A Dirty Dozen with MIKEY LOPEZ of 9ELECTRIC – March 2019

According to a recent press release: “It all started with a song. 9Electric went into the studio in early 2018 to record a new song – their first time in the studio since member changes revamped their lineup months prior. They went in to write and record a song, and came out three days later with an unprecedented confidence, an undeniable chemistry, and the first indication of what their future held… Welcome to Megalith, an album as true to the rock royalty that inspired it, as it is to the band members that created it. “Our only goal going into the studio was to write and record a song that defined what 9Electric is in the year 2018,” says frontman Ron Underwood. “What we discovered was akin to addition by subtraction – new blood brought new energy, and Mike and I were able to write like we’d never written before.” Joining Underwood and founding guitarist Mikey Lopez on the new album is returning bassist Ginny Eck (formerly of the band Eyeshine).” We get guitarist Mikey to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

It’s a bona-fide modern hard rock album! They won’t grab the remote (or whatever nearby mechanism) to turn it off, that’s for sure!  The record is made, first and foremost, for we as a band to love and be proud of. From there we have to feel confident that we did our job as musicians/entertainers, and that our fans are going to love it as much as we do. If we didn’t believe in it 100 percent, it would be weird to try to get music fans to do so, right?!

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Music has been a huge part of my life since day 1. My parents are massive music fans, so I always had their influence. I took to music right away, and even though I enjoyed other things – girls, sports, skateboarding etc. – music was my absolute favorite of them all. Life without music is no life at all!

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

My Mom had a copy of The Beatles White Album when I was just a little kid and I loved it immediately. To this day it is my favorite all time record. It has so much variety on it, but is a rock record. The most hard rocking The Beatles ever made.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Jimmy Page, John Lennon, Rage Against The Machine, Alice In Chains and Prince, to add an unexpected wild card! I have MANY others but you only asked for 5 😉

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

At the moment I would choose Zack de La Rocha. Because his political voice/thoughts are really needed in the current times, and because he’s been off the scene for some time now.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I would tell them that we are a modern hard rock band with catchy songs and emotional depth. We changed our sound recently with the departure of one of the other founding members. I wasn’t the biggest fan of our old sound and I make no bones about it. I would cringe at some of the bands we used to get compared to because they were never bands that I was a fan of personally. The way we sound now on the new record ‘Megalith’ is exactly how we want to sound and we can stand behind it no matter what anyone thinks or says about us!

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The freedom to express yourself through such a powerful vessel.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Ginny cooks and gets the drinks! Everyone in the band plays the guitar!

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I worked in concert production for 11 years (Live Nation 2000-2011) so because of that I no longer get star struck!

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Being a musician is my dream job!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Yes, everything prior to this new record!

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

The Beatles White Album, of course!

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Category: Interviews