On this occasion, Walter had chosen the two songs he had to defend on stage before the jury and the thousands of viewers. Perhaps that's why, "he looked so comfortable and happy in the last two performances," his relatives say while watching the recorded videos of their son over and over again. "In the last gala, Renato," as his loved ones call him, "managed to perfectly convey the message of the songs and that's why people supported him with their votes," explains his mother, Marissa, who appreciates the support of all of Lanzarote, with shining eyes after seeing her son's performance. They have been without contact with him for more than two months because, since he passed the second casting, in Las Palmas, they have only been able to talk for a few minutes by phone, and that's why, although they know he is fulfilling his dream, they miss him a little.
With only 20 years old, Renato, "has already given up his studies for music more than once," says his mother Marissa, who feels proud that her son has managed to have the possibility to fight for what he likes. "For him, music is the first thing," that's why when he applied for the selection tests in the middle of exam season, studying Law in Las Palmas, his parents didn't put any impediment. "He is a very responsible boy and has his feet on the ground," describes his father, Walter, who has a lot of confidence in him and who, together with the rest of his family, declares himself happy that Renato manages to live from what he likes: music.
In Walter's family there are no precedents of artists, in his family tree none of his relatives has dedicated himself to the world of entertainment, but the boy's passion for music is evident when you cross the threshold of his room. Next to the bed, the microphone connected to the music system reveals the young man's concerns. Walter also has a stationary bike in his room but according to his mother, laughing, "she has it for decoration", something that doesn't worry him since he says that his strength is "the torrent of clean voice". "My son is not a dancer" says his mother emphatically, accustomed to the criticisms of some members of the jury in relation to his physique. In addition, a shelf full of trophies, mentions and awards from the various musical contests, held at the island, regional and national level, highlight that Walter, despite his young age, has participated in a multitude of musical contests.
"At 14 he said he would like to be a singer," says Marissa and since that moment he has presented himself to the successive Song Festivals of the Island of Lanzarote, in addition to attending the castings of Operación Triunfo twice, another of the musical reality contests of the moment. In addition, Walter is a member of the Collective of "Friends of José Vélez" with whom he has participated in a couple of cover albums.
"His favorite genres and in which he feels most comfortable", says his girlfriend María, 17 years old, are romantic ballads and Latin rhythms. Curiously the two genres that she likes the most, although she confesses that "she melts" with all the songs he sings to her. "Walter has a very beautiful and powerful voice" adds his proud mother and relates how "when the child starts singing in the house he can be heard throughout the house". With the little brother, Fabricio, he has had some small dispute because, on some occasion, he has not let him listen to television "because he raised the volume of the microphone too much", explains the youngest of the family.
Next Monday, Walter will sing again for all of Spain, together with his other colleagues who compete with him to win the final of the Factor X contest. The finalists of this first edition of the program in our country in addition to Renato are Angie, the group United and the soloist María. Walter's family knows that it is not easy, "because the quality of the artists at this stage of the program is very high", but they recognize that their son has the same chances as the rest of winning. "Right now Walter has the possibility to fulfill one of his dreams in the world of music" says Marissa and "we will be supporting him as much as we can until he finally returns home".
For the moment and until the television program ends, the house of the young man's parents will continue to be "papered", literally, with the posters of his son's candidacy. The windows, the car, the living room table and dozens of posters throughout the island of Lanzarote will remain in sight so that the conejeros who want to and like how Walter does it on stage send a sms with his key and thus achieve the dream of recording an album with Sony BMG. For the family, girlfriend and friends "Walter is already a winner".
