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Welcome to LA Stories, a section where I interview people from all walks of life that have made LA their home.
A few months ago, I was going down the rabbit hole of Voyage LA’s stories. For those who don’t know, Voyage LA is an online magazine that features countless interviews with people from all walks of life that live in LA. I was impressed to read so many stories from people from Spain who moved to LA to work in different fields. Then, I came across Iron’s 2020 interview and it really resonated with me. Born in Italy to a Spanish mother and an Ethiopian father, Iron was raised in Tenerife, the biggest island in the Canary Islands archipelago.
Tenerife is home to Mount Teide. This volcano has the highest summit in all of Spain. The island is also one of the best surfing spots in Europe thanks to its sub-tropical, warm climate all year-round. But more about Tenerife in the interview!
Basketball is something that has always been inherent in Iron’s life. But it wasn’t until he moved to LA that he began to diversify and explore different creative routes, like music to express himself.
One thing that I’ve noticed about living in LA is that things don’t tend to go as you have planned. You might move here to do one thing, but you might end up doing something completely different — and discovering yourself along the way.
When I went on his Instagram, I saw still pictures from his music video, ‘Ya Entendí’, an upbeat guitar-driven song that was released in May 2022 and shot in the desert north of LA.
Iron is currently a singer, songwriter, personal trainer, and he also recently took up surfing. Basketball will always be present in his life no matter what, but by doing all these different things, he said he was discovering a new side of himself.
In this interview, we talked about his experience growing up in a multicultural household, island life and lessons he learned since he moved to LA. We also talked about his favorite places in LA, and how sports have taught him to apply mental strength and discipline in his daily life.
In mid-October, I emailed Iron to see if he would be interested in being featured on the blog, and about five days later, we were sitting at a coffee shop/ wine bar called Bodega on a beautiful sunny morning in Santa Monica.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you moved to LA?
My name is Iron and I’m 25 years old. I was born in Italy and moved to the Canary Islands when I was really young. I’ve been living in LA for the last 7 years.
My goal has always been to play basketball in LA. I played my whole life in Europe, and playing for the NBA has always been a dream of mine. Before moving to LA, I first lived in New Jersey for one year, which was… really interesting to say the least. Back then, I was 18, then I moved to LA because New Jersey… Let’s say it’s not the best place. The change was very extreme — especially coming from the Canary Islands, which is a paradise. My dad moved to LA and I moved with him. I wanted to get out of New Jersey. I was ready for a change of weather.
Where does your love of basketball come from?
I don’t know, really. When I was little I played many different sports: tennis, football… My dad wanted me to play football because football in Spain is the number one sport. One day, I was in school and a guy came in offering free basketball lessons. I was like ‘Why not?’ From the very first class, I was hooked. It was my first love (laughs). It’s only happened with basketball.
How do you apply consistency in your training and in your personal life?
Sports help you stay disciplined. Playing sports my whole life has taught me to maintain discipline and that’s what I like. For me, just because I’m not training or playing basketball doesn’t mean that I have to switch my mindset. I usually tell my friends and clients that you can’t train or do things the right way when you’re motivated, or when things go the way you want. Life happens. Like my mother says ‘It’s not a straight line, it goes up and down’. You have to push through. Sports have taught me to be consistent because it’s repeat, repeat, repeat. Obviously, there are certain things where that can’t be applied, like if a girl says no (laughs). But when I set certain goals, I’m very stubborn. If I really want something, I won’t stop.
What does your daily routine look like?
I usually wake up very early in the morning. Then I do personal training with my clients, but if I have some extra time, I’d try to get a workout in first. After that, I’ll either work on my music or study. I like reading about personal training and learning new things. In the afternoons, I work part-time at an Italian restaurant here in Santa Monica.
Mental strength is an integral part of playing sports. How do you overcome challenges?
I used to be very, very hard on myself. But then I realized it’s not worth it. When you feel down, you have to embrace it. Before, when I played basketball, whenever I lost I’d get very angry and my whole week was ruined. Wasting a week of your life because you lost a match is not worth it at all. Now I see basketball from a different perspective. So yeah, whether you’ve been laid off from a job, being told no, or lost a match, now I see those things as opportunities. Like my father says, ‘When one door closes, another one opens.’ It all comes down to the way you handle those challenges. If you can’t change a situation, you can change your perspective.
