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10 Questions with ... Josh Lopez
August 13, 2007
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NAME:Josh LopezTITLE:MusicianLABEL:Avista Records/SONY BMG
Label:
Avista Records/SONY BMGDiscography:
Free to Live (2007)1) Can you offer a brief look at your musical journey?
There is much to tell but I will start after I surrendered my life to Christ in 1996. I had just moved back from Puerto Rico and lost just about everything. I remember going to a Crystal Lewis concert and Israel Houghton was opening up. After he sang and shared his testimony, I got pretty choked up and said a prayer under my breath. I asked God to change me and use me in other peoples' lives the way Israel had impacted my life. That night in a subtle way, I said "yes" to God's purpose for my life. So I began this musical journey as a worship leader and songwriter. Fast forward four years later I was singing with Israel. Who would have thought? It was during that time I met my beautiful wife and soulmate Martha. The songs that I write are simply my life's journey and the great freedom that I have found having a true relationship with Jesus Christ.
2) How did you get connected to Avista Records?
One of the record label execs heard the title track on my first CD, "More Than a Song." He approached me about a deal and here we are.
3) What's the story behind your new single "The Rest of My Life"?
"The Rest of My Life" is a song that talks about my response to the greatest gift I have been given, God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. In practical terms, I was a broken young man with a past filled with many tragedies. Jesus took all my sin and shame and gave me a new life filled with a promise for eternity, purpose and everyday I get to do life with the most gorgeous girl on the planet and the greatest family and friends a guy could ask for! Yep, it doesn't get any better than that. That's what inspired the lyric, "I want to love you for the rest of my life. I want to worship you for the rest of my days." Realizing that everything I have is simply because of what he did and not because of anything I have earned or deserve.
4) Is there a central theme to the album "Free to Live"?
Yes, the theme is the title of the record, "Free to Live." Here is an example. One night my wife and I were having a devotional at our home in Austin and we began to think of how broken our lives were before we surrendered our lives to Christ. She was 15 when her father unexpectedly passed away. I was 15 when my dad kicked me out of the house and I was living on the streets. God took our broken past and gave us a new life filled with purpose and dreams. After we prayed, I got my acoustic guitar out and we wrote the song, "Great, you're greater than my past, my mistakes, all my sin. You are my redeemer." This song talks about the "freedom" that we have found in discovering God's love for us. The stories keep coming with the other 11 tracks and how they point to the freedom that Christ has given us to truly LIVE.
5) What person has influenced your life most and how?
I have to give equal credit to my mom and dad. My dad is a hard worker; I got that from him. My mom is the gentlest human being. I am learning how to be that way. The biggest reason I consider them the most influential in my life is because, have you ever heard that saying, I would not be here if it wasn't for you? Well, it is true in every sense with my parents. The good and the bad things growing up have shaped me to be the person that I am today.
6) What worship leaders/songwriters inspire you?
Israel Houghton, talk about fearless. I love that quality about Israel. Randy Phillips, dreams big! If there is a big dream, Randy is around somewhere. Chris Tomlin, one of the best songwriters in my opinion, and last but certainly not least Phil Sillas. A dear friend of mine from California. He has written songs for Natalie Grant, Plus One, Jonathan Butler, the list goes on, but what really inspires me about this guy is that he always puts others first, a true servant and this quality is hard to find in the music industry.
7) What compels you to write a song?
It's a mixture of things. The mixed ingredients are Christ and his Spirit, my life experiences, my wife, my relationships, my dreams and other people's life stories.
8) You will be traveling to Peru later this year. What's taking you there?
We are teaming up with Food for the Hungry to go to Peru. They provide hunger relief among many other resources for children all over the world. About a year ago, my wife and I sponsored a little girl from Kenya that had been stricken by poverty. There is nothing more rewarding than doing something like this for a complete stranger and in the process you begin to feel like you have known them for a long time. Our desire is to get all our friends, music fans and as many people as possible to sponsor one kid and continue making a difference in kids' lives all over the world. For real, if you want to find out more, go to www.fh.org/joshlopez.
9) Imagine life without music as your career; what might you like to do?
Good question. I am blessed to have my own business in Austin and San Antonio! I enjoy it and it pays much better than music. LOL! Today, I can honestly say that music is something I get to do and it's a means to communicate and touch God and other people's lives. It's not a quest for fame or stardom. Whenever there are musical career outlets, like getting my songs played on the radio, it's just another opportunity to share this life that I have found in Jesus Christ.
10) You were born in Puerto Rico but grew up in the Bronx. When did that move happen and how did you arrive in Austin?
Yeah, they say every Puerto Rican family moves to New York or Miami. We did New York. LOL. It was pretty rough growing up in NY. Dad and mom decided to move in the mid 1980s for a job my Dad got with a start-up company in Texas. It's been home since. I have a true soft spot for this city because at one time we were homeless, living out of a van, and I look around me today and will never forget where I have come from. It is a big part of the lyrics I write.
Bonus Questions
1) Who would be a dream artist to record with?
Well, I would have to say these are artists of a different kind. I mean the one and only producers Humberto Gatica and David Foster. That would be a dream come true. Let's see in a few years; who knows?
2) What is your favorite city to visit?
Ponce, Puerto Rico! Are you kidding? I am a Boricua. No question about it. Just get me first class tickets for me and my wife, some Arros con Gandules (my favorite Puerto Rican dish) when we get there and an ocean view, and we are set!
3) What is your favorite road meal?
Okay, so I spent some time in California with my buddies, GB5, and I have to say In N Out Burger is on the top of the list. If they had one of those in every city, that would be the spot.
4) Musical guilty pleasures
"The Apple world." Whether it's my Macbook Pro or playing music on my iPod. It's so easy to create and listen to so much music in the Apple world. Oh, and I just got my iPhone! Yikes! My wife has a face she makes now to let me know my time is up and I need to go to bed. LOL.
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