After a year of creating new music, violinist, singer,
and composer Omar Lopez has gone back into the studio to begin the
pre-production phase of recording his third album. This time around, he
is working at Everdrift Recording Studios with contributing producer and recording engineer Mark Ford, who is an
accomplished cellist and string arranger in addition to being
well-versed on guitar and keyboards. Ford is assisting Omar in creating
the synth sequences and orchestral foundations of twelve brand-new
original songs, and Omar's live band and backing vocalists will be
recording their parts later this spring with Omar's longtime
collaborator Adam Whaley. Whaley will also be a contributing producer
on this project - his Means of Production Studio
recently moved into a larger space in North Austin. In March 2009, Omar
will begin filming a long-planned video documentary which will
chronicle the creation of the new album from start to finish. Stay
tuned to his Official Website and this MySpace for more information!

VIOLINS:
ZETA "Jazz Fusion" MIDI-capable 5-string electric violin (2005) - Translucent Red (Omar's main instrument)
ZETA "Acoustic Pro" 4-string acoustic-electric violin (2002) - Translucent Red (Omar's secondary instrument)
Barcus-Berry 4-string acoustic-electric violin (2000) - Red Sunburst
Acoustic violin made by Walter Sandner (2001) w/ L.R. Baggs pickup

WIRELESS:
AKG WMS-40 Diversity Guitar Bug system (for the ZETA and Barcus-Berry violins)
Shure ULX-S14J1 electric instrument system (for the acoustic violin)

SOUND EFFECTS AND PROCESSING:
BOSS GT-6 effects processor (for reverb, delay, chorus, wah, distortion, and synth ambience)

AMPLIFICATION:
ZETA AP-12 Pro amplifier for electric stringed instruments (large venues)
Fishman Loudbox Pro amplifier for acoustic instruments (small venues)

A lot of you out there may not know this, but I actually got my start on the viola.  I dabbled in violin here and there throughout elementary and middle school but I had such long fingers and arms as an awkward preteen that my instructors thought it best for me to stay on viola. 

I wear glasses because of my blurred vision, and so my sightreading was not great, and to add to that, my intonation was terrible (due to the instrument's size and the discomfort it caused me) and I hated practicing as a result.

To add to that, there were times where I wanted to quit playing all through high school, because my peers in the orchestra were not the kindest people.  (You know how kids and teens can be!)  What kept me playing was the fact that I loved it, and I was also in my church orchestra and they were extremely warm and supportive.  Even my friends in my church youth group encouraged me to keep on playing.

That being said, I played both violin and viola through my lessons in high school, and my private teacher noticed that I was better on violin, but my high school's viola section was so small (it went from 4 players to 2 players during my senior year) that my orchestra teacher preferred that I play viola for the concerts.  By that time I think I had grown into my body, and that viola was really large and uncomfortable, which I think affected my playing.   Even my senior year solo recital wasn't as good as I thought it should be. 

All of these factors led me to a disappointing situation when I started college - I had been the first chair violist in high school, and now I was the third chair in my university's symphony orchestra.  I felt brushed aside and inadequate.  They didn't view my private teacher's recommendation for me to move to violin as legit because I didn't have enough experience actually playing the violin during concerts. 

It felt so political.  It really was, and I got burned out.  I wasn't all that interested in classical music by that point because by the time I was in college, I had already seen Yanni and John Tesh concerts and Irish-dance shows Riverdance and Lord of the Dance on PBS during the summer, and I knew that there was something else out there for me because those productions prominently featured violinists such as Karen Briggs, Charlie Bisharat, Lorenza Ponce, and Eileen Ivers - all of whom have become my friends and mentors in some way since my college days.  Some friends also turned me on to the jazz violin pioneer, Jean-Luc Ponty. 

What I'm getting at is that these people were improvising all over the place in different genres of music, such as world, Latin, rock, jazz, and Celtic, and I had also seen Vanessa-Mae (who is my age!) doing her thing with dance and pop-classical, so I too began improvising in my own time, outside of classes.

