Interview:
Name: Ingrid Vella
Born on: 1st June 1988
Home town: Gudja
Website / Facebook / Twitter / You Tube page links:
www.facebook.com/ingridella
www.youtube.com/channel/UCufL2Ikf200xk_i0UebyszQFavourite food: Anything that’s healthy and doesn’t take long to cook ;--)
Sports activity: Running
Favourite local TV show: I don’t watch TV.
Favourite Foreign TV show: I don’t watch any TV.
Favourite Maltese Act of all time: I don’t have a favourite per say, but last Summer’s “Kelma Kelma Nota Nota” was brilliant!
Favourite hobby: Writing
Do you have any success?
Musically, I have written lyrics for two songs so far.
My first song, “Jien Ghandi Kollox”, composed by Augusto Cardinali and sung by Thea Gauci, was the overall winner of Festival Melodija Magika.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bF_CQPm42AMy second song, “Pjan”, also composed by Augusto Cardinali, and sung by Simone Gauci, was one of the 16 finalists out of the 105 songs submitted for L-Ghanja tal-Poplu 2015.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcAvwqWaMxUHow important is music to you/why?
I feel music complements my science-oriented life, I guess it allows me to express my creativity, and possibly keep me sane… so I consider it very important :--)
How did your life in music start?
I had been writing poems for several years, when a Maltese lyricist approached me and encouraged me to start writing lyrics. I wrote my first songs shortly after going to L-Ghanja tal-Poplu in 2014.
What is a typical daily routine for Ingrid?
I’m a PhD student, so I spend my day at the office, doing science stuff. I’m also a resident tutor, so I look after first year university students who live in my hall. In the evening, I hang out and have dinner with the other tutors.
How do you like to spend your weekend?
I typically use weekends to catch up on a backlog of chores and errands that I’d otherwise not have time to do during the week, and of course to relax prior to another working week.
Favourite holiday destination. Why?
Malta, hands down. Now that I’ve been away from the island for 4 years, Malta has become my favourite holiday destination. I obviously miss it, and most of my favourite people live there! :--)
About L-Ghanja tal-Poplu Festival, do you think this festival is of a high standard?
Of course. I wouldn’t otherwise participate in it. I think L-Ghanja tal-Poplu is one of the main song festivals on the island.
L-Ghanja Tal Poplu champions our national language. Do you think Malta should send a GTP winner to sing in Maltese at Eurovision one year and why/why not?
I still haven’t made up my mind about this one.
In which language do you prefer to write songs?
Maltese. It is my native language, and I feel that no language can better help me express myself.
Do you have any plans to write a song for a local Festival?
I’ve already written songs for L-Ghanja tal-Poplu and Melodija Magika. People seemed to like both songs, so I do feel encouraged to write more songs for local festivals.
Your musical influences: Corazon, and Mark Amaira.
Your inspiration in life: Everything inspires me.
A message to our readers: Don’t hesitate to take the leap to your dream. If you never try, you’ll never know what you could have been capable of achieving.
Interviewed by Mr Joseph Portelli (Music News Malta Editor)
