Pop diva Kuh Ledesma and her unica hija Isabella

Singer, composer/lyricist, and painter Isabella “Izzy” L. Gonzales will celebrate her birthday with a concert entitled "Isabella Pls!!! - A FUNtastic Getaway @Hancienda Isabella" on April 22.

For Izzy’s birthday concert, she will be joined by two of the country’s very talented and fabulously funny singers, Mitch Valdes and Nanette Inventor. Also joining this night of fun and cool music is Izzy’s mom, the pop diva herself, Kuh Ledesma.

“Mom and I decided this year we would try and do a concert at Hacienda Isabella each month. We had a pre-Valentine concert in February, March is when Mama had her birthday, so we did one a couple of days after on the next Saturday and then mine follows her, it just made sense to us to finally get out there and share our home and Hacienda with everyone in this very special way,” said Isabella. during a simple media conference in Greenhills, San Juan recently.

Asked about what the audience can expect from the concert, Izzy excitedly answered, “Fun! I was asking for prayers during our first show last February from my discipleship sisters at church, and a friend texted me to just have fun. 

"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. 

"Ever since then, my whole perspective on making shows has changed. My main goal is for everyone to enjoy themselves as well as inspire and encourage them with the message found in each song. But most importantly, to just make sure everyone can sit back, relax, and be entertained.

"I've rediscovered my love again and passion for singing, and it makes my happy hormones rise. So I'm very happy about that. That's my major expectation - to have fun for everyone to enjoy and hopefully to be inspired by the story we tell," Isabella said.

Izzy also shared her experience collaborating with Valdes and Inventor as well as her mom, for this birthday concert. 

“It’s really been such a treat, an exciting and truly thrilling adventure! I love chatting with my two titas of comedy and look up to them so much. They’re both adorable in their own ways. 

"Mama Mitch is cool and protective while Mama Nanetteski is such a giver with all her ideas and is game to try the different ideas I suggest. 

"But then of course, everything has to go through the approval of ‘The Mothership’ who is directing the concert, which means I can let go and just focus on the songs I have to sing and my part. Usually, I’m the one directing her shows, so it is a relief to finally be able to just let mama do the driving," she said.

Kuh and Isabella

Isabella said that she was excited about her first birthday concert, as she also requested her mom to sing.

"I have one request from my mom. Can you sing, 'Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing?' And she said, 'you have to sing it with me?' So we will be singing like Tori Kelly's version.

"I've got some stuff from the 90s, the 1930s cus I love my big band jazz standards. We have a lot of things from every era. I like to time-travel with my music. So this is going to be my first ever birthday concert. So I'm very excited," Izzy added.

On directing her daughter for a special show, Kuh said: "Sabi ko sa kanya when she says 'yes mom,' it's like music to my ears. We were struggling for so many years na 'mom, this is what I wanna do,' 'this is what I want to sing.'

Isabella answered: "I've learned to surrender. That's the Lord, not my mom. And you know that He won, and I'm glad. So now I'm at this point where I have completely surrendered. It's like saying, 'God, your will be done."

"Everything good in my life, I really do believe it's connected to how my mom sort of directed me. She's really my director in my life," she added.

On her musical influences, aside from her mom, Isabella said: "My dad was one of my first main influences. And then all the music that he liked and my mom like na Sting, Sade, Barbra Streisand, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Vaughn. And then I will be talking about that and tell a story talaga, from the very beginning."

For those who wish to go to Izzy’s birthday concert, she gave this message, “Hi everyone! You’re invited to my very first birthday concert called, ISABELLA PLS!!! - A FUNtastic Getaway @Hacienda Isabella,” with a special exhibit at @GallerieKUHL at Hacienda which opens at 4:22 pm on April 22. Dinner that night will be at 6 pm and the show will be at 8 pm. We hope to celebrate Earth Day which is my birthday too in a garden with yummy food and delightful music to help us all time travel through tunes and enjoy a night filled with fun, love, and stories. Do join us and thank you in advance for all your support and for truly helping me make my childhood dreams come true of getting to share with you the gifts that God has given me.” For more information about Izzy’s birthday concert and Hacienda Isabella, please call 09608850288 or 09202868895.