I was blessed to come across several great and very different opportunities after making the decision to leave college and pursue my dream of becoming a full-time professional musician.  Since that point, it's not always been easy, but I've been blessed by God with many musical opportunities that have helped me get to where I am now - and this is only the beginning.  From touring with a large internationally-based rock orchestra to playing in salsa clubs with a Latin-jazz band, and from writing my first songs like "Dawn" and "Resurrection" and releasing the "Forever Red" CD in 2005 to being on my way to releasing an album of all-new original music next year, I know that there is another force at work here.

There was a reason for everything that happened during my younger years.  Although I'm far from blind and can drive, type, walk, and see perfectly with my glasses, my vision problems helped me to develop the ear and sound that I have, and I have not read sheet music in ten years as a result.  That, in and of itself, is a gift, because I believe and trust that there's more music in my heart and soul, waiting to come out onto my violin and through my voice, than could ever be put on paper.   

That being said, let it be known and understood I am not the star of my life or my concerts.  I know it comes across that way, but it's only because I love life, I love music, and I love performing.  Although my onstage persona may seem pompous and dominant, I am truly humble because I am a born-again Christian.  Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, He is the star of my life, and with Him, all things are possible.  I have always known this and believed in Him, but my actions, my words, and my life have not always been a testimony of that. 

As a result of my re-dedication of my life to Him, my music is headed in a new direction, filled with light and love and hope.  This will be reflected in my next album, which I hope to release by Summer or Fall 2009.  I will continue to perform my music and minister to concert audiences and church congregations, who have always been so supportive of my journey.  However, I will also begin to minister through the music of Jason and deMarco, a devoted, loving, and commited couple whose star in Christ and in music is rising, as they have asked me to be a part of their live worship band for several occasions throughout the fall and next year. 

If I've offended anyone, please know that I do not do this to offend, because I am not here to force my beliefs on anyone - I'm only here to share my story to anyone who will listen or who also believes.  That being said, know that I am here and that my music is what it is, not because of me, but because of something inside me and around us all that I believe is greater than all of us. 

I love you all, just as much as I love the Lord and the music that he has put in my soul.  Thank you for being my friends.

In Christ,
Omar

This Wednesday (October 15, 2008) at 6:00 P.M. Central Standard Time (United States), Violinist Omar Lopez will be hosting his first-ever fan exclusive live chat on Yahoo Messenger.  Fans, friends, and fellow musicians will be able to chat with Omar for an hour on Yahoo Messenger by sending an instant message to his screenname (OmarLopezChat).  He's very excited to premiere his "FOREVER RED: DELUXE EDITION" album on Tuesday, October 21 (the official release date), so he will be onhand to learn more about all of you and talk about his own music, the music and artists that he's currently into, what he does for fun during his free time, etc.  This will be the first of many live chats that he will be hosting, and he can't wait to talk to you, so mark your calendars - and again, send an IM to OmarLopezChat on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 6:00 P.M. Central Standard Time (4:00 P.M. on the West Coast and 7:00 P.M. on the East Coast) and he'll be waiting! 

With love,
Omar Lopez Music

Lately I've been working full-time with my own band and we've had a lot of amazing, great shows, but on occasion I play with a few other groups including a really successful Latin band and a gospel/inspirational artist.  It just keeps things fun and interesting, and I enjoy maintaining relationships with these other bands because they were the ones who gave me the opportunities to shine long before my own original project came into being. 

Tonight, I've been rethinking the extent of my commitment and relationship with one of these groups - not because of any personal drama with them.  In the past, things haven't always been easy, as working dynamics between myself and some the musicians in this group has made it difficult for me to maintain a full-time position, but I have learned a LOT from them (professionally, musically, and personally) and one of my life's mentors is the band leader. 
 
On Saturday, I got a call from them wanting me to come play a private gig for the next afternoon.  I really didn't hesitate because I enjoy playing with them from time to time and it sounded like a fun thing to do - and the money offered wasn't too bad.  I honestly should have asked more questions about said gig before agreeing to do it. 