Do you meditate? What do you do for self-care?
I meditate, 100%. It helps me a lot. During quarantine, I enrolled in this program called To Be Magnetic, which my friend Rebecca introduced me to. In the program, you do a lot of inner work such as meditation and journaling. Training your body is easy, but changing thought patterns that you’ve had since you were a kid is no easy task. It’s very challenging. To Be Magnetic helped me a lot during quarantine because it dives into your past, and things that happened to you as a child that have shaped your way of thinking.
I also like breathwork, that helps me a lot as well. Los Angeles is a city where you’re on the go all the time. It might seem chill, but it’s not. Sometimes it makes you forget who you are and what you like. Then, you realize that you’re stuck in a rut. I’ve been living here for 7 years, but in my mind, it feels like it’s only been 2 years since I moved here. Time here goes by super fast.
Those things help me to relax, be still, be in the moment and appreciate the smaller things, which I sometimes forget to do. The culture in LA is a little fake and the values that we were instilled are slightly different from the ones you can find in LA.
Speaking of basketball, I see on your Instagram that you play in outdoor basketball courts. Do you have a favorite one?
I actually took those pictures with my friend Dani Arróniz. He has a company called Hoops Outside, and he goes to basketball courts in rural areas around the world. During quarantine, since he couldn’t really go anywhere, we’d go out looking for basketball courts. There’s one on the beach that I like a lot, between Marina del Rey and Redondo Beach. I don’t know the exact location.
I don’t like basketball courts on the streets that much. I like them to have a view of the beach because it’s very relaxing. But I don’t really play… It’s more for having a good time with friends, enjoying the view, and then heading down to the beach. For indoor basketball courts, there’s some great courts in Santa Monica, and Santa Monica High School is really cool. Where I come from, there’s not that many basketball courts, especially on the beach, which is what I like.
Since you’re doing personal training, is basketball still something that you want to do 100%?
During the last 3 years I played basketball, I wasn’t really happy. It’s been so long since I moved away from my hometown. I moved because I wanted to play for the NBA, but it’s very difficult. You have to be in a college basketball program and the enrollment is very expensive. In other words, I was burned out. Then I was like ‘OK, let’s venture into new avenues.’ Right now, I’m doing personal training because it’s something that comes naturally to me and I like helping people. I also wanted to make music since I was very little. Basketball is something that is on the back burner for now, but I won’t give it up because you never know. After all, the reason why I’m here is because of basketball, otherwise, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you. But for now, I really want to focus on making music.
You also surf. How long have you been surfing?
I’ve only been surfing for a year. In the Canary Islands, people surf a lot, but I had never done it before. Like I said, all I did was play basketball — all day, all the time. I didn’t really try other things. But I’ve been living in LA for 7 years, so last year, I decided to take it seriously and I got hooked on it as well. I like being in contact with nature. When you’re in the water, you can’t have your phone or any technological device. It’s almost like a form of meditation for me. If I go by myself, it’s just me, the waves and my thoughts. If I go with friends, I talk, catch a wave, and then keep talking with them. But yeah, it’s like meditation for me. When I get out of the water, my energy has completely shifted. I also like it because I like change. If I’m at the gym training all the time, I get bored. I like venturing out and trying new things.
You’ve dabbled a little bit in modeling. What was that experience like?
(Laughs) I don’t like saying that because it sounds very cliché. Yes, I did a bit of modeling because a lot of people told me, and I was like, ‘If I can make some extra money, why not?’ So I modeled for a little bit. I think it’s cool. Obviously in this industry, especially in LA, you have to be careful with who you surround yourself with. It goes without saying that it’s a very shallow industry, but it’s not a passion of mine or something I want to pursue. If I’m offered a modeling gig and I really like the product, then maybe. That’s the good thing about LA. There’s so many opportunities to do different things. Since I stopped playing basketball full-time, I was like, ‘OK, let me open all the doors that I didn’t open before, and see what’s on the other side.’ You never know whether or not you’ll like something until you try it.
In May 2022 you released your first single ‘Ya Entendí’. When did you start taking interest in making music?
Music has always been there. One day, I just decided to get in the studio and release the song. Growing up, my parents would always play Black music like James Brown, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin. When I was little, my mom would also play Vivaldi and Beethoven to put my sister and I to sleep. I’ve always been exposed to the greatest and I’ve been writing since I was really young.
