Moises Lopez Jr. is the singer for Scarlett O’Hara, an energetic rock band made up of Spanish-speaking Mexican Individuals. Born in Weslaco, Texas, the 31-year-old vocalist is a first-generation Mexican American from his father’s aspect and likewise proudly represents the LGBTQ+ group as a homosexual laborious rock frontman. The band initially fashioned in 2008 and helped spearhead a neighborhood subgenre often called “South Texas Metalcore.” Along with Lopez Jr., Scarlett O’Hara options Arnie Bernal on drums, Logan Burns on the guitar and Alek Samodouroff on bass. Their 2021 singles “Friction” and “Obsessive” had been each large successes for the group as they obtained quite a lot of airplay on the radio and landed on a number of Billboard charts. Their newest single, “Witching Hour,” was launched in the present day — the video might be considered beneath. Given his distinctive background and the subject of Scarlett O’Hara’s newest single “Witching Hour,” we requested Lopez to share his expertise rising up as a minority making an attempt to make it in rock music and why sharing songs targeted on psychological well being is so vital to him. Head beneath to see Lopez’s phrases, however first you’ll want to try “Witching Hour.”
Scarlett O’Hara – ‘Witching Hour’
I got here out of the closet whereas I used to be in high-school after I was 17 years previous to my greatest good friend and previous bandmate on the time. I used to be extremely nervous about it. Being homosexual was not one thing that was quite common in our small metropolis, not to mention in a steel band. Regardless of that, I did really feel able to say it or on the very least to acknowledge that I had points of interest towards the identical intercourse and none to the other.
We had been heading to Guitar Middle, and I bear in mind struggling to only come out and say it. My coronary heart began to race so to ease my nervousness, I made it right into a little bit of a guessing recreation. His first guess was assuming I had a lady I used to be crushing on. I replied, “You might be so removed from the reply you may develop frostbite.” As soon as we purchased our guitar strings we headed again to my home. That was after I took a deep breath and advised him. My phrases had been “I’m not too positive about my sexuality, however I feel I like guys. No, really I do know that I like guys.” At that second he smiled at me and mentioned, “Oh bro you are effective, do not even fear about it.” I did not actually know the way to react as a result of it was not what I had braced myself for. He was very supportive about it, the truth is all my bandmates and different faculty buddies had been to my shock.
I felt like one of many fortunate ones, as a result of my popping out was very clean and straightforward though the vast majority of my buddies, if not all, had been straight guys.
That being mentioned, when it got here to my household it was a bit totally different. My mom didn’t take my popping out properly, however it wasn’t as a result of she was upset that I used to be homosexual. She was extra fearful for me and nervous how the world would deal with me. Throughout her time, and most of our dad and mom’ time, homosexuals weren’t handled very properly and had been sadly even killed for it. There was additionally the outbreak of HIV amongst homosexual males and she or he was nervous about it, so I understood the place she was coming from.
I by no means really advised my dad head to head. I used to be too scared. My sister ended up later telling me that he had a hunch after my then-boyfriend would come round usually. She advised him that she loves me it doesn’t matter what. His response was “El es mi hijo de cualquier manera.” This implies, he’s my son both means.
From a younger age, I feel music was at all times one thing I dreamt of pursuing. I bear in mind singing alongside to Selena songs whereas I used to be nonetheless in diapers. My dad and mom was once migrant employees, so I at all times attended totally different faculties and was round a really various group of children. I by no means initially needed to be a frontman as a result of I used to be shy of talking however singers had been tough to come back by in our space so I ended up watching YouTube movies on the way to do it and I picked it up. The one homosexual icons in rock I knew of had been Rob Halford and Freddie Mercury. Thoughts you, that’s one hell of a bar for me to succeed in…no stress!
Forgive me if I depart any notable ones out, however so far as Latinos in rock and steel (or no less than those I knew about on the time) had been Metallica’s bassist Robert Trujillo, Coheed and Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez and Pierce the Veil. Latinos in rock weren’t the vast majority of what I noticed rising up. Not that I’m complaining about it, however it’s a proven fact that rock and steel had been dominated by white males.
