OUT NOW: Brian Lopez 'Tidal' [12inch LP]

Indie rocker Brian Lopez, known for his cinematic melodies and soaring vocals, has been called "the missing link between Devandra Banhart and Roy Orbison." Born and based in Tucson, Lopez is a classically-trained guitarist and songwriter who merges his desert roots with soul, pop and rock'n'roll to transport his listeners on an ethereal journey.

Lopez released his first solo album, Ultra, in 2012 to international acclaim. Rolling Stone Germany described the record as "Psychedelic chamber-pop with the surrealist touch of Dalí." After touring across Europe and the US as the opening act for Calexico, KT Tunstall, Giant Sand and Heartless Bastards, he released Static Noise in 2014. Tastemaker Musikexpress declared Lopez "without a doubt, one of the best songwriters of his generation." In 2018, he independently released. Prelude, a lo-fi 10-song album written and recorded in his makeshift home studio during a two-week period. Lopez's forthcoming release Tidal, due out in 2023, builds upon his songwriting prowess while returning to his origins in indie rock.

Aside from his solo project, Lopez is also frontman of the psych/cumbia band XIXA and has worked with an expansive range of artists, including Calexico, Amos Lee, Nouvelle Vague, KT Tunstall, Giant Sand, and Mexican Institute of Sound.

LISTEN TO FULL ALBUM / VINYL SOLD OUT

Meet Indie Artist Brian Lopez

[Repost from Blood Makes Noise; May 4, 2023]

A lead player in crafting the sound of the Southwest indie scene for the past two decades, Lopez will drop his 4th studio album, TIDAL, in May 2023. According to Popmatters: “TIDAL’s debut single, “3000 Stories,” is indie rock and folk this side of Elliott Smith, finding its mellow vibe in subtle, undulating synths, guitar tones, and soft-sung vocals. It’s a gorgeously crafted, unassuming first single that sets the tone for something special from Lopez in the coming months with TIDAL.” 

Lopez released his first solo album Ultra in 2011 to international acclaim. Rolling Stone Germany described the record as “Psychedelic chamber-pop with the surrealist touch of Dalí.” After touring across Europe and the US as the opening act for KT Tunstall, Giant Sand and Heartless Bastards, he released Static Noise in 2014, followed in 2018 by Prelude, a lo-fi 10-song album written and recorded in his Armory Park bedroom during a two-week period. 

How did the band form?

I started playing guitar when I was 12…so it's been about a million years now. One of these days I might actually sound good.

Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?

I’ve been a hired  gun for touring acts like  KT Tunstall, Calexico, Nouvelle Vague, Mexican Institute of Sound, Giant Sand….The first indie rock touring band I started was called Mostly Bears back in 2006. We died in 2009.  I started the psych /cumbia rock project, XIXA, in 2013. We’re still active. And I’ve been putting out solo albums since 2009…I’ll always be doing the solo thing. It’s like brushing my teeth. Just gotta do it.

First concert that you ever went to?

Santana at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, AZ. I must’ve been 10 years old? Not so coincidentally the first time I smelled weed.

What's your writing process like? 

These days? Typically I don’t start until after 8pm. There’s usually some mezcal involved. Some edibles. And sometimes psilocybin. I demo songs at home on pro tools. Then when they sound fully formed, I take the song(s) to Dust & Stone Studios in Tucson, which my band XIXA owns and operates, and I record them there.

What other artists or songs inspire your music?

I love Peruvian chicha, French Chanson, Brit pop, singer songwriters like Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. I mean I love a whole lot of stuff, depending on the hour of day. But this playlist is mostly chill rainy day songwriter-y stuff.

What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be it's own thing?

There’s a proper time and space to represent the recorded version of a song while on stage. But there is certainly a craft in taking that recorded product and finding a new shape for it – a shape that better accompanies the performative aspect of the song. 

Has the band toured? What has the touring experience been, best shows? worst shows?