When I arrived, I was dressed to play a private function - you know, black slacks, a button-up dress shirt, nice shoes - as were the other musicians.  I did take note of how hot it was outside but for some reason I thought that there would at least be a tent or some fans to keep the band and the guests cool, since this event was a wedding reception and you would think that a client and an event planner would have enough common sense to make arrangements so no one would have to suffer the direct sunlight and heat.

Yes, this is October, but this is also Central Texas, people.  What that means is that while the actual wedding reception was being held inside the clubhouse under fans and shade, the band was set up on the patio with no cover and no air conditioning of any sort.  I guess I'm spoiled because I'm used to doing outdoor shows with at least a tent covering the stage - a lot of jazz festivals and church functions that my band and I have done have had that set up. 

As I was setting up my gear to start the show with the guys, I paused and thought I was feeling a little funny, but figured that I had been drinking enough water and had eaten a good breakfast so there really wasn't anything to worry about.   Boy, was I ever wrong.

So, we started the gig and immediately after the second song (fifteen minutes into it), I started feeling lightheaded and dizzy.  I was still drinking water so I put it to my head, but man, that sun was unrelenting and being on the patio was like an egg being fried on a hot griddle.  After taking a few minutes to just continue doing my job, I commented to the band leader how I was feeling and he basically just blew it off and said to deal with it and to do the gig.  He's always been pretty cut and dry like that, but his insensitivity was particularly irritating as I knew from friends' accounts from the previous weekend's music festival in town that a lot of people had suffered from heat exhaustion - I just didn't ever think I could be one of those people.

About twenty or so minutes into the gig, I think my irritation and stress combined with how I was feeling just didn't make for good bedfellows.  I had taken one of the chairs and was sitting down, about to do a solo, when the next thing I knew I was catching my violin from falling out of my hands.  Honestly, I was a little embarassed, because I looked at my bandmates and they were still playing like clockwork, so I thought I was just being clumsy, but then it happened again and this time I was catching myself from falling!

I immediately unplugged my instrument, put it on the stand, and went inside.  The band leader was visibly and audibly upset with me, but I wasn't going to deal with any flack from anyone because I realized in that moment what had just happened.  I got on the phone to call my father for advice, and while telling him how I was feeling and about what had just happened, a guy who was one of the wedding guests overheard my conversation and told me that he was an EMT.  What are the odds?  I felt like I was in a movie and was one of those crazy people asking "Is there a doctor in the house?"

He sat me down, and this other lady who brought me some more water observed to me that I looked pale - which is weird, because I actually have a tan right now.  The EMT, who apparently is a good friend of the groom, was kind enough to take my blood pressure and check my blood sugar levels after asking me the usual questions about my age, my medical history, and whether I'd eaten and if I'd been drinking (alcohol).  I'm not a big drinker and I actually had made a point of having a good meal before leaving my place that morning since food at private gigs usually is a little sketchy.  I'm also a big fan of water these days!

After about ten minutes of running his procedures and checking my pulse, the EMT told me that it was best that if I was feeling faint and dizzy, to not even continue the gig and to just sit it out.  I kind of laughed because that wasn't an option for my band leader.  His attitude is that if you can walk, talk, and breathe, you can do the gig.  However, the EMT strongly encouraged me not to take the chances, but also not to drive. 

By this time, I was pretty spooked.  This has never, ever happened to me.  Once I was doing an outdoor wedding ceremony and I remember feeling lightheaded then, but I'd never full-on blacked out.  I don't remember falling out of my chair yesterday, and I NEVER drop my instrument - my violin is my baby. 

I guess my bandleader didn't realize the gravity of things because he just thought I was overreacting and that I needed to grin and bear it since he and his bandmates have been doing outdoor gigs in the heat for years and years.  At that point, when he said that, I was just emotionally and physically done so I followed the EMT's advice and went inside and just isolated myself with a glass of water and a cold compress to my head and neck.  As the gig went on, I would occasionally play the violin from off to the side since I'm wireless, but I know how silly it looked and trust me, I felt even more stupid doing it.  I did notice the EMT going to talk to my band leader during the set break, and after that, the band leader chilled out and let up on me a little bit although he made it known how he could have gotten someone else if he knew that this was going to happen. 

