After a three-decade music profession that established him world wide for distinctive guitar enjoying, Oscar Lopez has just lately been residing out of his automotive in Calgary.
He’s shared the stage with ballet firms and orchestras, has recorded a dozen albums and racked up a pair of Juno Awards.
However just lately, he’s taken a step he thought he’d by no means need to: he arrange a GoFundMe for himself.
“I did benefit from the (musician) way of life lots, however I knew it wasn’t going to final without end. However I by no means knew it was going to get thus far,” he mentioned from a motel room in Calgary on Monday.
Lopez has been open about his psychological well being struggles and took a break from performing for 2 years to cope with melancholy.
He mentioned residing this manner hasn’t been straightforward however he’s discovered to adapt.
“I’m nonetheless within the gap, however I’m robust. I by no means pictured myself on this scenario ever. I’m right here and who is aware of the place I’m going to be tomorrow,” Lopez mentioned. “All the things I’m absorbing proper now could be good for me. It’s made me humble. It’s made me sincere, and clear.”
He got here to Canada from Chile in 1979 and shortly took up enjoying the guitar.
“I didn’t communicate a phrase of English. I used to be working as a janitor. There’s nothing flawed with that. I used to be cleansing bathrooms. I used to be paying my dues. I’m a survivor and I used to be a survivor again in Chile,” Lopez mentioned.
Whereas in search of therapy for his psychological well being at Rockyview Hospital in Calgary, he had a revelation whereas enjoying guitar in his room.
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“Everybody outdoors my room was listening to the music I used to be enjoying. I mentioned, ‘What are you guys doing? Do you wish to are available in are available in?’ Everybody went bananas. they went loopy,” Lopez laughed.
“I noticed then the facility of music. I noticed then the facility of honesty and transparency.”
Lopez has since been volunteering on the hospital serving to others with their struggles.
Former band mate James Keelaghan mentioned many artists usually don’t have funds for psychological well being counselling or remedy.
Keelaghan and Lopez have been performing on and off in a joint challenge referred to as The Compadres since 1993.
Their first CD collectively in 1997 was a Juno-nominated critics’ favorite.
“Oscar has been very a lot upfront in public speaking about psychological well being,” Keelaghan mentioned. “Individuals within the trade are extraordinarily susceptible to psychological well being points. Lots of musicians have very deep-seated shallowness points which the music trade enhances. It’s arduous for us to get the type of assist we’d like and it’s arduous to get individuals to speak about it.
“We are likely to operate simply on the road between survival and destitution.”
Keelaghan, who shall be performing in Edmonton in March, mentioned funds for musicians have been unhealthy in the course of the pandemic and acquired worse when income from CD gross sales dropped off.
“All that income has now gone. Streaming providers have fully destroyed an enormous swath of our earnings,” the folks singer-songwriter mentioned.
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BD&P World Music Collection – Pavlo, Rik Emmett and Oscar Lopez
Lopez nonetheless insists on being nicely dressed regardless of his precarious residing scenario.
He has inspired others who’re struggling to have hope, usually including “you by no means know what’s across the nook.”
“We have now to study there’s at all times mild on the finish of the tunnel. On the finish of the tunnel is at all times mild. It may very well be just a little mild, however it’s all as much as us to make it greater,” Lopez mentioned.
He mentioned he’s grateful for many who have responded with donations and encouragement, however now the 70-year-old is reinventing himself at a time when the economics of being a musician have modified.
He’s planning to supply grasp lessons in guitar and is assured higher occasions lie forward.
“That is only a bump within the highway,” Lopez mentioned. “And if I needed to keep for the remainder of my life within the automotive, so be it, I’ll. I’m keen to do it as a result of I had discovered a lesson the right way to survive.
“I’ll come up once more.
“I’ll do what God put me right here to do and that’s to make myself blissful and make others blissful on the stage as a result of who you see is who you get. I don’t put a masks on. I’m a straight shooter. I’m not excellent, however I’m sincere.”
