In her latest music video, Ira Losco shares the stage with modern-day ‘soldiers’, including cancer and meningitis survivors. “I am simply the narrator in a real-life story,” she tells Pink in her first full-blown interview after giving birth to her son. The video’s message of dealing with and accepting struggles is a “good reminder not to fall victim to trivial matters”. It’s no pity party either.

First of all, how is to be back in action after an eight-month hiatus; back on stage, back in front of the camera… and back behind the lens as you worked on the making of the music video to accompany the third single of your upcoming album? Did you miss this sort of action?

Yes, I most definitely did. I had been at it for nearly 15 years non-stop, so it took some adjusting from my side. I find it fuels my soul to do more than one thing in a day, especially when it’s all related to music and creating. I hadn’t realised how long my hiatus was until someone pointed it out. Well, in reality, last May, I went straight into the studio and recorded till two weeks prior to Harry’s birth. So I was never really that far away from the action. It felt great to be in front of a big audience when I launched my single though, and being back on the airwaves! 

It’s a case of back with a bang – yet you choose to share the limelight, so to speak, with four other protagonists – in this video. Didn’t you want this to be all about you and your ‘grand entrance’ back on the scene?

My vision for We Are the Soldiers was immediately drawn towards including other protagonists. The song speaks about struggle and survival and that this is a reality everyone faces. How we deal with our struggles is more important than outlining the hardship. I believe every single one of us has our own struggles, and every situation is unique and personal. The best way I thought of relaying that message was by running four parallel stories and the positive message of accepting our challenge and moving forward in life nonetheless. I thought of Amy Zahra, Charlene Mercieca [coincidentally, I later got to know she was presenting this year’s Eurovision final where I was also a guest debuting the new single], Karl Abela, a visually impaired athlete I met recently, and Julian Bajada, a Para-athlete whose story I recently discovered. I knew they all had to feature in the music video some way or another. All four protagonists had inspired me with their touching stories. So, this song was the perfect fit for the message I wanted to convey.

Your first performance at the Malta Eurovision national final after your brief absence due to the birth of your child saw you projecting a stronger-than-ever image, very much in keeping with the title of your track, We Are the Soldiers. Did you want that image to be carried through in the video, or are the soldiers someone else here?

I try to see myself in a different way with every release because, ultimately, I feel the song is in control and it is the song that decides what is the best fit for it both sonically and visually. I also love that the dynamic of the live performance can be replicated in a music video. The real soldiers are Amy, Charlene, Julian and Karl in this case though. I am simply the narrator in a real-life story.

The fact that everyone can relate to a song they listen to and make the story their own is, ultimately, the beauty of music

The song speaks of rising out of struggles and the determination to bounce back, harder and stronger. Do you feel any struggles of your own pale in comparison to those of the personalities you chose to feature in the video? Is it a way of putting things into perspective?

I could never compare my own struggles to the ones of the four protagonists, but I am positive they will argue the opposite, in the sense that their message is that we are all equal. We all have struggles. Accept what life throws at you. Don’t let anything bring you down, or any impairment hold you back. Of course, the fact that everyone can relate to a song they listen to and make the story their own is, ultimately, the beauty of music. Not everything turns out as we plan. But what defines us is not the actual challenge; it’s how we chose to deal with it. To some extent, I feel I can deal with a lot of challenges, and to some extent, the more they stand in my way, the more I am ready to overcome them.

How did you go about choosing these people? Was it hard to find the right candidates to fit the bill, or did you know exactly who you wanted, based on their experiences and approach?

It wasn’t difficult at all. I met Amy years ago when she contracted meningitis. Immediately, her smile and her incessant zest for life drew me towards her. The same can be said about Charlene. I was blown away by her enormous courage and her candid way of saying things as they were during her treatment. I can say the same thing about Karl, whose strength and positivity truly inspired me, as did Julian’s perseverance and athletic achievements.

What do their stories mean to you on a personal level?

Their stories are a manifestation of courage and determination, but above all, they are a reality. They put my perception in check. Many a time, I’ll moan and groan about the stupidest things. This video will be a good reminder not to fall victim to trivial matters.

Was it easy for you to convince them to feature, or did you have to talk them into it?

They were all happy to share their story, as long as it did not portray them as victims and we were of the same opinion. Amy asked to see the lyrics so, of course, I sent them to her. I received a smiley face and the words: “I like the lyrics!” 

