ALBUM PREMIERE: LA Jangle Pop Outfit Sofa City Sweetheart Share ‘Super(b) Exitos’

Juan Antonio Lopez was once on track to become a professional trumpet player. Growing up in an upbringing filled with varied musical backdrops (school band, his musician father’s traditional Latin music, and 90s alternative, to start), the brainchild behind L.A.-based solo project Sofa City Sweetheart played the instrument nearly his entire life until an unexpected jaw surgery robbed him of his muscle memory.

A string of calamity followed. His two-year old niece suffered from a brain tumor (thankfully she has since recovered). His godfather passed away. His university music professor ridiculed his compositions. His longtime band broke up and his girlfriend moved away. The title of his previous biography was literally “Sofa City Sweetheart: A Tradition of Failure.” In other words: there were many instances in which Lopez could’ve – perhaps even should’ve – given up music. But he couldn’t.

Persistence pays off. Sofa City Sweetheart has become the centerpiece around which Lopez shapes his masterworks. Writing, arranging, recording, and engineering all the music himself, Lopez’s new album tangles together his spectrum of childhood influences, while transforming tragic circumstances into stories of acceptance. Over layers of gentle guitar sit toe-tapping melodies and intermingling Beach Boys-esque harmonies that merge art and feeling, spinning stories that tie the persistent tragedies in his own life to the stuck-to-it-iveness that’s often required in any contemporary artist.

Today Glide is excited to offer an exclusive early listen of the band’s new album Super(b) Exitos, which is out April 19th via Casa de Lopez.The phrase “super exitos” translates to “greatest hits” in Spanish, fittingly considering how polished each song is. There is a distinctive power pop foundation to the effort, but we also get a straight up guitar rock record. Each song is undeniably catchy as the lyrics bring to mind the Beatles, Matthew Sweet, Dr. Dog, the Kinks, early Weezer and even Electric Light Orchestra. But where things get interesting is the way the band inserts flavors of jazz and spaghetti western, and it’s this mixture of creative influences alongside a clear love of 60s pop that makes Super(b) Exitos such a fun and fascinating listen

Juan Antonio Lopez describes Super(b) Exitos in his own words:

“What to say about my little record?

It’s my baby, my life’s work really. It’s what I would have made if someone said “this is the last record you’ll ever make” (which is how one should treat every record really). I’m proud to say that it’s my best work, and it’s a little surreal that it will be out in the world soon after hiding away in my brain, soul, and hard drive for so long.

I made this record for people that like to listen to records. That almost sounds like a dumb thing to say, but with the rise of streaming services and singles being so popular today I think there are maybe fewer people listening to complete albums, which is a shame. I’ve always thought of a good album as a little adventure that begins when you drop the needle down before the first song, and isn’t over until you hear the crackle at the end of side B. I can always count on my favorite artists to deliver quality records, and this album is just me trying to do the same.

I’ve also struggled a lot with depression throughout the years, but have been able to make it through some very low times in my life thanks to my old pal music. Music has always been there for me. I know I’ve been able to make it through the toughest times of my life with the help of my favorite records, and maybe this one can do the same for someone else someday.”

LISTEN:

For more info visit Sofa City Sweetheart on Facebook.  

Photo credit: Karma McCartney

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