Tell us a little bit about yourself! When did you discover your love for music?
I grew up in Kingsville, Texas and music was something that began to consume me at an extremely young age. The age gap between my brother and sister is pretty big, 10 and 11 years respectively. They were going through their musical experiences. Through their eclectic selections in music, I would listen to their recordings on repeat and really fell in love with music. Even then I was drawn to the really dark and moody love songs that many people say are depressing! LOL I didn’t have a clue what the lyrics meant then, but I fell in love with the sounds coming from the singers mouths. It’s kind of funny when a five-year-old kid is singing THE THRILL IS GONE, LOL . At an early age I could appreciate so many different styles of music. I didn’t play with toys when I was a kid. My “thing” has always been music. .Freddie Mercury, Pat Benatar, George Michael, Luciano Pavarotti were are my idols. I really wanted to sing rock ‘n’ roll. Because of where my voice naturally sits, my teachers pushed me towards classical music....opera. It wasn’t until much later in my musical training that I would begin to explore rock ‘n’ roll, pop....and really all styles singing. Because of my strict conservatory background, I just thought opera singers could not successfully sing any other type of music...which of course is not true. My family has recordings of me singing when I was 5 or 6 years old. I began taking piano lessons when I was five and formal voice lessons in middle school. In junior high, I would perform one song at church every Sunday and with my schools jazz band. The acceptance I received from the audiences who listened to me was so amazing. I was hooked on performing.
How did growing in the small town of Kingsville, Texas shape your musical and theatrical career?
There wasn’t a huge music program in Kingsville, TX so I auditioned for the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas and was accepted and moved to the city. The school was so amazing and allowed to focus on music for half of the academic day. It was modeled after the TV show “Fame” in so many ways. I still can’t believe that parents let me leave home. They are the best parents any one could ask for. The town I grew up in is tiny compared to Houston. I moved into an apartment with a host family and eventually lived by myself and really began to concentrate very hard on my voice, music theory,and pedagogy. My small South Texas community has always been supportive of my singing and I am lucky to have grown up there. And Houston was a great place for me because the solid training I received at HSPA.
You epitomize what the industry refers to as a "triple threat" as a recording artist, model, AND actor! How did your passion for music evolve into these three career paths?
Thank you for saying that! And that’s a great question. I began modeling in New York City after graduate school as a way to pay my rent! I would go on fashion castings and I found that commercial print was a great way to make money. The fashion world is so different from what I was used to. I really only used it to help my music career. Many of my best friends are in fashion, and I met them when I started modeling in New York City. It really gave me a great network of friends for life.After grad school, my agent in New York suggested I go out for acting roles and I booked a few off Broadway shows. Though I’ve tried other things, music has always been my number one!
It sounds like you have had the opportunity to perform at a lot of awesome shows. What has been your favorite performance so far, and why?
I really worked hard on my graduate recital at the New England Conservatory of Music. This was a great show and it was rewarding to see my mom and dad so happy. I felt like I really did the performance for them and it was a win for all of us. Also my first show at The Whiskey a Go Go in LA was a great show because I broke through some emotional walls.
We have listened to a number of amazing cover songs that you have done! Your cover of Sia's Chandelier (Spanish Edit), on your featured page, is our personal favorite! Which song has been your favorite to cover and why?
My personal favorite is the recording of LINKIN PARK’s NUMB which I performed as a tribute for Chester Bennington. His suicide hit me hard and I’m so sorry to his family, friends, and fans. Working with my producer Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer is always so awesome but there was something special about our session and I feel like he got me to sing in an expressive way which I hope translates to the audience. Let me know what you guys think in the comments section please. Here’s the link. Please check it out: https://youtu.be/pvHKXY44-iY
What can we expect to see from you in 2018 and beyond?
I will be releasing my first EP “THAT FEELS GOOD, TOO” in a few months and the video for the title song in about a month and a half. Please go to my website jamesleelopez.com for more information. I’m also going to release a full album of covers on iTunes and Spotify at the end of August. I have my fingers crossed that the tour will begin in January. The dates will be on my website. Thank you so much for all of your questions and support and please keep following me through my journey. I really appreciative this honor.
Where can people go to learn more about you? JamesLeeLopez.com/EPK
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