You could have created a fictitious story to send across the idea of soldiering on. What has been the impact of using real people and real issues? And how important do you think it is for artists to really connect with real causes?

I wanted to celebrate the protagonists. They are real-life soldiers. I think artists have the power to touch people twofold – through music and lyrical content – and when both are coupled with genuine visuals, it really can’t get more honest than that. I get that the entertainment industry is a stage, where many of us play different roles and we rely on emotions. We make use of artistic licence to play into surreal and real-life scenarios.

Has being away from the scene and having a baby in any way played a part in your way of thinking, the inspiration for and the message behind this music video? Are you feeling deeper and more into the meaning of life?

I think I have learnt to appreciate everything more. The little simpler things mean the world; time and how valuable it is. It has also made me appreciate my art more. I also love the people closest to me more.

Do you think this music video could serve to bolster others going through tough times? Do you intend it to be an anthem of sorts for those who are struggling, or are we reading too much into it and it is just the images to accompany the words?

Music and visual work hand in hand. Every video tells a different story. If this video inspires people going through rough times, if it allows us to take a moment and think about others, or simply makes us aware that we are equal and able to achieve, then I think it has served its purpose. 

You were after achieving a poignant visual in your music video. But your chosen protagonists are more a symbol of strength than of sadness and heartbreak. How did you ensure that it would be moving and tug at heartstrings, without simply giving rise to pity instead?

My pitch to all the protagonists was based on the video not being a pity party. I was adamant and so were the director and my management that the message comes across poignantly, but with great positivity. 

Who else out there inspires you in this same way? And if you had the chance to choose absolutely anyone to feature in an upcoming video, who would it be?

Anyone who fights for his or her rights and lives life with immense positivity is inspirational. I don’t want to give away too much and what we have in the pipeline, so I’ll keep mum about that. 

The video was shot by Matthew Muscat Drago, but how much of a say do you have in the end result and are you totally happy with the outcome?

My manager, Howard, and I have a very strong and focused vision and most decisions are based on gut. When the gut feelings align, there’s no turning back. While we are very open to different ideas, we thrive on the chemistry and energy created with the people we work with. We challenge everything put forward regardless of where it comes from, but we try not to derail as it’s very easy to lose focus on the road ahead. A wrong side road can take you in a wrong direction very fast and, more often than not, it’s not easy to get back on track. People who work with us tell us that we ping-pong ideas very fast.

The next ballad will be very moving on a personal level as it’s based on someone very dear to me who’s no longer with us, unfortunately. I never thought it would affect me so much. Thankfully, music has always been my cure to my demons and I am simply grateful for this wonderful gift

You have long wanted to collaborate with these women. Did you ever envisage it would be in this way, or did you have no idea how it could materialise?

The result is exactly how I imagined it, but the feeling created is more than I anticipated.

How was it on set and actually working with them?

It was lovely as they are all fantastic. They are very down-to-earth and were great to work with. There was a particular moment where the director was shooting Karl, who is visually impaired, and where the irony of being in a music video he can’t actually see dawned on me. I’m sure all protagonists had a moment of reflection and I am happy some special ones were genuinely captured. That’s the beauty of working with real-life stories and protagonists. 

In what way do you feel this music video differs mostly from your others – even in terms of your input and message – and what does it say about your artistic development with time?

My aim is to continuously raise my personal bar higher. This album is actually going to have two ballads and this is one of them. It is my first power ballad after quite a while. The last ones were I Don’t Wanna Talk About It from the Accident Prone album in 2005 and Idle Motion from Fortune Teller in 2008, so that’s nearly 10 years ago. The last single with a message as strong as this one was The Person I Am from The Fire. This single touches a more sensitive issue though. The next ballad will be very moving on a personal level as it’s based on someone very dear to me who’s no longer with us, unfortunately. I never thought it would affect me so much. Thankfully, music has always been my cure to my demons and I am simply grateful for this wonderful gift.

The real protagonists

Meningitis survivor and amputee Amy Zahra and cancer survivor Charlene Mercieca.

How did Ira Losco approach you to take part in her video and did you have to think about it?

Amy: Ira and I go back a long way. When I got sick with meningitis 11 years ago, she had come to visit me with a common friend. From then on, we remained in touch. Ira gave me a call a few weeks before shooting the video, told me about her vision for it and asked me if I wanted to take part. My issue was time, more than anything else, because I work and I’m also studying and I’m involved in a number of organisations as a disability rights and women’s rights activist. However, once we worked out our schedules, it was fine. I also knew the kind of image Ira wanted to portray and that is why I agreed to take part. I’m not a fan of either the tragedy image, or the superhero image, and both the song and the video don’t portray either, but rather, the rawness and reality of our everyday lives. 

