Art & Life with Chris “Chilly” Lopez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris “Chilly” Lopez.

Chris “Chilly” , please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I am an Arizona Native, grew up in South Phoenix and was exposed to music at a young age, playing music in the school band, only to come home and hear the radio on (The radio was rarely off). I guess you can say that music is in my blood because my Tata (my Moms Dad) was a guitarist playing around town, my Tio plays guitar, and my Dad is a drummer that played around town and a full-time musician at one time. There was no escaping music around my family; it was always on. I maybe felt like it was already chosen for me to play music but just didn’t know it growing up, I just wanted to be a kid. My biggest heroes in school were my Band teachers. They really pushed me in areas of work ethic, and discipline that I took with me to spread outside the band room.

I started my music journey playing the Alto Saxophone in elementary school performing in parades, recitals, and even competitions, with judges scoring our performances. I feel confident to say it took away my fear of performing in front of people the more I did it. I played the Sax all the way through my four years of high school where the level of musicianship was on a new level. As my high school career continued, my new passion for guitar was found.

At 14 years old, I picked up the guitar for the first time and of course, it was not easy at all. As I started, pains of the stretching and reaching were growing. My fingertips were getting rough as I pushed on the steel strings causing callouss on all my fingers. It was funny because my Dad always wanted me to play the drums but I just felt like I was making too loud of noises! He bought me an affordable guitar that just blew my mind, A black Fender Stratocaster (Strat) that was only about 300 dollars so I had a guitar to fiddle around at home (I still have it). As I progressed, learning some basics and fiddling around with improvising, I learned my first song which was Black Magic Woman by Carlos Santana. I learned all the solos exactly like the record so when I put the song on, it felt like I was playing with Santana himself and at that point, I knew I wanted to learn more and more. As I grew into an upperclassman at 17 and 18 years old, I spent most of my time in the choir room at South Mountain High School where the guitars and amps were kept at (we had some really nice gear to play on). Instead of socializing, talking to friends and girls like all the other kids, I Took advantage of the choir room plugging in and playing in a music room all by myself with my earbuds in my ears listening, learning, and trying to copy what I heard. I go back and think about how much time and information that was accumulated in those two years. Some days I even had my band Teacher Mr. Bailey walk in from the other bandroom, sit on the piano and just jam along for 5 minutes. He would just get up and walk back to the other room (lol).

When I graduated from High School at 18 years old, I was in Community College majoring in Social Work. I just wanted to help, and impact others around me. I knew if I was not studying or doing homework, I was in my room playing guitar and still progressing. I had no idea where to take music as I was not old enough to go into bars to even try to look. I remember having a really blue day and to make me feel better my parents took me to Lucille’s at Tempe Marketplace because there was a blues trio that was performing there that night that night forever changed me. I met this band and met supporters of this local group in town known as the Arizona Blues Society. They invited me to this jam on a Sunday afternoon, so right after church, I show up to this jam session and just have fun jamming with an actual band. The rest was history after that playing at multiple jams around the valley slowly getting my name out and around town. There were even jams at bars and the only condition was that I had to have one of the parents present at the bars with me during the jam. I definitely thank my parents so much for all the support and sacrificing their time to go with me to these jams, getting home at 1 am only to get to work at 5 and 7 am. These jams in my life have opened a whole new world for me finding my first band and slowly moving up and expanding.

I am blessed to say that nowadays at 25 almost being 26 in May, I still continue to perform and a full-time guitarist playing locally around Arizona and I feel confident in myself that I am ready to be a full time touring guitarist. My influence of genres has evolved from The Blues to Funk, Soul Music, to today’s music. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Isley Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, and John Mayer. I enjoy all types of music not leaving anything out. I like to go to Chars has the Blues to participate in the weekly jams and show support for all my music friends that enjoy playing. I play weekly with local artists such as Kim Weston, Poetic Soul house Band, and The Underground Funk Band playing with amazing artists. I also have been honored to be apart of the legendary Motown group know as The Miracles (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) playing guitar and touring with the group around the United States (One day to tour out of the country). I am currently in this new mindset of creating and releasing my own music as the year goes by, establishing my own artistic side. With that, to perform my own originals locally, and expand out state and so on…

I want to thank everyone out there who have supported me through this journey, grateful to have impacted this city with what I do, and hopefully to continue to impact more people on a higher stage, continue to learn, continue to grow.

“Love all, Hate none”
– Tim Jackson (Keyboard, The Miracles)

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am guitarist here locally performing on a weekly basis four times out of the week. Playing for artists such as Kim Weston, The Poetic Soul House Band, The Underground Funk Band and backed up other artists such as Laydee Jai, Teri Tobin, Whitney Jones, PK Tha Poet, and several others. Currently the active touring guitarist for The Legendary Motown Group The Miracles. I have my own Band known as The Chilly Lopez Band. Also, have been creating my own music. I serve as a guitarist for Dream City Church on the weekends.

At this point in my life guitar is something that has been and will always be a part of my life, there is no taking it away. Something that I keep near in dear to my heart is that every time I pick up my instrument, Im always reminded to put my heart into it no matter the circumstance. It is always an opportunity to move someone in the audience and to touch people’s hearts. It is always my mentality, the mindset I always strive for. Seeing it as a growing artist, the feeling is a vulnerable feeling to create because I see myself opening up to others who are willing to listen to what is on my heart. My heart lies in my lyrics, my playing, my performing. Thats the beautiful part about it. People connect with what I feel in the chords that are played, or a guitar solo, or the lyrics written.

I feel that connection is the keyword to take out of this all. Creating music? When I share it with the world I want people to connect with what I put out. If, or when you catch me performing? I want people to connect with how I perform. How I Play? I want you to connect with how I play chords or licks, how I improvise, how I add my touch and feel I want everyone to connect to it.. it’s not just music or guitar, there is love behind it all.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I feel that it is tough as an artist to breakthrough any level but never impossible. As a growing artist, I am enjoying every little bit of creating with the people in my life and having a great people around me to grow with. Just embracing all the information from others and absorbing it like a sponge.

Keeping an open mind and open heart I feel is vital to being an artist of any kind. We have to get our inspiration from something in our lives that have impacted us. So stepping back and seeing the beauty around us is what gives us our inspiration to create something from our hearts.

The tough part about being the artist I feel is showing others what you do, creating that connection to people around you. Although social media is a game changer, it still lies in the connection of the art to the people not technology such as social media to the people. Anyone can “like” a post or RSVP with “Interested” in going to your show. True support is opening up to an artists work and not seeing it as another painting, or another song. Going to shows, performances, connecting with your favorite local artists. We strive for the people to understand our lifestyle through our work, and knowing there is a group of people all across the spectrum is behind what you do is the best to have as an artist.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Facebook: Chris “Chilly” Lopez

Youtube: www.youtube.com/chrischillylopez 

Instagram: @_iamChilly

Performing regularly here:

-The Underground Open Mic Tuesday nights 8-11 @2601 on Central (2601 N. Central Ave)

-Poetic Soul Open Mic Wednesday nights 7:30-11 @Club Downtown (702 N. Central Ave)

P.S. Anyone can call me by Chilly or Chill, Chills anything like that lol

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_iamchilly/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/chrischillylopez

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.