Lots. I’m in Cologne, Germany now on tour. I’ve had many great touring experiences. And a handful of really bad ones. One of the first tours I did was with a band called Mostly Bears, which I co-founded when I was 22. We toured across the country several times. One time we were playing a show in Minneapolis, Minnesota…and a local punk band was headlining. They brought approximately ZERO people to the show. And didn’t watch our set. We had a long night drive to Chicago the next day, so as they played their headlining set, we started to pack up our merch and head out. The lead singer, from the stage, started cursing at us for leaving early. And then the stopped their set and followed us outside to the parking lot where  I Had broken a glass beer bottle to fend them off while our sound engineer got the getaway vehicle. There was some yelling back and forth..some threats made…and in the end, we got into the tour band without any incident. But for a second there, I thought we were gonna get jumped by 7 or a 8 local punk rockers. One of them, by the way, was the local promoter haha. On the way out of the parking lot, there was a woman selling roses. I bought a dozen and had the woman distribute them to our new punker friends. The End. 

What's up next for the band?

New solo album, TIDAL, out June 23rd. Then hopefully more touring throughout the summer and fall 2023.

PRE-ORDER VINYL RECORD HERE

Video: Brian Lopez feat. KT Tunstall “Road To Avalon”

[Repost from Americana UK; by Andrew Frolish, April 20, 2023]

Tucson singer-songwriter Brian Lopez once again delivers the sound of the American Southwest in his new single ‘Road to Avalon’.  The song features Scottish singer KT Tunstall, with whom he has toured in the past, and the interplay of their voices is the highlight of the song.  Beginning with the pair’s melodic vocals and moody guitar, before ethereal piano notes and accordion from multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Sullivan drift in, the song is immediately absorbing.  Full of cinematic atmosphere, the song bursts with renewed energy halfway through when the powerful bass and percussion kick in and all those layers create a rich, full sound. The video for ‘Road to Avalon’ is an engrossing animation, directed and created by 10 Years Time (Charlie Elms), whose work can be seen here.  It’s a visual psychedelic trip, a vibrant journey into the imagination that reinforces the song’s themes of mystical escape and companionship.

Lopez says of the song and working in collaboration with Tunstall:  “It was just nice to work together again, especially during the solitude of a pandemic. I really enjoyed the challenge of writing a song that would fit into, not only a storyline of KT and I, but also a song that gave KT some creative license to do what she does best. And she delivered those beautiful vocal arrangements you hear that I would never be able to conceive of on my own.”

Lopez will be familiar to AUK readers as a frontman for XIXA and he has also been a member of Giant Sand and Calexico.  After a few years writing and recording with Calexico and XIXA, Lopez is once again focusing on solo material and ‘Road to Avalon’ is taken from his forthcoming fourth album ‘Tidal’, due for release on 23rd June 2023.  Expect more songs that blend the sound and feel of cosmic psychedelia with the mystery of the Arizona desert.  Enjoy.

What's In Our Inbox! Brian Lopez ft. KT Tunstall

[Repost from Blood Makes Noise; April 18, 2023]

Band Name:  Brian Lopez (Ft. KT Tunstall)

BMN Score: 9.2/10

What the band says they sound like: Alternative indie-rock artist Brian Lopez (Calexico, XIXA) shares his latest single “Road To Avalon,” with a special guest feature and longtime friend KT Tunstall. Tapping into the memory of shared exploration and experiences between the friends around Glastonbury Festival many moons ago, the waltz-leaning single narrates an escape into the unknown corners of your mind in the name of trust and the procurement of curiosity. It is less a love song and more of one that celebrates the power of companionship as you trek on towards greater unknowns hand in hand with the trust of a friend.