The aesthetic of the video in the desert and the vintage car is really cool. Where did you shoot it?
There’s not an exact location. It was shot in the middle of the desert, about one and a half hour drive north of LA. We found this white church, pulled over, and we were like ‘Let’s do it here.’ We wanted to rent a car, and we saw this vintage 70s car that we loved. My friend Megan Dunx is a stylist and she got me the suit from an outlet — and it happened to fit me perfectly. Everything was very organic. My other friend Rebecca de Juan, who’s an actress, is also in the video and we asked her about cues. But we didn’t go in with a specific vision or aesthetic.
Watch the video here.
Did you come up with the beat?
I’m the singer-songwriter. My friend Andrew Pitones, who’s the guy driving in the video, produced it and created the melody. I have a little bit of a love-hate relationship with that song because I wrote it about 2 years ago during quarantine. I also underwent vocal cord surgery, so I couldn’t sing for like a year. But I had to release it because that song was the start of my music career.
Is singing something you’d like to do more in the future?
Yes! The more I do it, the more I want to keep working on it. I’m growing as an artist and as a person. I love growing and realizing that I can do other things. I played basketball for like the last 15 years. That was the only thing I did. Now I’m getting to know a side of me that I didn’t know. It’s really cool to evolve and discover myself in this process.
Los Angeles
What do you like about living in LA?
I like that there are so many opportunities for young people, and the weather. That’s why I moved here. LA is very beautiful if you know where to go. I also like that there’s people from different parts of the world.
What lessons have you learned since you moved here?
Every day I learn something new. I personally haven’t had any problem with this, but living here I realize how important it is to be yourself. Los Angeles, like all places, has good things and bad things. It can be very fake. There are people that try to be someone they’re not, and people who don’t have your best interest at heart. Some of them didn’t use to be like that, but they fall into that trap because they want to fit in with a certain crowd. There will never be another you, so why change by trying to be someone you’re not? Also, be selective of who you spend your time with. Business-wise, it’s important to know your worth and the value of your business, like, for real! Me as a personal trainer, or you as a blogger. Know when to say no, because there might be someone who comes along willing to pay that price.
What are your favorite places?
In LA, I like the beaches. Sunset Point Beach in Santa Monica is really cool for surfing. I like that beach a lot. It’s great for beginners and the vibe is very chill. I hang out mostly on the Westside.
Malibu is good for watching the sunset, but not for surfing because people can be a bit territorial. I like Abbot Kinney a lot. Venice Beach is also nice to catch some waves —- it’s not rocky. I don’t really know much about the East side…maybe an overlook in the Hollywood Hills, but I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favorite places.
It’s not in LA, but I really like San Luis Obispo. Big Sur is also one of my favorite places. I camped there and it was so cool. I like everything related to beaches and nature. I also love, love San Diego. I just came back from spending 4 days in La Jolla. I love it there – it might be my favorite place for surfing. But overall, anywhere in San Diego is great for surfing! It’s the best, people are very chill, and it’s only a two, three-hour drive from LA.
What are your favorite restaurants?
My dad’s food!! (laughs). He lives here and I’m very fortunate for that. There’s no place like home. For restaurants, I really like sweets, especially Gelato. I have a few secret spots, but I’ll give you one: Bacio di Latte. It’s a gelateria from Milan in the Westfield Century City mall. Another one is Dolcenero Gelato on Main Street in Santa Monica, but I like Bacio di Latte better. For pizza, I like Rossopomodoro, located inside Eataly, also in the Westfield Century City mall. If you go around noon, there’s a pizzolo from Napoli. I don’t know what’s more Italian than that.
For pasta, I like Piccolo in Venice, on Abbot Kinney. I also really like Palmeri Ristorante in Brentwood, but Piccolo is more affordable.
I also like Thai food. There’s a place called Westwood Thai Cafe, and the food is really good. But I feel like in LA, there’s a lot of quantity, but not so much quality. For me, to say ‘Wow, this was amazing’ is not that easy.
For coffee shops, where we’re at, Bodega. It’s very nice for working on your laptop. The Boy & The Bear in Marina del Rey is also very cool. The coffee is so good! If you want more of an LA vibe, I recommend La La La Kind Cafe on Montana Avenue. It’s not the best place to work because it’s very loud, but the vibe is cool.