You know what, dude?  Do it next time.  You have the green light.  I have had enough, and today I felt put in a position where the only thing that was important to you was the money and the gig, and not the well-being of your players.  You heard the EMT - it was dangerous and you had the choice of either not making me play or having me go home in an ambulance.  That guy wasn't joking.

To anyone reading this, whether they are a fan, a friend, a family member, or a fellow musician - I would never put any of my own musicians through this.  The Central Texas heat is brutal.  As someone who is in charge of his own business and revenue, I'm also in charge of making sure that the people who work for me are safe and in good health, and it's my duty to make sure that they are not put in any dangerous situations. 

That being said, heat stroke and heat exhaustion are no laughing matter, people.  It is the responsibility of an event coordinator to see to it that proper precautions are made to ensure that V.I.P.'s, guests, catering and waitstaff, and bands are under cover to protect them from the elements, and if they don't do it, then the people in charge of the bands (including band leaders) the waitstaff/catering need to make sure that that happens.

I only ended up playing five or six songs that afternoon, and I don't feel bad about it.  By the end of the gig, I'd had a good time just mingling with people but I was embarassed about nearly causing a commotion, so I tried to be jovial about it and just smile, but I think people could tell how scared I was. 

I just really want to share this with all of you because heat exhaustion is something that we in Central Texas know all about.  The outdoor music festivals that we host here in my hometown of Austin are sometimes riddled with people who arrive in their cars and leave in ambulances.  I just never thought I could be one of those people, and I thank God that I wasn't, and so today, I'm rethinking my willingness to say yes to gigs in the middle of the day and I know I'll ask more questions about whether or not it will be outside, what the dress code will be, and if there will be adequate cover and sufficient fluids nearby in case it's really hot outside.  In the end, the money you're being paid to play or sing doesn't matter if you're putting yourself in a potentially bad situation to do it.   If you're a working musician, you need to be asking those questions too, and trust me - it's okay to say no.  In the end, the only person who is going to look out for you needs to be you.

I just looked at my blog and realized that the last time I posted was on May 18 - the night that my band and I opened for Pat Benatar in San Antonio.  So much has happened since then, including a few awesome shows and a couple of trips to NYC and LA.  Honestly, things have been going very well lately and I'm quite thankful to be surrounded by some great friends, family, an awesome band, and such wonderfully supportive fans who have been coming out to the concerts. 

I haven't been playing out as much as I have in the past few years, but I wanted to share with you that it's not because I'm getting burned out or anything - because I'm not!  I love what I do.  Being able to compose and perform for a living is my dream job.  Ten years ago, I never thought I'd be doing what I'm doing now since I had just finished my second semester in college and was seriously unhappy with it.  I stayed for only one more semester and then got the opportunity to tour with the Dreamsound Orchestra in Fall 1998 - and now here I am!  Everything really happens for a reason.

This year has been all about rebuilding, reimagining, and revisiting, and it's also been about working on tightening up my music with the band.  Even though we haven't played too many live shows this year, the concerts I've been doing have DEFINITELY been ones to remember and I look forward to even more in the near future.  Behind the scenes, the band and I have been rehearsing more than ever, strengthening and evolving the older songs in my show while creating exciting new music for my next album.

A lot of fans have asked why I re-released "FOREVER RED" as a Deluxe Edition album (the presale batch arrived this week and the official release date is Tuesday, September 16th).  Let's face it -  I'm a perfectionist.  I think that you have to be one in this industry.  I was happy with the "EXPERIENCE" album but I knew from the get-go that it was a limited edition release - we only had 1000 copies made and I honestly just wanted to share some live material with the fans that bought it while also putting out songs that we'd been playing for a while that never made it onto the "FOREVER RED" album.

Once we were sold out of "EXPERIENCE", I knew that my next step was to take the best songs from both the 2005 release of "FOREVER RED" and the now-discontinued "EXPERIENCE" album and merge them into one single collection - and my co-producer Adam Whaley and I spent about a month remastering and remixing thirteen different tracks so that every song flowed seamlessly nad with balance from one to the next. 

