Isabella Gonzalez
For her upcoming birthday concert, singer-painter Isabella Gonzalez hopes to bring people on a “musical time travel” with a setlist that encompasses time and genres.
“I will sing stuff from the 1990s. I will also do songs all the way from the 1930s because I love big band jazz standards and songs from different eras,” she said in a pocket interview for “Isabella, Pls!: A FUNtastic Getaway,” which will be held on April 22 at Hacienda Isabella, which was named after her by her mother, Kuh Ledesma.
Discipleship sisters
Kuh says her daughter is a woman of many talents. Aside from music, Isabella is also into the arts. She writes and directs, but these days, she has decided to focus on singing and painting. “I feel like I have rediscovered my love for singing and that makes my happy hormones rise,” she said.
As such, her goal for her concert is simple: to have fun. It’s the same advice Isabella’s discipleship sisters at church told her before her Valentine concert with Kuh last February.
“That changed everything for me. I forgot I was also called to entertain, not just by hopefully moving the audience through the songs, but to also help everyone have a fun time. Since then, my whole perspective on making shows has changed,” she said. “I just want to have fun and feel inspired and encouraged by the stories we tell through music.”
Joining her in the concert are the inimitable singer-actors, Mitch Valdes and Nanette Inventor. “I fancy myself as the president of their fan clubs,” said Isabella, who described the two artists as her “titas of comedy.”
Two comedians
“I look up to them. Mama Mitch is cool and protective, while Mama Nanetteski is always up to try different ideas. They say that when you have two ninangs at a wedding, you know it’s going to be a party. But when you have two comedians, you know it’s going to be a good show,” she said.
Her director is none other than Kuh, whom she fondly refers to as “The Mothership.” “That means I can let go and focus on the songs I have to sing. Usually, I’m the one directing her shows. So it’s a relief to finally be able to let Mama do the driving,” she said. For tickets, call 0920-286-8895.