Meet Valeri Lopez of Central Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeri Lopez

Hi Valeri, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well first off, I was born and raised in Los Angeles believe it or not! Born in Santa Monica and grew up mostly in Venice – now you need to remember, Venice wasn’t always so nice, when I was a kid it was full of gangs, drug dealers and crazy artsy people – the crazy artsy people are still there but you did not ride your bike at night back then!

I got my start playing my first gig in an empty coffee shop shyly singing my only three original tunes songs and a handful of three chord covers. I kept writing and began booking west coast tours with other singer-songwriters I met along the way. My twenties were full of adventure, hope, and tours… however nothing was panning out the way I had dreamed with being a recording artist – sure I had some big opportunities but bad advice from people who knew nothing about the business and being young and unsure what to do, they fell through the cracks – or maybe it was just God’s timing. I ended up going back to school and applying to a music program at Mount Hood Community College. For the first time in my life in education I felt like I was in the right place, learning the right subject. I studied music theory, classical voice and jazz.

I ended up transferring to the University of Southern California in the fall of 2014 with a huge University Grant that covered my tuition. I loved learning everything about music… theory, orchestration, jazz big band arranging, songwriting and recording in the pop world, music business, counterpoint! all of it I loved very much… it should have been the happiest time of my life learning music on a grant and jamming around Los Angeles however, I was fighting a severe depression. Nobody knew this but I was struggling every day to not end my life. I made plans every morning and every night, somehow, I went to bed and woke up the next day. I think God planned for me to be in school to help me survive that struggle and bring beauty from all that suffering. It came to an apex in 2020 when the pandemic hit and I decided either I go through with it or move to Nashville and go all in again, pursuing my dream of being a recording singer-songwriter artist… so… I moved to Nashville.

Wherever I live, L.A. is my home-home. I split my time now between L.A. and Nashville. I’ve written a lot of new material the last couple years and will be releasing my freshman album this year 2025 as Miss Valeri Lopez – I’m releasing a DOUBLE album actually. I’m a synthaholic (I made that up) and so Album A side will be my synthaholic versions and Album B side will have the same songs just stripped down to voice and guitar and it’s a whole other recording. I won’t just mute the other tracks and bounce the voice – it’s a totally separate recording and done live in a studio with me playing and singing at the same time to bring out the raw vulnerable intimacy of my songs. I’m booking a tour for the fall to promote the album and do one of my favorite things to do as an artist…. sing my songs to connect with real live people in person, complete analog.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely hasn’t been easy – it’s a disappointing and hard career to pursue – I haven’t had any support from anybody for most of it. I’ve had family call me a loser to my face and behind my back… I’ve been wanting this dream for so long I can see their point of view and often struggle to fight those voices in my mind that I’m a loser. But the funny thing is, if I had a break and blew up over night and made a ton of money then I wouldn’t be a loser to them any more… its’ just one of those careers where there’s no guarantee no matter how good or bad you are… something in me won’t let me quit yet.
Every decision of my adult life has centered around pursuing music as a career and I’ve been broke for most of it haha. I’ve left well paying jobs that were in the way of music…
I’m very thankful and happy to say that my Mom and Stepdad and some other family are now supportive and pray with me through all of it. I feel happiest when I’m making a record (recording in the studio) – I just LOVE it! I love performing too but studio time is my happiest time.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I sing, I play guitar and some piano and banjo and eukele etc. – I write songs – I record music and make records – I perform live – I’m known for my upper register feathery head voice… I’m really proud of my recent recordings! The synthaholic and stripped acoustic versions. I really do love my songs and listening to my productions. I’ve been working on not caring if anybody else will like it and every time I blast my tunes in my truck… I’m happy with them. For the most part haha there might be a couple things I’d like to alter but overall I’m happy with them.

If I had to say what I specialize in… I think it would be… being sad with a hint of hope; connecting with my audience when I’m performing; especially when it’s just me and my guitar. I’m able to be very vulnerable and also powerful at the same time on and off stage. At least that’s the feedback I get.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Mass panic is a powerful force.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.valerilopez.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/missvalerilopez
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/missvalerilopez
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgAhsx988Jx0E2Yxqg7gZlkpCHSMnrzFg
• Soundcloud: https://Soundcloud.com/missvalerilopez
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/miss-valeri-lopez/1458051623

Image Credits
Valeri Lopez
Owen x John
Meg Murphy