Charlene: I had a call from Ira. There wasn’t much to think about really. I just went for it!

Did her idea resonate immediately with your own personal experiences and circumstances, or did you have to tweak the concept? Did you identify immediately with the song and her aim?

Amy: Apart from knowing what kind of idea Ira wanted to put forward, she also understood my background and principles. I think the song is about many people’s reality, that is, that sometimes life throws things at us which we have no control over and for which our only way out is to be resilient. Once I heard the song, I identified immediately with the words and with the idea that we are all human and that we all have our good days and bad days. 

Charlene: I don’t see myself as a soldier as such as I don’t believe that such life circumstances are to be battled, or fought; it’s more about accepting them. But I know that for many people, it is important that they feel they are warriors. I didn’t have to tweak anything from the filming since I believe I still passed on the message of hope and love for oneself.

When I was in hospital for over three months, fighting for my life after meningitis, I used to feel that music was my way of connecting with the outside world

In your circumstances, what do you think may be your most trying moment yet and how do you rate your resilience?

Amy: I’ve had to battle two major wars in my life, fighting meningitis and kidney failure. I would not have been able to overcome both had it not been for the support of my family and husband. In a way, I think our whole life is a test. Those two instances were my trying moments, as was losing my father, who donated one of his kidneys to me. My resilience was only possible due to the support of my family and husband. I would surely not have done it had it not been for their tireless support. The fact that I’m rather hardheaded might have helped a little too.

Charlene: After my experience, I realised there are no good or bad experiences. Life just is... We can only accept what life gives us with grace and do the utmost to learn from each experience, being grateful and counting our blessings each day. When we allow such situations to teach us, we can become the greater versions of ourselves each day.

What does this song mean to you personally, and what do you think it could mean to others?

Amy: I believe the song portrays the reality that life is not always nice and cheery, as we may tend to portray it, but that it has its highs and lows. I think everyone has some experience or other that can resonate with the words of the song.  

Charlene: For me, it means that each circumstance has a silver lining, and from the other stories I saw, I think many people are going to grasp the positivity of these individuals.

Do you think music can really help and inspire people who have hit rock bottom and are going through a terrible time, or is it the last thing on their minds when at war?

Amy: Music can be very helpful. It has certainly helped me. When I was in hospital for more than three months, fighting for my life after meningitis, I used to feel that music was my way of connecting with the outside world. It can be a source of inspiration, a way of putting our emotions on paper, or in this case, in music.

Charlene: The right music can put you in the right state of mind. There are many studies showing how certain frequencies can actually be healing.

How was the actual experience of shooting the video? Was it another trying moment that pushed you out of your comfort zone, has it served to strengthen you even more, or was it just a matter of fun and games?

Amy: I very much enjoyed the shooting of the video. All the people involved were great fun to work with. I loved visiting the National Library, which was a good perk of taking part in this video. To be surrounded by all those old books was certainly inspiring. 

Charlene: For me, it was a new, fun experience. 

You’ve had your fair share in the spotlight, pushing forward your own messages of beating the odds and being brave. Does your participation in Ira’s video add another dimension to these goals and in what way?

Amy: It certainly adds another means of bringing my message forward. Taking part in a music video was a first for me and goes beyond the usual newspaper or television interview. 

Charlene: Many people look up to Ira as a role model, and a person who achieved a lot of success. The participation of all of us brings out a stronger message. Some people can inspire through music; others through their actions and gestures. We all have our strengths and we can all do something to improve the human race.

What is your own message, which you are sending out through this video, beyond the underlying idea of rising from struggles and bouncing back?

Amy: That people with impairment can lead normal lives. We need to see more people with impairments as our doctors, our teachers, our beauticians – it is only then that we would have reached equality.

Charlene: My message was and still is to embrace each situation, learn from it and have faith that things will work out.

And what do you think of Ira Losco for having wanted to share the stage with you? What does it say about her?

Amy: Ira has always used her platform to bring important issues such as bullying to the fore. I believe this song puts forward a strong message about the reality that many of us go through. I thank her for using her talents to share with us the rawness of our realities. 

Charlene: It was a privilege to have shared the stage with her.