Christian Lopez (musician)

Christian Lopez
Background information
Origin Martinsburg, West Virginia
Genres Folk rock, Americana
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, guitarist
Instruments Guitar, piano, vocals
Years active 2014–present
Labels Blaster Records
Website ChristianLopezBand.com
Notable instruments
Guitar, Piano, Harmonica

Christian Lopez is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Martinsburg, West Virginia, as well as frontman and guitarist of the Christian Lopez Band.[1] After signing with Blaster Records in 2014, that October the band released their debut EP Pilot. After touring in support of the release, the group then released Onward, a full-length album produced by Dave Cobb. Beyond Lopez, bandmembers as of 2015 included Chelsea McBee on banjo and vocals, Mark Shottinger on bass, and Pete Teselsky on drums.[2] Writing music in a folk-rock and Americana style, Americana Music Show wrote that Lopez's lyrics and delivery have "the earnestness and wide-open view of the world" not seen "since the early days of Paul Simon."[3] The band tours frequently in the United States, and in 2015 Rolling Stone named Lopez "best newcomer" at the Americana Music Festival & Conference, with the article writing that he "packed so much kinetic energy into his set, and sliced so many strings, that he had to finish on a borrowed guitar."[4]

Biography

Early life and first EP (1995-2014)

Christian Lopez was born in 1995 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where he was raised.[5] Lopez started playing music at an early age, including learning to play the piano at age 5 and guitar at age 9.[6] He began songwriting in his early teenage years, and was touring before the age of 16.[7] In 2013 he signed a management agreement with Rock Ridge Music, and in early 2014 the Christian Lopez Band signed a record deal with Blaster Records.[8] Shortly thereafter, he recorded his first release, the five song EP Pilot, which was released in October 2014.[8] Dave Cobb produced the release.[9]

In 2014, the band was selected as one of the winners of the Belk Modern Musician Showcase talent search and invited to join Belk’s 2014 “Modern Southern Music” tour.[10] They performed at numerous concerts including shows by Zac Brown Band, Dave Matthews Band and Blake Shelton[6] as well as opening for Miranda Lambert at the 2014 Belk Bowl FanFest.[11]

Onward and touring (2015)

External video
"Will I See You Again" Official Music Video - October 23, 2014
"Leaving It Out" Official Music Video - August 11, 2015

In May 2015 Christian Lopez released his first full-length album Onward. Like his previous EP, it was produced by Dave Cobb (Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton).[12][13][14] Popmatters streamed the album early on May 12, 2015, giving it a positive review.[12] Music videos for the tracks “Will I See You Again” and “Leaving It Out” both premiered on CMT Pure Country and each remained in the channels “12 Pack Countdown” for a number of consecutive weeks.[15] Rolling Stone called the album "a plucky and occasionally subdued showcase of his Appalachian roots."[4] American Songwriter gave it 3/5 stars, praising the likability and honesty of the album overall and called it an "impressive first effort."[14] Pittsburgh In Tune gave the album 4/5,[5] while the Americana Music Show wrote that Lopez "has the earnestness and wide-open view of the world that we haven't seen since the early days of Paul Simon."[3]

Rolling Stone named Lopez "best newcomer" at the Americana Music Festival & Conference showcase in 2015, with the article writing that he "packed so much kinetic energy into his set, and sliced so many strings, that he had to finish on a borrowed guitar."[4] Also in 2015, Lopez was asked to participate in West Virginia’s “Real” tourism campaign, being featured in a promotional video entitled “Real WV.”[16] His song “Will I See You Again” was used in a second spot entitled “Real Morgantown.”[17] Additionally, he has been invited to perform at 2015’s Music Hall Of Fame Induction ceremony as well as the band’s inaugural appearance at Mountain Stage.[18]

Personal life

Born and raised in the state of West Virginia, Lopez has stated that while he loves touring the country, he “will always come back to call [West Virginia] home.”[9]

Christian Lopez Band

Christian Lopez Band
Background information
Years active 2014 (2014)–present
Website ChristianLopezBand.com
Members Christian Lopez, Jason Navo, Ricky Wise
Current lineup

Discography

Albums

Albums by Christian Lopez[1][19]
Year Album title Release details
2015 Onward

EPs

Albums by Christian Lopez[1][19]
Year Album title Release details
2014 Pilot - EP
  • Released: October 14, 2014
  • Label: Blaster Records
  • Format: Digital download

Further reading

Discographies

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Christian Lopez". Allmusic. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  2. ↑ Christian Lopez Band on Facebook
  3. 1 2 Powers, Calvin (May 20, 2015). "Christian Lopez Band - Onward". Americana Music Show. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  4. 1 2 3 "22 Best Things We Saw at Americana Music Fest 2015". Rolling Stone. September 21, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  5. 1 2 Sisk, Jeffrey (May 19, 2015). "Christian Lopez Band on brink of stardom with sublime 'Onward'". Pittsburgh In Tune. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  6. 1 2 "Christian Lopez Band Biography". CMT. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  7. ↑ Parton, Chris (October 21, 2014). "Christian Lopez Seeks Adventure in "Will I See You Again"". CMT Edge. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  8. 1 2 "Christian Lopez Band Signs with Blaster Records". Digital Rodeo. 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  9. 1 2 Freeman, Jon (Jan 5, 2015). "On the Edge: Christian Lopez Band". Nash Country Weekly. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  10. ↑ "Southern Musician Showcase 2015: 2014 Winners". Belk. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  11. ↑ Mace, Jody (December 26, 2014). "The free Belk Bowl FanFest features Miranda Lambert". Charlotte on the Cheap. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  12. 1 2 Ezell, Brice (May 12, 2015). "Christian Lopez Band - 'Onward' (album stream) (Premiere)". Popmatters. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  13. ↑ Conner, Matt (May 11, 2015). "Christian Lopez Band". Stereosubversion.com. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  14. 1 2 Horowitz, Hal (May 19, 2015). "Christian Lopez Band: Onward". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  15. ↑ "Leaving It Out Music Video - Christian Lopez Band". CMT. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  16. ↑ "West Virginia Wild & Wonderful - interview". Facebook. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  17. ↑ "Real Morgantown". Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. Sep 22, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  18. ↑ "FestivALL Fall Presents: NRBQ, Eliza Gilkyson, Nels Cline & Julian Lage, Aaron Parnell Brown, and the Christian Lopez Band on Mountain Stage". Mountain Stage. October 25, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  19. 1 2 "Christian Lopez Band". iTunes. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
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