Tony Lopacinski




1. When did your career as a singer start out and have it always been a desire to sing and tell us a bit about your music career so far and who you been played with?

I'm currently getting ready to go back on tour with the rock band TRAIN. In my time off this year I actually did some touring with 2 country artist - SHELLY FAIRCHILD (Columbia) - we did several opening spots on the RASCAL FLATS tour, and BOBBY PINSON (RCA) - one of the loudest country acts I've ever heard - haha. From 1998 - 2001 I was with the rock band EARTH TO ANDY - and a founding member. We had one national release on Warner Bros. called Chronicle Kings - great record if you can find it.  I actually think it's on iTunes. I have always had the desire to perform and create music.  I just finished my second solo cd FACE the World - available through my website www.facemusic.net. I began playing live at 13 and never looked back.... my Mom's very dissapointed I never used my college degree for anything more than becoming a football fan. GO VA TECH!


2. Who have been your  main influence musical and where do you get your ideas for the lyrics, are they taken out of everyday and personal experience?

I would say that most of my lyrical ideas are very personal - from my life. Things, experiences and feelings that get under my skin.  I heard on CNN today that creative people are more likely to suffer depression. duh. Painting, writing, creating - I think these are very theraputic (sp?) things.

I love melodic rock music. ANYTHING with a great melody. Grew up with the Beatles and the Eagles.   Don't own a Stones record - I love Switchfoots first cd, and great 70's rock. Early Aerosmith is killer....


3. You just released a new solo album. How has it done sell wise and are you happy with the production of the album?

It's completely an independent release. Meaning MY record label - UpStart Records.   Considering that it is only available through my site, CDBaby.com and Awarestore.com I am pleased and amazed how well it has done. I have been SO busy that I think this is one of the first interviews about the cd I have done. We'll have to put it on my website! As for the production - I am very happy and I'd better be I guess. After all - I Produced it.......


4. Has there been any interest from any record labels in you from Japan and Europe?

Not yet - do you wanna give them my cell number?... I better find an interpreter. You know it's weird, but a lot of Europeans have purchased the cd. The Web has certainly "shrunk" the world...


5. Could the you tell us a little about the tracks featuring on your new album, what background they spring from and what tracks do you live to play live and have a special place in your heart?

I have never performed any of these tunes live - yet. I'm actually in the process of trying to squeeze in a show in Virginia next year around the Train tour and all my players schedules. Not easy.

The World was written about coming off the road and getting back to reality - I'm still working on that reality part... Count On Me and A Better Man are very special to me because the deal with the loss of a loved one and trying to cope with it. The last acoustic piece Never Been Here kinda sums up my life right now. It's funny how a record is like a "snapshot" of where you are...





6. What's your personal point of view on todays music industry and the general music scene as it's seen on MTV and heard on the mainstream radio stations?

I can't watch MTV - do they actually play videos anymore?  General I think the music scene is pathetic. I can't listen to what radio want's to force feed everybody - make up your own mind what you like. Who listens to the same 10 songs ALL day? That's what the cut Pop Song is about. I would like to think that the public can accept a much wider variety than they are given, but apparently not. We must be a minority. Music is such a personal enjoyment to me, and I'm not afraid to dig for songs that can move me. It is no surprise to me that most of my favorite songs were never singles... I have XM for the car now....


7. Hows the local area where you  hail from when it comes to get gigs to play and get played on the local radio stations?

Musically speaking I live OFF the map. I live in a Valley in Virginia. I like the serenity because I get plenty of city life on tour... getting to the airport is a pain in the a__ however. The radio stations here are in an un-listenable time warp - hence my XM, and playing live here is to be avoided - although I have a few times - haha.


8. What's been your  best moments as an artist/singer and so far do youself  feel it's been a struggle to get to where you now in your career?

A struggle - hell yes. Still is. Everyday I make a living as a musician is a GREAT day.   It's hard to get here - and hard to stay here too.

My best moments have been meeting some of my idols - like Bonnie Raitt - who introduced herself to me. Talk about humbling....

I still get such a rush out of playing live, there's nothing like a great show.


9. What does the future holds for you at this moment in time, any plans of touring in the progress and what about new material?

I wrote my latest cd alone. Something I felt I needed to do. In the last few months I've been writing with some artists in Nashville (where I've been a lot lately) and enjoying collaborating again. It would be nice to see another artist cut a song I've worked on.

If I do any tour dates on my new solo cd it would most likely be limited to Virginia, Nashville and possibly Atlanta. We'll see. It looks like I'll be busy touring with TRAIN again soon - so we'll have to take it one step at a time.

My studio in Virginia is growing by leaps and bounds. I'm actually planning to make it available for "online" tracks. I'm gonna offer guitar overdubs, mixing etc., my good buddy and the drummer for Tonic (and my cd), Kevin Murphy, is offering drum tracks, and many other musicians are coming forward.  It's amazing how many great musicians there are right here. I'm excited about opening the studio doors to other projects. My website should be revamped again soon!


10. Any last words to the fans/people out there here in the end?

Enjoy music. My first cd has a cut called Candle To You which has one of my favorite lyrics: "the joy you can feel in a song - the rush when the crowd sings along"

Tony Lopacinski