One in every of my idols after I first began singing was undoubtedly Breaking Benjamin. Lead singer and guitarist Ben Burnley was that man I needed to be, however he seemed completely nothing like me. He was this 6’4″ white man, and I used to be this 5’5″ little Mexican teen that might not even develop a full beard. I do not likely appear like a lot of the guys within the prime bands of in the present day. I do not know if issues could be totally different if there have been extra folks like me on the market. Nevertheless, I attempt to have a look at that in a optimistic means. I’m the one one on the market who appears like me and perhaps that can encourage rock followers who appear like me, too.
Each bands I’m at present in — The Sight Of Impression and Scarlett O’Hara — are wonderful and I really like them to dying. They by no means had a difficulty with me being homosexual. I bear in mind speaking to Arnie, our drummer, and he mentioned that Logan even gave all of them a small speak earlier than I joined them to be sure that they might not say something that might probably be hurtful to me attributable to my sexuality.
At present, I do not suppose LGBTQ or minorities are shunned from rock and steel, however I do not suppose it is actually encouraging or selling them to hitch both. I do not suppose there are sufficient various folks within the rock scene. That’s one thing I’ve found first-hand throughout my time in Scarlett O’Hara. I feel enhancing that will be an enormous step in the proper course for inventive freedom. It could open our eyes to the various totally different approaches that individuals of various backgrounds can have towards the identical style of music by including their distinctive flairs.
Individuals of various backgrounds have particular person views to convey to the desk, which is one cause why I feel variety is so vital. You go right into a Latino family, white, Black, Asian, Indian, and so forth., and I assure you they may all cook dinner you a meal in another way. I really feel the identical goes for rock music. Range results in extra studying as a result of we get to grasp our variations in our cultures. This results in a bigger number of expressions in writing, in sounds, in performances and even in picture. The extra various types of music and folks we see, the extra it will probably instantly affect and encourage the music and performances of the current and future.
By having a extra various group of individuals in music it says, “Hey that particular person did it, they struggled their means up there however did it. What’s your excuse?” It additionally opens us as much as studying about different cultures by means of a shared love of music.
Additionally value mentioning is the connection between this matter and psychological well being, which undoubtedly exists. I see how variety, or lack thereof, might have an effect on the psychological well being of lots of rock musicians, no matter race. It might shortly develop into a lonely world with out the help of shut family and friends.
Once we made a put up about me being a homosexual frontman, I used to be fortunate that the response was very optimistic, however feeling totally different out of your friends can nonetheless take a toll for many individuals.
The subject of psychological well being has been extraordinarily outstanding in our music since it’s one thing I’m consistently balancing. I wrote the lyrics for our new music “Witching Hour” primarily based on an individual who’s being haunted by a ghost, spirit, demon, their very own thoughts, no matter you’ll. This particular person goes loopy in making an attempt to show to others that they’re being haunted however nobody will consider them. In order that they flip to medication or different irregular tendencies in making an attempt to deal with it.
The road “cease blaming the voices for all of the unhealthy decisions” is me saying to undertake some duty and cease saying “Oh, I’m doing unhealthy issues as a result of I am sick or going by means of stuff.” That is not an excuse. Shit occurs typically, however if you happen to need assistance, search it. There is no such thing as a disgrace in that. I do know lots of Latino males particularly might be extremely cussed in relation to in search of assist. The lyrics of lots of our current songs are supposed to break that stigma.
For those who or somebody you understand is scuffling with psychological well being, assist is offered by means of the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration web site. To talk to somebody on the cellphone, dial 1-800-622-HELP (1-800-622-4357) or ship a textual content message to 1-800-487-4889.
All of us wrestle with issues every day. Some greater than others. There may be NO disgrace in in search of or needing assist. Every time I discovered myself at my lowest low I’d inform myself “I can solely go up from right here.” My recommendation to Latino and LGBT youth is that this: Don’t suppose for a second you could’t accomplish something due to your pores and skin or orientation. Work laborious and you’ll study to understand what you’ve got greater than these which are simply merely handed issues to them. Lastly, perceive the way to love and respect your self.
As a band, we hope that we might be an instance to others that it’s okay to totally embrace who you’re whereas additionally recognizing that it’s okay to hunt assist to your psychological well being if you want it. By way of our music and our actions in our day by day lives, the aim is to be a practical, attainable instance of a Mexican American, overtly homosexual frontman following within the footsteps of those earlier than me.
Take a look at Scarlett O’Hara’s web site to remain updated with their upcoming releases.