What we say they sound like: It's weird when you mostly review lo-fi stuff to come across something so hi-fi and perfect. It's cinematic in it's approach, a slow build into a very classic sounding song. It reminds me of something written by Burt Bacharach for a 70's cowboy film starring Paul Newman. The guitar lead when the drums kick in give it that whole Sergio Leone feel. What's interesting is I can only think of movie music to compare it to as musically it's in that vein of 70's pop and the full orchestration only helps it to feel like a soundtrack piece. KT Tunstall's vocals are a perfect fit but are hardly a centerpiece. Beautiful video to accompany it as well. It's not often that I lock onto lyrics either but the opening line “night is a savage bird of prey” just shows that all aspects of this song are great. 

Song to add to your playlist: Road To Avalon

Premiere: Brian Lopez's new single 'Road to Avalon,' featuring KT Tunstall

[Repost from Arizona Daily Star; by Cathalena Burch, April 4, 2023]

Tucson singer-songwriter Brian Lopez reunites with Scottish singer KT Tunstall on "Road to Avalon," a song he recorded during the pandemic. It's the second single off his forthcoming solo album "Tidal," due out this summer on the Los Angeles-based Cosmic Records. The single is available on most major download platforms on Tuesday, April 4. Lopez, who also is part of the popular Tucson cumbia rock band XIXA, toured North America and the UK with Tunstall in 2013 as part of her "Invisible Empire Crescent Moon" tour. He sang backing vocals on that studio album, which Tunstall recorded at Tucson's WaveLab Studios with Howe Gelb. Lopez said he and Tunstall worked remotely on the single during the COVID-19 pandemic, exchanging digital files as he made the record at home and from his downtown Dust & Stone Recording Studio. 

Brian Lopez feat. KT Tunstall - “Road to Avalon”

[Repost from Remezcla; by Juan J. Arroyo, April 7, 2023]

Indie rock singer-songwriter Brian Lopez has spent the past few years recording and touring with bands Calexico and XIXA. However, he has now focused on releasing his newest full-length album, TIDAL, dropping June 23. In its latest single, “Road to Avalon,” he teams up with KT Tunstall for a precarious traipse down a shadow-brick road filled with melodies that border on the mystical. For the music video, visual artist 10 Years to Live leans into the track’s psychedelic waltz sound and concocts images that bring the lyrics to magical realist life.

Brian Lopez Premieres “Road to Avalon” (ft. KT Tunstall) from Upcoming Album ‘Tidal’

[Repost from V13; by Christopher Gonda, March 23, 2023]

Due out on June 23rd via both Cosmica Artists (digital) and Fort Lowell Records (Bandcamp, vinyl), Calexico guitarist Brian Lopez continues to promote his upcoming solo recording, Tidal, digitally and on 12-inch vinyl. Well, today, ahead of its public release on Friday, we’re thrilled to premiere the album’s smashing second single, “Road to Avalon,” featuring none other than KT Tunstall.

The indie rocker, well-known for his cinematic melodies and soaring vocals, was born and is based in Tucson. His debut solo recording, Ultra, dropped in 2012 to international acclaim and followed it up with Static Noise in 2014. Fast forward four more years, and Prelude, a ten-track lo-fi album written and recorded in his makeshift home studio in two weeks, was independently released in 2018.

Commenting on the song and the inspiration behind its creation, Lopez shared:

“KT visited my house sometime during the pandemic and told me to send her some music to sing to. I was in the middle of demoing songs for TIDAL and thought it might be a cool idea to write a duet with KTs voice in mind. So I got started on composing ‘Road To Avalon’ –– I sent her the music and she recorded her voice in LA, and added beautiful harmonies…oohs and ahhs that I would never be able to conceive of on my own.”

He adds:

“It was just nice to work together again. Especially during the solitude of a pandemic. I really enjoyed the challenge of writing a song that would fit into, not only a storyline of KT and I, but also a song that gave KT some creative license to do what she does best. And she delivered those beautiful vocal arrangements you hear.”

