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personalities
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What
a week!
Confident,
pretty, charming: 19-year-old singer Ira Losco looks foward
to fun and fame
Interview
by Zillah Bugeja
Photos
By Pippa Zammit Cutajar
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Monday
I was still in Gozo because I had sung at Paradiso for the public
holiday. I woke up reasonably late compared to the rest of the week,
at about 12. I waited for like three hours in the queue and came
down to Malta, where I had a rehearsal with the band I'm performing
with for the University Students Festival. We're doing two or three
numbers, they're funk, it's a new style I've never tried before
but it seems like it's going well.
I always go out every day, to a bar and just to relax, I like to
have my time where I can do whatever I want. I go out about 9pm
and am home by my own curfew of midnight. I'm quite disciplined.
It means that on Saturdays I can't stay out that late because I'm
on TV the following morning. But I'm used to it now, and besides,
it does bother me but I've had my fill of going to Paceville. I
tell my boyfriend to stay out if he wants. Being on TV regularly
on Sundays is good for me, so going home early is a little sacrifice
to make.
Tuesday
At university Tuesday is my busiest day, I have about four lectures
and get home at 2pm. I'm reading Communications and Psychology –
second year is tough. When exam time comes around I'll have to find
time to study. I had to be at Rahal Gdid by 4.30pm to try on some
clothes for Saturday when I would be presenting the Malta National
Fashion Awards. My mother drove me to Direct Boutique, and I was
there about an hour. Left to go to Attard to join up with the band.
I do have my driving licence but I'm still getting practice, it's
my mother's new car so I'm being extra careful before I take it.
The rehearsal took quite long and at 9.30pm I was at my boyfriend's.
He was ill and I went to keep him company.
Wednesday
Had a one o'clock lecture, so woke up at 12. The credit is Presentation
Techniques where we're learning to make a speech and how to address
the public which I'm not very good at, I'm good at singing.
Singing was always the only thing I really liked doing. Now I only
sing when I have to, I prefer listening to songs, you learn more
when you listen.
Came back home, had lunch, and I studied a bit. Went back to university
for our audition at 5pm. I wasn't nervous at all, this was my third
audition for the Students Festival.
Went to see Gavin, he was still ill, so I didn't get to go out much
this week. Normally I'm nearly never home.
Thursday
Woke up early, 7.30am for an 8 o'clock lecture, psychopathology,
how boring. When I'm supposed to meet my friend at 7.30am, I wake
up at 7.30 because I know she'll be five minutes late, and I shower
and put on full make-up in that time, I've trained myself to do
that. I like to wear make-up, I feel I need to. Everyone's seen
me all dressed up, every time I appear on TV I look good, so it's
important to keep up the image. Once when some children saw me with
my hair in its curly state, they got such a shock, so I feel I have
to live up to people's expectations. My life has been conditioned
by singing, whether I like it or not.
After I went to Snackline, had a coffee and met some friends, the
barman is really a good friend too, who likes to catch up with what
I'm doing.
Caught the bus and went to try on some clothes for the Kinnie and
KFC advert I was doing. When I was younger I was quite chubby, so
I never thought I could be a model, which I will be doing for my
main clothes sponsors Hot Couture. I've been this size for the past
two years. When I was 15 I was nothing much to look at, I always
felt good because I had lot of friends and I was the fun person
to be with.
At Hot Couture we were chatting for about two hours. The clothes
are outrageous, very in right now, they're my type.
At 4.30pm the pianist Frank Bonnici came around so that we could
practice songs for Sunday. I like any kind of music except commercial
dance, it's blaring out of every night club you go to.
Rehearsal lasted till 6pm, and I had to be at the Dolmen by 7.30pm
for Fashion Awards rehearsal. It was my first time presenting. I'm
quite well versed in Maltese, we speak Maltese at home but when
I argue with my sister Lisa it's always in English!
During the rehearsal, we were told not to use the phrase ‘and
the best model is' – instead we had to say ‘the award
for modelling goes to' because awards were given for the achievement
during the year, it wasn't a competition as such. Everyone's beautiful
in a different way.
Taxi back to Gavin's house, and I was home by midnight.
Friday
Up at 9 because I had to do my nails at OPI. I was early so I went
round the shops. This is the first time I've had false nails applied,
for the Song For Europe festival it was a choice to either get changed
quickly or have false nails, so I went for glitter nail polish and
that was it.
University for a lecture, went for my sister at school and kept
going to the Dolmen where I met the co-presenter John Suda, whom
I've known for years.
I went with my father to collect the photos of me during the Song
for Europe festival. They were taken by Dominic and I really like
them, they're in action.
Babysitted Gavin's cousin Becky, watched a video and walked back
home at 1.30pm. Had a nice sleep.
Saturday
Got up at 9am thinking it was 10am so got quite angry, should have
slept more! Got my driving practice with my father up to Zebbug
where I picked up clothes from Gilda for Sunday's programme.
I went to Sandro Azzopardi Jewellers to drop off some gifts. They
had been one of my sponsors, with Bvlgari jewellery, and I hadn't
had a chance to thank them. Without sponsors I wouldn't manage,
it's quite an expense, they help you achieve that look, I must have
cost a bomb that night!
Gavin and I went out for lunch to Paparazzi. I love the food, I
had spaghetti with tomato sauce and a chicken curry called Henpecked.
Dropped by Hot Couture to buy the clothes I'd tried on for the advert.
I always buy sensibly, like, the white trousers have a big cowboy
buckle which you can take off.
By 7pm I was at the Dolmen. The Nightlife crew were there while
I was getting my make-up done. Gianni interviewed me, making jokes
that she was taking really long on me.
The awards were over by about midnight, then it was off to Golden
Seven for a half chicken. I did say I pig out!
Sunday
My father plays football on Sundays, so he woke me and took me to
PBS. I had a chat with Rachel, Christine and Diane Nikolic who had
been presented with the make-up award the night before. We speak
about our weekend, have our little girlie fun before Joe Dimech
comes in. I don't get nervous about singing on TV, you don't have
to think about people watching you.
After the programme, went to eat at nanna's. Lasagne, my favourite,
we had to make do with Argentinian corned beef instead of mince.
Better safe, eh?
Watched TV while Gavin's family were having lunch, then it was out
with two friends for a drink at Hank's. All these insects fell in
our Cokes, the guys drank theirs.
At 6.30pm zoomed off to mass. Back home, had a shower and watched
Shaft, a really cool 70's style movie. Ordered a takeaway pizza
at 9.30pm which arrived two hours later, but it was worth waiting
for.
Before bed, my thoughts went to university. Obviously the main goal
is to actually represent Malta at the Eurovision but I won't let
that be the pinnacle of my career. Hopefully it will get me out
of Malta.
I have to have something to fall back on if the singing doesn't
work out, but I'm hoping by that time…
Photos
By Pippa Zammit Cutajar
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