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This Spanish beauty is definitely a talent. Law firm employee by day, singer by night – and huge hip hop fan – let’s meet Mercedes, shall we?

Your name is most famous for the car – what else can you tell us about the name?

The car was actually named after Mr. Karl Benz’s daughter, Mercedes. Kids back in school used to make lots of jokes about my name and I used to hate it, but now I am really proud of it since it reflects my roots. Mercedes is a typical Spanish female name. I was personally named after my grandmother.

You have been involved in the music business, as a singer. What do you do for a living now?

I have done many different projects in the industry. It was never easy, as a woman, to get ahead without selling out, so I pursued a degree to be a foreign language correspondent – I speak four languages – and now I work in a law firm.

Name some of your current favourite hip hop artists.

Generally, I would describe myself as a 90s hip hop and R&B girl, but there are definitely great new artists out there like Ryan Leslie. It’s amazing how he creates all by himself and produces for people like Jay-Z, who is also still doing his thing. I met Kanye West in Spain some time ago and I have to say, he was a very intelligent and creative person too.

What is the economic situation in Spain about? Why is there such a high rate of unemployment ?

The economic situation in Spain is very hard – it was one of the reasons I left Barcelona about a year ago. The unemployment rate is a huge problem. Obviously the Government made many wrong decisions in the past. Politics in Spain is a huge joke in my eyes, but you cannot blame them. It’s a compilation of lots of factors. I don’t have the solution. If I did, I would be a presidential candidate in Spain and live the good life [smiles].

What is your favourite Spanish architecture or location?

Barcelona! I love the modernism architecture that Gaudi created.

If a South African was to visit Spain, where would you suggest they go first?

Barcelona! Incredible weather, beautiful beaches, rich history, an unbeatable party scene – I always say Barcelona is like Miami but with a lot of history… Then again, the south of Spain and the Islands are incredible too.

If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?

Labels should allow their artists to be more creative and not just focus on the lucrative side of the business. There should be a healthy mixture. Although I do understand it’s a struggle for labels with the internet nowadays. Instead of fighting it, they should find a productive way of using the internet to help promote music.

What would your parents say if they saw these pictures?

They will see the pictures because I’ll show them. I don’t see anything wrong with them; it’s not like they are pornographic or anything. My parents might not always like all my decisions, but we have a strong family connection and we support each other.