We recently connected with Sam Lopez and have shared our conversation below.

Sam , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning the craft? What did I know about organizing shows in the beginning? Not much. I knew how to contact straight venues and get enough promo in front of a booker for them to slightly understand what we were trying to do. Noise music is an exceptional genre of music in that you can never really explain what it is until you are already on stage performing. Noise music comes in various forms. Sometimes its painfully chaotic; swells of jagged feedback permeating the room like rotting meat. Other times, its soothing, blissful like an intoxicating dream.

But learning the craft? That’s was a whole other journey. I met a few like-minded weirdos during the Myspace era. We instantly bonded over all things dreadful. An easy relationship. There I learned how to set up shows, take care of the artists and where to book shows that would be noise-friendly. That was eye-opening. I then started working with a more academic organization that also catered to adventurous sounds. And there I learned about structure, discipline and management.

I finally branched out on my own in 2012 under the name Stay Strange. Strange because I wanted my core audience to not only listen with open ears but with open minds.

I think the timing was perfect. In the beginning, San Diego was looking for something unique and Stay Strange immediately filled that role.

Although the music we showcased could be considered brash and discordant, we always tried to maintain a level of respect for both artists and venues.

This is the 10 year anniversary of Stay Strange and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Stay Strange has not only branched out to a record label but we are now a book publishing company and we even have our own video series.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a noise artist myself, I first had a hard time getting shows due to the voluminous and grotesque sounds I incorporated in my set. My first show was at an Irish Pub and after a few moments of me performing the manager, covered in sweat, jumped over the bar and vehemently ordered me to stop. I felt at that moment that I found my calling. This was true art. A form of art that made people take notice. After being in bands that played normal music, this was the most freeing expression I have ever felt.

I then vowed that I would find a safe space for artists like myself to perform.

I think that Stay Strange is all about taking risks. We don’t worry about failures. We’ve curated sold out shows as well as shows where I could count the number in attendance on one hand. What made it all worthwhile for me was the artist. Some of the best shows were sadly sparsely attended. But the fact that the artist was able to express themselves is so precious.

I feel proud that Stay Strange has curated music and art programs where this kind of music isn’t supposed to be. Libraries, museums, chapels, and parks. To have had a noise festival at a library is unheard of. And we’ve done many since. Again, this goes back to San Diego needing something different and new and challenging. We’ve been super blessed. In the strangest sense!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Stay Strange has built a great relationship with our city libraries. For years I tried to get a Stay Strange show when the new Central Library opened up in 2013. And although the then music librarian was receptive we could never get a show on the books. Sadly he retired and I felt that I lost my only connection.

But then out of the blue, I received an email from the head librarian at the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library asking if I was interested in curating an experimental music series there in their auditorium! It’s amazing how all of that worked out. I’ve learned that you have to be diligent and tireless in your creative pursuits. In 2013 Stay Strange in conjunction with the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library hosted the first ever show, The Malcolm X Experimental Music Festival.

We have since partnered up with many library branches to present music and art events, including the Central Library, that is ongoing to this day.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My initial mission, as stated earlier, was to provide a safe place for noise and experimental music artists to perform. In the early days prior to Stay Strange, noise artists had to take any venue that they could get to perform. Many times they were met with opposition from people who couldn’t quite understand this style of music. Sometimes it would get confrontational. That’s not good! When it’s a Stay Strange show, you know automatically that things are going to get very unusual.

The goal for me is to keep pushing the boundaries of what music or art are supposed to be. That’s why we started a tape label. To get the message out. Infiltrate the airwaves with strange sounds. But why quit there? We also started a book publishing company, Stay Strange Publishing. We are already at our third publication. But let’s take it to the extreme. We created our own Stay Strange You Tube channel with programs like Are You Strange? where we take a look at innovative artists like M.J Stevens who builds guitars with tree branches and vintage children’s toys, or Street Creep where we mix bicycling with noise music soundtracks.

There’s no stopping your imagination, and that is the true mission of Stay Strange. Use your open minds!

Contact Info:

• Website: staystrange.com
• Instagram: staystrangesandiego
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChuW903fX2EAdFAk2Ve3t7A