Isabel Merjos. Everything has been said about her that you can possibly imagine, whether good or bad, she's proved to be a force in Pop music who's seemingly unstoppable. With the buzz surrounding her for her new music and new tv show coming out, one can only guess that the pressure is beating down on her but after sitting down with her today, she gracefully seemed to be relaxed, a little more relaxed than we'd thought. It's amazing what a year can do to a person and Izzy is a prime example. She's definitely not the little teenager we all fell in love with. In fact, she's a beautiful young lady who we're positive, will make us fall even more in love with over the next year. We sat down with her to talk about her year and plans for 2014, as long as some exclusive details on her EP, album, world tour, and personal life. - Kimberly Haze


[This is an excerpt. For the complete story, buy next week's issue of Billboard.]





"I'm like the quietest girl ever but when I'm performing, I have a voice." Often being deemed as music's most 'innocent' singer, Isabel Merjos has earned a respectful reputation that also comes with some unwanted attention. From the very start of her career at age 16, Izzy was already battling against herself and her label, then Spice Records, of her own image and what she wanted to do. "People have always had these preconceived notions as to who I am, as a person and artist, and it's hard trying to....I guess direct their attention elsewhere when they've made up their mind. I've given that up though, I don't care anymore. People will see me how they want to and you know what? That's fine." It was a great few years afterwards, gathering more than a few awards from Chaos, GOLDIEs, Fans Choice Awards, and various other organizations. Her videos broke records and she currently has 5 VEVO certified videos, but 2012 was when the singer really rose to fame after her third album, Dancing In The Dark, went number one for nine weeks (non-consecutively) and it was hard to go anywhere without seeing or hearing Izzy. With a new label and new attitude, her career sky rocketed and now the sky is the limit for the now 21 year old. She's sitting in a chair across from me in a nice blue and white stripped dress, complete with bright red lipstick. She's happy, smiling brightly as she's taking mini breaks to answer questions as well as snack during her Billboard Magazine photo shoot.

She has her hair down, looking very prepared for the photo shoot and to take on the world for that matter. "Would you like a fry? I probably won't finish these all myself." Izzy was snacking on some McDonald's in between her breaks which struck me as humorous considering she was in great shape. "I eat a lot of junk food, it's probably very unhealthy. I try to balance it out by eating salads and fruit, vegetables. My favorite healthy snack is a bag of Sun Chips and some orange juice." I nicely decline her offer of a fry and listen on as she talks about her eating habits. "I don't really exercise. That comes from dancing. I hate working out and getting all sweaty, you know? Plus working out is so boring and you know you're working out so you don't want to. Dancing, however, is fun and you sometimes don't even think about how healthy it is. That's why I love it." A few seconds later, she was back to posing in front of the cameras while I looked on. One thing to notice about Izzy is how graceful and elegant she is, even if she doesn't mean to be.

"I'm very much different than how people think. I'm very awkward and I get nervous. When I get nervous, my hands get all sweaty and I start to sweat and it's a terrible thing. My very first red carpet appearance, I was so nervous, I was sweating and I was afraid to talk to anyone. I can still get like that today." She giggles, her infectious giggle which is contagious and caused me to laugh. Another thing about Izzy, she has a very bubbly and warm personality so you always felt like you were talking to an old friend with her. She had the ability to light up a room and yet not come off as cocky. "I love dancing. It's one of those things where I struggled with and practiced and I finally got it down. Initially, I wanted to be a choreographer after my break from music but then I wanted to just perform altogether."

Her first taste of fame was starring on a season of Barney and Friends when she was younger. "It was fun, I met a lot of people and got a small idea of what it was like to really work hard for something. I remember I got my first paycheck and I didn't know what to do with it so I gave it to my parents. I told them to spend it on our bills. I was a child, I had no idea what to do with money. (Laughs)" After that, singing became her new love. "I always had a funny voice, it was kind of soft and high and then I had a small accent so yeah. It's safe to say I was not confident in myself at all."

