EXCLUSIVE: Isabel LaRosa Shares Inspiration Behind the Music Video of Her Hit Single ‘Favorite’

It’s no surprise that Spotify has crowned Isabel LaRosa—a Cuban-American singer-songwriter—as one of its Pop Rising Artists to Watch in 2024. With over two million streams per day across her catalog, the young artist has been on a meteoric rise since dropping her first single in the fall of 2021. Last Friday marked the release of the music video for her hotly anticipated single, “Favorite,” via Slumbo Labs/RCA Records.

Even before its official release, “Favorite” had already amassed over 80,000 creations and garnered over 400 million views from user-generated content on social media. Throughout her sold-out God’s Watching tour with labelmate Ari Abdul, and with teasing snippets on social media, LaRosa’s fans worldwide have been clamoring for the release of “Favorite.” The single showcases her signature dark twist on a reggaeton beat, blending English and Spanish lyrics in a compelling mix.

The song explores the depths of desire and the yearning to be the center of someone’s affection. The lyrics unfold as a heartfelt plea from LaRosa to her love interest, repeatedly asking to be their “favorite.” This repetition amplifies the intensity of her longing and underscores the significance of holding a cherished place in the other person’s life. The chorus, “Darling, can I be your favorite?”, stands out as a direct and vulnerable appeal for recognition and a special place in their heart.

The song also delves into themes of identity and adaptability within relationships. When LaRosa sings, “My name is whatever you make it,” she hints at a readiness to transform herself to meet her love interest’s desires. This line serves as a metaphor for the compromises and changes individuals are willing to make to please someone they are drawn to. It provokes reflection on the extent to which one should alter oneself for the sake of love and highlights the dynamics of power and control in romantic connections.

Speaking of the inspiration behind her new music video, LaRosa tells Rolling Stone India that the plot “was drawn from multiple places.”

“In terms of the plot, I wanted to capture the feeling of longing for something that probably isn’t good for you, but you are still pursuing it anyways,” she said, adding, “I wanted to show that moment when you see someone and your world stops. I visually took a lot of inspiration from shows like Euphoria and True Detective. An off-camera moment that was memorable was the fact that all the extras decided to smoke real cigarettes instead of fake ones, so the entire room was in a haze. I probably still smell like a cigarette.”

The 19-year-old singer expressed that her “core fans” know she’s been wanting to do a video like this for so long. “I hope that they feel just as fulfilled as I do with it as both the song and the music video show a side of being a teenager and growing up that everyone experiences, so I hope they feel a connection to it because it’s relatable to their life.”

LaRosa’s success can be attributed to her refreshing vulnerability, a quality that connects deeply with young music enthusiasts. To date, she has nearly one billion streams across audio platforms, along with almost 300 million video streams and an astonishing five billion short-form video streams.

Last year, LaRosa was handpicked as one of only six artists for TikTok’s inaugural Elevate program, which offers support within the app and beyond, helping emerging talents shape their careers beyond viral moments. The singer also performed at TikTok in the Mix, a sold-out event at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, streamed live on TikTok to almost 10 million viewers. Including re-broadcasts, TikTok in the Mix shattered records with nearly 34 million viewers worldwide.

You can watch the “Favorite” music video here: