Former OPETH Drummer MARTIN LOPEZ: I Consider TOOL Not Only A Band But A Genre

Grande Rock recently conducted an interview with former OPETH and current SOEN drummer Martin Lopez. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Grande Rock: Why did you name the band SOEN? What does it represent for you… and whose idea was it?

Martin: SOEN is a name that doesn't have any other significance than our music in a word. I came up with the four letters, but it was a group decision not to have a name that would bring any pictures to the listeners mind besides our music.

Grande Rock: Did you have any musical orientations beforehand, or it started taking shape when the four of you got together?

Martin: Well, the orientation is unavoidable when you have been a musician for so long. You know what you like and what you don't and what you like to play and what you don't 'cause those are two very different things sometimes. SOEN really does it for me... I'm very comfortable composing and performing our music and that is truly rewarding.

Grande Rock: What did you have in mind when you started writing and recording material for the debut album? Is the final result close to what you had in mind in the first place?

Martin: I don't think we had a plan of what to sound like; everything fell into place while doing it. The goal was set on making as good music as we possibly could without letting anything from the outside alter our perception of how good music should sound.

Grande Rock: There's been much talk on the web about SOEN… and some fans are arguing that you are heavily influenced by TOOL. What would you say about it?

Martin: We are inspired by TOOL, but I consider them not only a band but a genre. Besides that, I really don't think there's anything to argue about, we make good music whoever it would remind you of. Some people tend to dislike rather than like and are looking for faults instead of seeing music for what it is, good or bad.

Grande Rock: What's your opinion of people downloading free music from the Internet? What shall an artist do in order to avoid losing money and time?

Martin: I really hope that people who download music off of the Internet will also buy it if they like it. If someone who downloads it wouldn't have bought the album anyway, I think it's better it's been heard by one more person than not. The world is changing, it started many years ago and in ten years-time music will be distributed in a whole different way. I personally hope vinyl is still around, for the sake of it.

Read the entire interview from Grande Rock.