Spain
What do you miss the most about Tenerife?
Everything: the weather, my family, my friends, the warmth from the people, the accent, the slang… It’s part of Spain, but when you go there, you realize it’s completely different from the rest of the country. It’s always summer there and everything is organic. Here, there’s organic and non-organic. Like, if you want to pay a little bit more, you can eat more healthily! In Tenerife you eat really well everywhere. There isn’t any of that nonsense.
And the beaches (sighs)…the food, which is so good. The Gofio canario is a flour made from cereals and you put that on everything. It has many health benefits. My friend just came back from Tenerife and brought me 2 bags. It’s so good. But yeah, I miss everything.
If someone is reading this and is planning a trip over there, what places would you recommend?
If you go by car, you can drive around the island in a day. In the south, it doesn’t matter where you go because there are amazing beaches everywhere: San Telmo, Las Américas, El Camisón, which is where I used to live, is very beautiful. Las Galletas is a very diverse village. The north is greener and the Teide is right there. You can be in the snow, and then you can drive down the mountain for 45 minutes and have warm beach weather. That’s the beauty of Tenerife.
The island is beautiful: Arico, Santa Cruz, La Laguna, which is where I used to live before moving to the States… Every town is very charming with its own distinct character. Some of them are colder than others. There’s also a few surf towns. In one week, you’ll have pretty much seen everything, so anywhere is worth it.
What was it like growing up on an island?
Everything is very laid-back. Everything is very slow and you enjoy things more. This has its disadvantages because when you go to a city like Madrid, the change of pace is a bit shocking. You’re always on the beach with ‘cholas’ (flip flops). I didn’t realize what home and Spain meant until I moved away. I moved because I hated the lack of opportunities in sports and how people discouraged you from chasing your dreams. In Europe, sports aren’t taken as seriously as they are here. Go to any high school or college in the U.S., and you’ll see the amazing sports venues and infrastructures. I’ve been living in the States for almost 8 years and there’s no comparison. There’s a different mindset here. No one is going to tell you to stop trying or to stop dreaming. I feel like people push you to dream big here, whether you’re good or bad at your craft, you keep going. A negative aspect about my hometown, I’d say, is the narrow-minded, island mentality from people who settle for whatever’s available.
You also speak Italian, so what was it like growing up in a multicultural household?
It was a very positive experience. Before moving to Spain, my first language was Italian. Growing up, I was exposed to both languages at home. I’m a very picky eater because I’ve always eaten really well at home. My dad used to have an Italian restaurant in Tenerife and my family used to work there. I’m very thankful for having had the opportunity to connect with a different language and culture. The best thing you can do is to surround yourself with things that you’re not familiar with. Some parts of the U.S. don’t have that cultural diversity, they’re not exposed to it and they don’t understand it, or don’t want to. Being exposed to different cultures opens your mind and helps you understand things better. I want to connect more with Ethiopian culture, which is more difficult because Ethiopians aren’t like Spaniards or Italians, who are everywhere. They’re in very specific pockets of LA. My father’s side of the family still lives in Ethiopia. Sometimes I go with my dad to Little Ethiopia to eat when we celebrate something.
Lastly, what are your future plans or projects that you’re currently working on?
I’ve been working on an EP for 5 months and it’s going to be really cool. Right now I’m working with directors and producers. It’ll be 5 songs, maybe it’ll eventually turn into an album, I don’t know yet. Once that is ready, I’d like to do live shows, like the ones they do at Tiny Desks Concerts. Another thing, is that I want my videos to have a meaningful message. I want to bring awareness to people who may not live in the U.S., or who may live in the U.S. but don’t really understand people that come from outside — which is what I experienced when I first moved to the States. I want all my cultures to be connected: Italy, Spain and Ethiopia. They’re all different sides of me and I want people to take away something from each of them.
When is the EP going to be released?
I’d like the EP to be released within the next 2 months, but it’ll most likely be released between January and February of 2023. February is my birthday month, so it would be nice to release it by then. I may release a single first…The next upcoming single is called ‘DMV’ and it’s about the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is very funny.
Make sure you follow Iron to stay updated on his latest projects!
Instagram: @IronGulla