Something that she says changes as she got older, especially with her new album coming out. Izzy announced that she would be releasing an EP and album in the same year plus a new world tour and possible new fragrance. "It's going to be a busy year for me. There's music and then there's acting, so yes, I'll be super busy. The tour won't come until much later in the year though, probably towards the end of 2014 and roll into 2015." With such a busy year ahead, one has to wonder when she'll take a break or get to relax. "Before the album, I have a window for relaxation and enjoying myself. I try not to overwork but I feel the most at peace really. I've always been like this, I love being busy." She slyly pushes her hair back behind her ear as she then brought her leg up to rest on the other. Her presence was very classy and yet she could still crack a few jokes. She joined part of the 'youth' scene which vastly dominated most of 2012 and 2013. Of course, none of that comes without the big question; will there be that adult crossover everyone is looking for?

"I would never want anyone to think that I'm going to abandon my younger fans to gain older ones. I'm not about that at all. The way I see it, to be a truly great artist, your music has to be universal and reach all age limits and even though I feel like I accomplished that with my last album, this album has that sense of growing up to it. It's tough, finding that balance where you can connect with your fans as they get older but I feel like I just have that connection with them to where we're all growing together."




As far as her idea on releasing an EP before her album, Izzy says the idea came to her easily. "Honestly, the whole concept of the EP and album came to me literally overnight. It had some kinks in it and I worked them out but at the end of the day, it's something I wanted to do. I felt like I had written a lot since my break and since a lot of my songs dealt with the same sort of theme, I put those on the EP and then I put some on the album. The EP is basically a cleansing before the album. It's like when you go into the new year and you tend to bring a lot of your past with you that you don't necessarily want anymore, this EP has that. I'm sort of releasing it before the album because I wanted my album to be fun and vibrant but not just that. It's got many elements to it that makes it my album. It was really important to do that because I didn't want to just blindly release songs and release my music without being able to be identified, you know? Like, you'll listen and know that is my song. Obviously, all bodies of music are personal and it's no different with me. The EP is a few songs of me during the slow and dark days. I'm releasing that so when I get to my album, I'm not carrying that sad energy with me."

She takes a sip of water from her water bottle she has graciously asked for from one of the workers at the shoot. The EP and album are really being kept a secret which is something we're used to with Isabel. She doesn't give many details except possible themes but other than that? We're left to our own imagination.

"The EP was fun and hard to write. As everyone knows, I'm very secretive and sort of shy about my feelings on my personal life so once I had to write the personal songs, I won't lie, it was tough. You're trying to say enough without saying too much. You're kind of careful how you choose your words because you don't want to come off as something you're not but you don't want to sort of....sound in genuine. I really want everyone to know this is all coming from me and it's really who I am. I feel it shows my growth as an artist and person. My songwriting has gotten better, I feel as if I'm being more creative than with my last record and hopefully that shows. Really, the EP is the teaser for the album. It's like 'Here's something before I really hit you with my record' (Laughs) So I thought it would be a great idea." Of course, she drew inspiration from some of her musical idols and also confessed she felt like it was tough.

"I think the album, it's one of those albums where you can listen and you can almost hear the influence. I went for it this time, I drew in from my idols and people I admire as artists, Britney Spears, Selena, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, maybe not as raunchy as Britney and Rihanna but I definitely tried to take notes. The Britney influence is basically when she had to go from the sweet pop singer everyone always saw her for and then she grew up, which is essentially what I'm doing, I'm growing and learning. I'm experiencing life, making mistakes, all of that. There's always that feeling you want to be taken seriously and not just seen as 'Well she's too sweet and cute to know about life' and all that. It has the fun vibe to it and hopefully the creative vibe as well."

It's almost hard to believe Isabel is 21 years old, an official adult. She almost feels nervous of the expectations from her but then puts it to rest whenever she's in the studio. "Of course, I'm always nervous. People have expectations and you want to meet them but then you want to just be happy. I feel like I'm definitely not going to put that much pressure on me or this album because at the end of the day, whatever happens, happens. I'm going to pour my heart and soul into this album and deliver the best I can. That's good enough for me and I know it'll be good enough for my fans."

As the year draws to and end, Izzy can't help but to be excited for the new year in music. "Next year will definitely be fun, I'm really looking forward to it. I've learned a lot since my last album and I've sort of gained a newer perspective on my music. I think recording has opened my eyes a lot to not being as afraid as I was in the past. Now it's all about doing what I want without that judgement of if I'm good or not, you know? That's honestly the last thing that entered my mind while I was in the studio and it feels amazing. There's pressure but I don't feel it anymore. I'm going down the path I want, in terms of music, and I'm not being told what to do, I've gotten this huge reign of freedom and that was life changing. Even with my last album, I still got some freedom but this was probably the most freedom I've gotten on a record. Everything went the way I wanted it to and nobody told me 'no' unless they felt like it could be better. For artists, that's a huge thing." She giggles and then sighs, almost trying to calm herself from her own hype. "I've been sitting on these songs for a while now so you can trust me when I say I'm beyond anxious to get them out."

Izzy is focused on her music but that doesn't stop the tabloids and other internet blogs from dissecting her private life. After the shocking CU article revealing her and Ryan Ross Hernandez, 15 years her senior, sent shocks throughout the internet and was quickly one of the most searched story of the week, but she has no fears about it at all. "I'm happy and we're happy together. That's all I really care about in the end. It wasn't your typical situation, of course, but the more I used to let the media and other people sort of control my relationships, they sort of failed. It's always going to be hard because we're both in the public eye. Sometimes I want to hide and shy away but then I wouldn't be living my life." Most of the young singer's fans were not too happy about the relationship which was apparent on Twitter but Izzy wasn't mad at all. "I've always known that my fans were protective of me and I appreciate it. I'm not mad at them at all because I know they do it with love and out of love, not hate. But I'm really happy and I'm in a great place right now."



She flashes me that winning smile and it was clear she was happy as she talked about him, her smile never fading. We talked a little more about their relationship and it was the first time she had been open about it in an interview. "We're a lot more similar than people would imagine. We're both kind of laid back and neither of us feel pressured or anything. It's relaxing. He's a nice guy, contrary to what the media or others say. I think the best thing is he doesn't treat me like a child or really....censor himself around me which I don't mind. It's great to just be natural with someone and not have to put on this mask when you're around them. It's good to know they like you not for the artist you are but the human being you are. There's always going to be criticism, always. I'm at that point in my life where I'm really secure about myself and not second guessing."

Once we got over the chat and girl talk of guys and Hollywood, she spent some more time talking about her music. "The EP will be available in March of 2014. That might seem like quick notice but I'm sure my fans will love to hear it soon." I'm sure her fans are going to die when they receive it and as for her description of it? "5 words? Oh dear, let's see.....fun, confident, sexy, emotional, and therapeutic. At least for me it was and I might be the least sexy person there is so you'll just have to listen to judge for yourself. (Laughs)" Aside from music, Izzy also has plans to go on another world tour but this one being bigger than her last. "I'm planning for this one to be my biggest yet. The stage and everything will be big and it's going to be amazing. It's going to be a show all about entertaining and having fun so it doesn't feel like a regular tour show. I'm more involved this time so I really want to make it a huge thing. Lots of lights and costumes, different outfits, dancing, just a lot of fun. I feel like I owe it to my fans. It's not going to be like the other tours I've done because, to be honest, it felt like it was a tour. I want this to feel like a very large and elaborate meet and greet with my Izzybells. (Smiles) Lots of shows, a lot of dates but it'll be worth it."

It's not clear if Izzy has yet reached that point in her life where everything she does will be a hit and cause lots of attention but one thing is for sure, she'll definitely be able to have a long lasting career in music and possibly film too. The sky is literally the limit for the singer and 2014 will be every Izzybell's dream so we're prepared to be there every step of the way! See you next year readers!