I was proud of "FOREVER RED" in 2005 because it was my first studio album as a solo artist that I released after years of playing in other bands like The Brew and Matson Belle.  I was also proud of "EXPERIENCE" because it showed the evolution that my entire band had gone through after two years of playing together.

Today, I'm still proud of the two original albums and extremely proud of "FOREVER RED: DELUXE EDITION".  At the core, all of the music on this album comes from the time that I spent in that mode of writing about surviving amidst hardships, getting through breakups, and counting my blessings.  I know that some or many of you may already have "FOREVER RED" or "EXPERIENCE", but I will say that this release is VERY different from the previous two and it truly sounds great.

Despite what some may have said or thought since the announcement of the re-release, I stand firmly and confidently by my decisions.  I am an independent artist and therefore, I don't have to answer to anyone or anything but my Lord and Savior and my own creative impulses.  Furthermore, we are now playing to audiences who have never been exposed to this music and I want them to have the same opportunity that others here in Austin at the Frost Bank shows and local church concerts have had to take home and enjoy songs like "Dawn", "Full Circle", "Testimonial Ocean", "Reasons for Living", and "Forever Red".   

On another note, let me me share this with people who are reading my blogs and learning about my music for the first time.  Even though I'm a violinist, my music is NOT what some people might assume it to be - it's not just about the violin and it's not just classical music, either.  There are gospel-flavored vocals, jazz and rock jams, electronic pop dance beats, and even something for fans of Latin and world music!  Supporting it all is a cast of musicians and singers with whom I have had the utmost privilege of working over the past three years.  Even though the Barnes and Noble shelf might call it "new age", I don't feel like labeling my music because I feel it's for everyone!

If you like Yanni, Vangelis, Vanessa-Mae, Jean-Luc Ponty, the Gipsy Kings, Ottmar Liebert, or even a little 80s pop-rock music or 90s dance club stuff, then I am confident that you'll really enjoy this album... and "FOREVER RED: DELUXE EDITION" is here to stay, so don't worry about it being discontinued or going out-of-print. 

Thanks to all of you for your support.  I look forward to seeing you at the shows - my next one is in San Antonio on September 19th!  Send me a message or a comment any time.  I love hearing from you!

Regards,
Omar



 

Okay, so at the dress rehearsal at Music Lab in South Austin yesterday afternoon, it finally hit me... tonight, the band and I are opening for 80's rock icon Pat Benatar and her longtime guitarist, producer, co-writer, and multi-instrumentalist Neil Giraldo (www.myspace.com/officialpatbenatar). OH EM GEEEEEEE!  Love is a Battlefield, baby!

(I'm glad my love life has been such a battlefield, otherwise God wouldn't have put some amazing songs in my heart and soul for me to create and none of this would have ever happened!)

The five months leading up to this have been a grueling process of learning a few new songs, tightening up some old ones, and rehearsing some newcomers to my band - drummer Reagan Redfern, keyboardist Christopher Cribb, guitarist/saxophonist Greg Williams, and backing vocalist Rachel Keagy.  My longtime band members, bassist Ryan Redfern and backing vocalist Kelley Glover, and I are very excited to have this new team in place as the energy during rehearsals has been THROUGH THE ROOF.  The enthusiasm and excitement of this group is so thick, you can barely cut it with a knife.  (Does anyone have a chainsaw!?!?)  I can only imagine what it will be like at tonight's concert.

If you still haven't purchased tickets and you're in the San Antonio (or Austin) area, there is still time.  Go to this link - Benatar tickets on TICKETMASTER.  I'd rather you do that than go to the box office and it be sold out.  I hate it when that happens to me... and trust me, it's happened a few times.  I'm just that forgetful.

To all of you who have sent your prayers, thoughts, and comments of support, love, and encouragement - you know who you are - thank you.  My friend Dana said this will be a "night never to be forgotten."  The only reason I've gotten here is because of my amazingly talented band, my dedicated staff, the superb professionalism of my agent, fans like you, and most of all, my Lord and Savior.  I can't wait to tell you all how the show goes!

With love through life and music,
Omar Lopez