Maria Isabel is name that every single person in Spain knows! Many Eurovision fans also know her, as she won the 2004 Junior Eurovision Song Contest with her smashing hit “Antes muerta que sencilla”. She has now been selected as one of the six artists to compete for representing Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, which will be held in Stockholm.

We had great pleasure to talk to Maria Isabel ahead of the Spanish national final. She spoke to us about her career, memories from Junior Eurovision in Lillehammer, she told us more about her song she is competing with, including the team behind it, and a lot more. Check it all out in this interview right here:

Hello Maria! Thank you very much for taking your time out for speaking to ESCBubble. Can you tell us a bit about your music career so far?

I started having fun doing what I liked most when I was a small, nine year old girl. I applied for Eurojunior, a singing competition, won it here in Spain, and thus went to Junior Eurovision where I was competing against 17 other European countries with my song „Antes muerta que sencilla”. Afterwards I released my first album „No me toques las palmas que me conozco”, which was sold in over one million copies, and I released three more albums after that. With my second album „Maria Isabel N2” I released my line of perfumes with the same name as my CD. Later I recorded „Capricornio”, and my fourth disc was „Angeles S.A”. This CD was put together with songs that belonged to the movie where I was the main star, and it was very well received. This movie was a musical comedy with plenty of famous Spanish actors. That is when I stopped recording CDs, and I was presenting the Spanish TV show „Los Lunnis” for many years. I had to stop doing this and finish my studies, to perfect my voice, and teach interpretation and dance. For 7 years I have been parading on flamenco fashion runways, and now I returned with a new album “Yo Decido”. The first single from this album is “La Vida solo es una”, and right now I’m super happy because I keep working, and I am now competing to represent Spain in Eurovision 2016.

You won Junior Eurovision in 2004. How was your whole experience in Norway, and are you still in touch with any of the other entrants from that Junior Eurovision?

I had the time of my life! I have wonderful memories, and I was doing what I loved the most – singing and dancing. I was a girl and everything was a game for me. I met many people who are still my friends, like Marios Toffi who represented Cyprus, and I always had a good laugh, and enjoyed it a lot. Later he came to a Gala organized especially for me. We talk a lot, and he is the one who I’m still in contact with, and also with his parents.

Let’s come back to this year’s Eurovision. Can you tell me how did this Eurovision proposal happen? Were you contacted by TVE, or did you decide to send your song to them?

I was contacted by TVE, and I wasn’t even thinking about it! Music is the thing I love the most, and it is what I stand for. We have selected the song, which was then mutually agreed on. And I think it is the perfect song to represent Spain.

Can you tell us a bit more about your song, and the team behind it? What kind of a song can we expect from you?

My song is very positive, cheerful, it will make you dance, and it’s going to be in Spanish. David Santisteban composed it. It’s a proper Eurovision song, and the more you listen to it the more you will like it. But I still can’t tell you the title of it.

How are you getting ready for the Final? Do you have some ideas about your stage performance, and how the entire presentation is going to look?

I’m working very hard and I’m rehearsing a lot. There will be dancing, and yes – I have ideas but they will remain a secret until the day of the show.

Who do you think is going to be your biggest competition to win?

It’s very clear that all the participants are fantastic singers, every one in their own style. It’s important for all of us to trust in ourselves, to give our best, and most of all – to enjoy.

Unfortunately, Spain hasn’t finished in the top 5 since 1995. What do you think Spain needs to send to achieve this kind of result?

Well it is quite difficult to finish in the first five because there are many countries taking part, and every country tries to do their very best to win. Spain sent some very good singers in the past years, and they had incredible songs. They didn’t win, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are still the artists they are here in Spain. I believe that all of us try and show our strongest points on stage in order to win, and if there’s no luck – at least we gave it a try. I will try and show everything I’m capable of doing. That is where you can show the result of all the hard work you did, and you have to be natural, happy and positive, and of course, try and reach the best possible result for Spain.

Which would be your personal favourite Eurovision song?

The song Pastora Soler sang for Spain, „Quedate conmigo”. She had a fantastic performance.

What sort of music do you like to listen to in your free time?

I listen to all kinds of music, but usually when I want to relax, ballads are my choice.

What do you usually do when you are not singing?

My life revolves around music, but when I have free time, well, I like to entertain myself as all of the girls of my age.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Simple, positive, and cheerful.

Are you currently involved in any other projects right now?

Right now I’m promoting my new album, and rehearsing and getting ready for our national final for Eurovision.

And finally, do you have a message for all our readers at ESCBubble who will support you in the Spanish national final?

I would love to show the best of me at the final here in Spain in order to be able to go to Stockholm and sing my song in Eurovision. I want to feel all those emotions once again that I felt as a child, but now a little bit differently, and I believe that with my efforts, work and with your support, we can do it! I would love to go to Eurovision, and if we win even better – it would be double the happiness. Big kisses to all of you, and I hope you will like my song. Are you ready to dance? 🙂 Big kisses.

Give a listen to her latest single, which is also her bid for Eurovision – “La vida solo es una”:

If Maria Isabel is your personal favourite in the Spanish selection, make sure you cast your vote for her in our poll here: