In a candid interview, actress and singer Izabellah Diez opens up about the inspiration behind her latest song, “Finally”, a romantic ballad that mirrors her own first love experience. Collaborating with Rex James IV, her real-life first kiss, the pair captured authentic chemistry in the duet.
Originally written for their upcoming film Mi Loca Quinceañera, the track evolved with a unique country vibe, ultimately becoming a standalone release. Co-written with Andrew Lane and Tess Monepere, Izabellah reveals how the song was a team effort, hoping it encourages listeners to trust the timing of love.
“Finally” is a romantic ballad about finding your first love and that long-awaited first kiss. How closely does this song reflect your personal experiences?
I feel that “FINALLY” relates to me because, I waited for that long awaited FIRST KISS until I was almost sixteen years old. I felt like I wanted to have that first kiss experience with the right person, and I didn’t want to rush into it. When the moment “FINALLY” came for that first kiss, it was just right!
You collaborated with Rex James IV on this duet. What was it like working together, and how did the two of you bring that chemistry to the song?
I loved collaborating with Rex James IV – It made complete sense to collab with Rex because we were each other’s first kiss. It was easy to bring the chemistry to our song. While working together, we would joke and laugh a lot, eat tons of snacks and just have an amazing time. We both just channeled our emotions and that is where the magic comes together to create “FINALLY”.
The song is inspired by the storyline of your upcoming movie Mi Loca Quinceañera. How did your role in the film influence the themes and emotions in “FINALLY”?
The song was originally supposed to be the theme song for an upcoming movie “Mi Loca Quincenera” releasing fall of 2025. Rex and I star in the movie together, as Sophia and Daniel. While we were developing the sound to “FINALLY”, we were going for a Spanish/Latin feel and ended up with a country vibe, which I love! The song’s vibe didn’t work for the movie anymore, per producers, but Rex and I have a real connection to the song and decided to release it ourselves. And we LOVE how it turned out.
The track was co-written with Andrew Lane and Tess Monepere, among others. What was the writing process like, and how did the song come together as a team effort?
I absolutely love the writing process. We had our jam sessions and all of us – Tess, Andrew, Rex and I threw all of our experiences, feelings and emotions into the pot and we cooked up “FINALLY”. It really is an amazing process to sit back and appreciate.
Finally has a sense of destiny and joy in its lyrics. What message do you hope your listeners take away from this romantic journey?
What I hope my listeners take from “FINALLY” is… to simply just wait for the right person and the right time. Everyone is on their own schedule, and we have to trust ourselves.
