Genres Folk-rock, Americana Years active 2014–present Name Christian Lopez | Instruments Guitar, piano, vocals Labels Blaster Records Role Musician | |
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Origin Martinsburg, West Virginia Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, guitarist Profiles | ||
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. 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. 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." 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."
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Early life and first EP (1995-2014)
Christian Lopez was born in 1995 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where he was raised. Lopez started playing music at an early age, including learning to play the piano at age 5 and guitar at age 9. He began songwriting in his early teenage years, and was touring before the age of 16. 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. Shortly thereafter, he recorded his first release, the five song EP Pilot, which was released in October 2014. Dave Cobb produced the release.
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. They performed at numerous concerts including shows by Zac Brown Band, Dave Matthews Band and Blake Shelton as well as opening for Miranda Lambert at the 2014 Belk Bowl FanFest.
Onward and touring (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). Popmatters streamed the album early on May 12, 2015, giving it a positive review. 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. Rolling Stone called the album "a plucky and occasionally subdued showcase of his Appalachian roots." American Songwriter gave it 3/5 stars, praising the likability and honesty of the album overall and called it an "impressive first effort." Pittsburgh In Tune gave the album 4/5, 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."
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." Also in 2015, Lopez was asked to participate in West Virginia’s “Real” tourism campaign, being featured in a promotional video entitled “Real WV.” His song “Will I See You Again” was used in a second spot entitled “Real Morgantown.” 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.
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.”