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 in addition proudly represents the LGBTQ+ group as a homosexual onerous rock frontman. The band initially fashioned in 2008 and helped spearhead an area subgenre generally known as “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 massive successes for the group as they acquired an excessive amount of airplay on the radio and landed on a number of Billboard charts. Their newest single, “Witching Hour,” was launched right this moment — the video might be seen 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 attempting to make it in rock music and why sharing songs centered on psychological well being is so essential to him. Head beneath to see Lopez’s phrases, however first remember 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I got here out of the closet whereas I used to be in high-school after I was 17 years outdated to my greatest buddy and outdated bandmate on the time.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 alternative.
We had been heading to Guitar Heart, and I bear in mind struggling to simply come out and say it. My coronary heart began to race so to ease my anxiousness, I made it right into a little bit of a guessing recreation. His first guess was assuming I had a woman 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 informed him. My phrases had been “I’m not too positive about my sexuality, however I feel I like guys. No, truly I do know that I like guys.” At that second he smiled at me and mentioned, “Oh bro you are high-quality, do not even fear about it.” I did not actually know how you can react as a result of it was not what I had braced myself for. He was very supportive about it, in actual fact 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 simple regardless that 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 fearful 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 he or she was fearful about it, so I understood the place she was coming from.
I by no means truly informed 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 informed 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 manner.
From a younger age, I feel music was all the time 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 migrant staff, so I all the time attended totally different faculties and was round a really numerous group of youngsters. 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 return by in our space so I ended up watching YouTube movies on how you can 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 achieve…no stress!
Forgive me if I depart any notable ones out, however so far as Latinos in rock and steel (or at the very least 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 incontrovertible fact that rock and steel had been dominated by white males.
One among 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 regarded 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 probably not appear like many of the guys within the high bands of right this moment. I do not know if issues can be totally different if there have been extra individuals like me on the market. Nevertheless, I strive to have a look at that in a optimistic manner. I’m the one one on the market who appears to be like like me and possibly that may encourage rock followers who appear like me, too.
Each bands I’m presently in — The Sight Of Affect and Scarlett O’Hara — are wonderful and I like them to loss of life. They by no means had a problem 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 discuss earlier than I joined them to ensure that they’d not say something that might presumably be hurtful to me resulting from my sexuality.
Presently, I do not assume LGBTQ or minorities are shunned from rock and steel, however I do not assume it is actually encouraging or selling them to hitch both. I do not assume there are sufficient numerous individuals within the rock scene. That’s one thing I’ve found first-hand throughout my time in Scarlett O’Hara. I feel enhancing that might be an enormous step in the correct route for inventive freedom. It might open our eyes to the various totally different approaches that folks 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 purpose why I feel range is so essential. You go right into a Latino family, white, Black, Asian, Indian, and many others., and I assure you they’ll all prepare dinner you a meal in a different 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 numerous kinds of music and folks we see, the extra it will possibly immediately affect and encourage the music and performances of the current and future.
By having a extra numerous group of individuals in music it says, “Hey that particular person did it, they struggled their manner up there however did it. What’s your excuse?” It additionally opens us as much as studying about different cultures via a shared love of music.
Additionally value mentioning is the connection between this subject and psychological well being, which undoubtedly exists. I see how range, or lack thereof, might have an effect on the psychological well being of plenty of rock musicians, no matter race. It might rapidly develop into a lonely world with out the assist of shut family and friends.
After 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 attempting to show to others that they’re being haunted however nobody will imagine them. In order that they flip to medicine or different irregular tendencies in attempting to deal with it.
The road “cease blaming the voices for all of the unhealthy decisions” is me saying to undertake some accountability and cease saying “Oh, I’m doing unhealthy issues as a result of I am sick or going via stuff.” That is not an excuse. Shit occurs typically, however in case you need assistance, search it. There is no such thing as a disgrace in that. I do know plenty of Latino males particularly might be extremely cussed on the subject of looking for assist. The lyrics of a lot of our latest songs are supposed to break that stigma.
When you or somebody you realize is combating psychological well being, assist is offered via 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 battle with issues each day. Some greater than others. There may be NO disgrace in looking for 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 assume for a second you could’t accomplish something due to your pores and skin or orientation. Work onerous and you’ll be taught to understand what you might have greater than these which can be simply merely handed issues to them. Lastly, perceive how you can 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 in your psychological well being whenever you want it. By way of our music and our actions in our day by day lives, the aim is to be a sensible, 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.
