still nurture your talent. Yes it takes sacrifices and lots of juggling and balancing, but it is possible if you really want it.”
On what she is working on at the moment:
Ira is currently very busy in the studio writing and recording the new double-album which is scheduled to be released early next year. This is the first double-album featuring over 20 new original tracks ever to be released by a local artist.
Ira will also be performing in Milan this December, following a personal invitation from Bruno Santori (of Sanremo fame) after he heard her version of ‘Tu Nel Universo’ which will also be recorded and included on the double-album.
And to top it all off, Ira is rehearsing for the upcoming Christmas concert to be held on 23 December. “I feel so blessed to be doing what I love most, which would not be possible without my manager Howard, my family, friends and of course Shaun and Harry.”
Ira Losco in Concert is selling out fast (all seated balcony seats are sold out). Get your ticket here to avoid disappointment. Click here, here or here to view some of Ira’s live performances.
The BuzyMummy Express Quiz
We ask Ira a set light-hearted questions which are synonymous with our cover story interviews:
What makes you happy? Food
Favourite food? Burger and fries
Drink of choice? Grappa
Favorite movie? Interstellar
Favorite TV series? Netflix: Making a Murderer
Best place you travelled to? Tuscany
What do you admire most in people? A positive attitude.
What do you despise most in people? People who do not have compassion and empathy.
Any hidden talent? Writing short stories.
Any hobbies? Drawing and painting especially caricatures.
Check out a caricature of Sean Gravina drawn by Ira Losco herself.
We would like to thank Ira Losco for so graciously accepting to feature in our cover story. Ira Losco was interviewed by Davinia Mallia Pulé and all images were shot by photographer Kris Micallef exclusively for Buzymummy.com. Make Up is by Diane Nikolic at Make Up Factory and Hair is by Privé.
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