The folk singer Irena Spasovska at the Ohrid Fest sang the song "Burning the forests of Macedonia", which she says was created in one breath, after we faced great losses during the fires that engulfed our country.

Apart from music, Irena is always a pleasure to talk about private life, love, values...

Yesterday you celebrated your birthday, how did you celebrate it and with whom?

- I celebrated my birthday in a facility in Ohrid with my dear friends and we had a great time.

I read you say, "Every page of my life is a novel, I want to grow old because not everyone has that privilege." In what novel would you place your life?

- Yes, every day is special and more precious for me. I want to grow old because no one has that privilege. I think you understand what I mean by that. The goal is to grow old, but it is important to take advantage of each day that is given to us. My life novel is a thriller, sometimes with plots and denouements that I successfully resolve. But most of the time he's happy because I'm at an age where I live by my own rules and tolerate things up to the point I set. I filter things to such an extent that even 5 minutes is too much for me to waste my precious time, which I once gave myself unreservedly to any situations.

Speaking of age, apart from not scaring you, how do you maintain your beauty? And how important is beauty for a woman?

- Well, they don't scare me if I live them to the end, the way I want. It's scary to grow old and regret something I didn't do, but I could have. Now, for now, I arrange things according to my intuition and the circumstances under which I live. I love myself with all the beauties I have and with all the flaws. Both are equally important to maintain balance.

Music is a part of your life, "Burning the forests of Macedonia" is the new song, with which you are now current?

- The latest is my new song at "Ohrid Fest", "Burning forests of Macedonia", for which I wrote the music and lyrics. We are faced with great losses in that regard, and from those motivations, a beautiful song came out of me in one breath, which I hope will remain.

You have been a part of pop music for a long time, what is your attitude towards folk music in our country?

– Folk music is good, but its presentation is unfortunately not good. It would be nice if the municipalities would call us and the money would accumulate in our country rather than pouring out and enriching singers from other countries.

Apart from music, what else fills you up that the public doesn't know about you?

- It fulfills me to please myself and those who are important to me. It means to me when I feed the street cats and dogs. I care about their well-being. It's a big pain for me, so I want to help, and everything else is irrelevant to me...

Do you have a favorite book and which movie do you always look back on with joy?

– My favorite is the movie with Richard Gere with the dog Hachiko. I read the Dale Carnegie books and anything good. I recommend Midnight Rose by Lucinda Ridley. I read constantly and it gives me peace of mind.

The public knows you as a musician, but privately, what are you like when the cameras go off?

- I am a person who likes precision, openness, honesty, loyalty. I'm usually relaxed at home and in my pajamas. You already know that I love to travel.

What about love? Is there someone with whom you share everyday life and do you still believe in love?

- I'm not saying. Let this remain for me. Of course I believe, I am surrounded by love of all kinds, and love is eternal while it lasts. And, honestly, lately I love myself more and try to make myself happy. All in all, I'm a really lucky woman, and the best is yet to come!

What is the message you want to send to all women in their mature years?

- Women, be women and do not compromise with men at the cost of being alone. Give your heart only to the one who really deserves it. Listen to your intuition, the answers are there. Be responsible for your life and never, ever go back to someone who lost you once for another. If he is unable to find one after being "kicked in", be smart and don't fall for it. Cherish your friendships with your girlfriends and invest in trips and memories. Of course, if you can, adopt a dog. And then God will reward you - I say this from experience.