With Tidal, Lopez not only builds upon his mad songwriting skills but also returns to his indie rock origins. Aside from his solo project, Lopez is also the frontman of the psych/cumbia band XIXA and has worked with an expansive range of artists, including Calexico, Amos Lee, Nouvelle Vague, KT Tunstall, Giant Sand, and Mexican Institute of Sound

Tidal Track Listing:

1. 3000 Stories
2. Like a Virus
3. Road to Avalon (ft. KT Tunstall)
4. Black Mountain
5. Margot Kidder
6. Looking Glass
7. Face to Face
8. Magic
9. All Souls
10. Psilocybin Dream

OUT NOW: Brian Lopez "Road to Avalon" featuring KT Tunstall

The second single titled "Road to Avalon" featuring KT Tunstall from Brian Lopez's new album Tidal is out today everywhere you listen to music.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER FULL ALBUM ON VINYL

KT Tunstall

Brian Lopez

Exclusivité “3000 Stories” le nouveau single de Brian Lopez

[Repost from Rolling Stone, France; by Belkacem Bahlouli, March 3, 2023]

Si Brian Lopez, membre fondateur de XIXA, son groupe de cumbia rock, est aussi sideman de luxe à la guitare chez Calexico, il travaille aussi en solo, où il partage une autre vision de son monde musical. Interview.

Trois mille histoires de migrants tentant de traverser la frontière américano mexicaine ne sont jamais arrivés à destination, tel est le sujet de premier single de son album prévu pour le mois de mai prochain. Ces morts ignorés sont inhumés anonymement ou dans le désert de Sonora, qui entoure la ville de Tucson en Arizona, où est installé l’une des figures de la ville, Brian Lopez, guitariste, compositeur et désormais songwriter. “3000 Stories” est un hommage pour rappeler l’existence de ces anonymes sans tombe.

Votre nouvelle chanson n’est pas vraiment habituelle dans votre répertoire, comment vous est venue l’idée de ce titre?

La chanson est un hommage aux 3000 corps non identifiés été découverts dans le sud de l’Arizona, dans le désert de Sonora, depuis l’an 2000. Les restes de ces anonymes – très probablement des migrants qui ont traversé la frontière à la recherche d’une vie meilleure. Des migrants qui n’ont jamais réussi. “3000 Stories” est une chanson inspirée par et écrite pour ces âmes oubliées.

La musique est assez différente de votre travail habituel, que recherchiez-vous avec cette atmosphère douce racontant ces terribles histoires?

Je voulais que les auditeurs entendent la beauté de leurs histoires plutôt que la tragédie de leur mort… les mélodies célèbrent leurs vies. Il est important de se rappeler qu’à un moment donné, ces restes étaient de vraies personnes avec des buts, des rêves et des ambitions… 3000 vies avec 3000 histoires qui ne seront jamais pleinement réalisées.

Vous vivez à Tucson, au milieu du désert de Sonora : je suppose donc que vous entendez souvent ce genre de nouvelles – des personnes qui disparaissent dans le désert?

Non. Au contraire, le public est largement tenu dans l’ignorance. Mais ce genre de tragédie se produit TOUS LES JOURS dans le désert de Sonora. Et il existe des organisations comme No More Deaths et Humane Borders, qui apportent une aide humanitaire à ces migrants – en installant des stations d’eau, en sensibilisant le public et en plaidant pour une politique d’immigration humaine. À l’inverse, il existe des milices anti-immigrants et des groupes d’autodéfense comme les Minutemen ou l’Arizona Border Recon qui patrouillent activement la frontière à la recherche de migrants. Ces milices, largement alimentées par les politiques et la rhétorique de l’administration Trump, ont infligé des dommages, voire la mort, à tous les migrants qu’elles rencontrent. C’est un triste état de fait le long de la frontière entre les États-Unis et le Mexique.

Quand on lit les paroles et qu’on voit la vidéo, quelle a été la partie la plus difficile pour transformer ce drame en poésie?

Dans les paroles, j’ai tendance à être poétique, à peindre à grands traits. Je ne veux jamais révéler où mon esprit s’est fixé. Et 99% du temps, je n’offenserais jamais l’auditeur en lui donnant le sens littéral d’une chanson. Mais avec « 3000 Stories », la compréhension des paroles est fondamentale.

Comment avez-vous l’équipe qui a travaillé avec vous sur la vidéo?

J’ai contacté un jeune artiste que j’avais rencontré au SXSW en 2021, Dorsey Kaufmann. Dorsey crée des installations et des expériences artistiques participatives socialement engagées et était un conférencier invité à l’événement auquel je jouais à Austin. À un moment donné, j’ai remarqué sur sa page IG qu’elle s’était essayée à l’animation en stop-motion, alors je lui ai écrit pour lui demander si elle envisagerait de réaliser un clip pour moi. Je lui ai dit que j’avais un budget de 5 millions de dollars, et je lui ai promis un yacht et la première du clip sur Rolling Stone France. Donc naturellement, Dorsey a dit « oui ». [rires], mais plus sérieusement, nous avons tous les deux tenté notre chance, et ça a marché. Elle a fait un travail incroyable en captivant le sentiment de ces 2 personnages ; ces 2 histoires. Je n’avais littéralement rien à voir avec la présentation visuelle. C’était tout Dorsey.

On retrouve autour de ce projet Gabriel Sullivan qui fait partie de la même équipe avec laquelle vous l’habitude de travailler avec XIXA et Calexico?

Oui, la chanson et l’album ont été produits par mon cher ami et collaborateur de XIXA, Gabriel Sullivan. Nous avons passé de nombreux jours en studio ensemble pendant la fermeture du COVID, pour enregistrer l’album. Il s’agissait d’un « album pandémique » et seules quatre personnes étaient autorisées à se trouver dans le studio en même temps, conformément aux directives du CDC. Il y avait donc Gabriel et moi-même, ainsi que notre ingénieur Frank Bair. Gabriel a joué presque tous les instruments dans le studio. Nous avons envoyé des pistes audio dans le monde entier à nos amis musiciens : John Convertino, de Calexico, a joué de la batterie et du marimba sur l’album, KT Tunstall chante sur un titre, les musiciens nantais Jean-Patrick Cosett et Vassili Caillosse font une apparition. Une douzaine d’amis locaux et étrangers au total sont crédités. Normalement, Si on avait pu bénéficier d’un groupe en studio, on aurait joué de manière cohérente, mais ce n’était pas possible à l’époque. Nous avons donc fait ce que nous avons pu avec ce que nous avions. C’est plus un album Frankenstien. Mais d’une certaine manière, ça fonctionne. Il y a plusieurs façons de faire une omelette.

C’est la même équipe pour votre prochain album qui est prévu pour le 17 mai?

Oui. Gabriel et moi avons produit tous les enregistrements de XIXA. Pour cet album solo, je voulais m’éloigner de cet espace et laisser Gabe prendre les rênes en tant que producteur. Cela m’a vraiment libéré pour que je puisse me concentrer sur mon côté artiste

L’album est terminé d’ailleurs?

Tout à fait et sortira dans le monde entier sur Cosmica Records le 17 mai. 100 vinyles limités seront pressés et vendus aux Etats-Unis par Fort Lowell Records à Wilmington, Caroline du Nord. En France, il y aura des vinyles produits et distribués par Gates Pass Records à Nantes.

Y a-t-il des surprises?

Pour le savoir, il faudra attendre!

Brian Lopez - "3000 Stories"

[Repost from If It's Too Loud; by Ken Sears, February 14, 2023]

You might know Brian Lopez best as the guitarist for Calexico, but his solo albums have been released to wide acclaim as well. His latest solo single, "3000 Stories," is a gorgeous and lush cinematic song. It keeps his desert roots intact while being a quietly gigantic song. It's a relatively simple song that seems to keep building and building, adding new elements while just keeping the main root of the song completely together. "3000 Stories" is the kind of song that's going to require multiple listens. You won't realize how much is going on after just the first one, and the more you listen, the more there is to discover here.

You can listen to "3000 Stories" below. Tidal will be due out this summer on Fort Lowell Records. For more on Brian Lopez, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.

Feb 14 Tue - Lodge Room Highland Park - Los Angeles, CA
Feb 15 Wed - Belly Up - Solana Beach, CA
Feb 16 Thu - Pappy & Harriet's - Pioneertown, CA
Feb 17 Fri - Musical Instrument Museum - Phoenix, AZ
Feb 18 Sat - Meow Wolf - Santa Fe, NM

Southwestern Indie Rocker Brian Lopez Drops "3000 Stories" (Premiere)

[Repost from PopMatters; by Jonathan Frahm, February 6, 2023]

Brian Lopez of XIXA and Calexico fame premieres “3,000 Stories”, the first single from his new album TIDAL that’s releasing this summer.

An influential Southwestern songwriter, Brian Lopez’s name has crossed into circles ranging from indie and art rock to grunge, psychedelia, cumbia, and other musical regalia. Fans of Calexico, XIXA, and Mostly Bears will recognize him for his contributions, and his solo music has found its home with avid alternatives—oft uttered in the same breath as Thom Yorke or Nick Cave. 2023 marks a new movement for Lopez, who has defined desert noir with his music for nearly 20 years. A new album, TIDAL, is dropping this summer and bringing a fresh cinematic cut for the celebrated artist.

Some see it as a return to form, viewed from the vantage point of over 15 years plugging away at his musical endeavors. TIDAL’s debut single, “3000 Stories”, is indie rock and folk this side of Elliott Smith, finding its mellow vibe in subtle, undulating synths, guitar tones, and soft-sung vocals. It’s a gorgeously crafted, unassuming first single that sets the tone for something special from Lopez in the coming months with TIDAL.

Lopez tells PopMatters, “It’s the first song off the album and has particles of the entire album’s DNA woven throughout its sonic thread. It’s also not an overwhelmingly obvious lead single. I’m not going to hit you over the head and say, ‘LISTEN HERE!’ No, to the contrary—I want to cultivate a patient and attentive listening experience. If you like ‘3000 Stories’, you will love the rest of TIDAL. If not, then I’ll hit you over the head with the next single.”

Having recently returned to the stage with a scorching set at Tucson’s Club Congress, Lopez reflects on the performance ahead of an ongoing tour with DeVotchKa.

“It had been about four years since I’d played a solo show with a full band backing me. For the longest bit, I’ve been saying no to gig offers. When you’ve been off the grid for that long, it’s hard to gauge the public’s interest in your craft. The brief hiatus, as it turned out, helped. People were curious to see what I was up to and packed the house. I used the opportunity to revamp the live band and reconceptualize the live look and sound. I put together a four-piece band composed of four multi-instrumentalist producers—a high-risk, high-reward situation. The band was beyond stellar It felt good to get back on stage and hit a new, different stride. Get out of my old patterns.”

Regarding DeVotchKa, “These guys are like family. I’ve been on tour with them before, and it’s always a great time. I’m looking forward to legendary venues like Meow Wolf in Santa Fe and Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown. I’ll be doing this run solo, so I’m going to try and convince some DeVotchka bandmates to jump on stage and sit in during my support set. We’ll see.”

TOUR DATES

2/14 – Los Angles, CA @ Lodge Room Highland Park

2/15 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up

2/16 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s

2/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum

2/18 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf

OUT NOW: Brian Lopez "3000 Stories" [Digital Single]

Described as "a fresh cinematic cut" by Jonathan Frahm of PopMatters, the first single "3000 Stories" from Brian Lopez's new album Tidal is out everywhere today!  Be sure to reserve your copy of the vinyl record, as this one is definitely going to sell out fast!

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER VINYL