Roots musician Christian Lopez has previously displayed such influences in his original work from heartland rock to the synthesizer-driven tunes of the Cars. But Lopezs acoustic version of John Prines Thats the Way the World Goes Round from the songwriters 1978 Bruised Orange LP, gives the West Virginia native an ideal spotlight for his intensely soulful, wise-beyond-his-24-years vocals.
Shot by the Nashville-based photojournalist and videographer known as Crackerfarm, the clip emphasizes Lopezs expressive interpretation of a song that was famously covered by Miranda Lambert a decade ago on her Revolution LP.
Named one of Rolling Stones 10 New Country Artists to Know in July 2017, Lopez has since released his Marshall Altman-produced second album Red Arrow, which followed the Dave Cobb-helmed Onward, recorded in Music City when Lopez was just 18.
I was down here kissing ass like everyone has to, Lopez told Rolling Stone in 2017. I felt I had to put on this persona of a mature, professional kid with a clear path, but at the end of the day were all here on a gamble. Im 22 now, and Ive slowly realized that I need to act my age and sometimes thats young and stupid.
Lopez is among the artists appearing at the Rock by the Sea charity music festival from May 8th to the 12th in St. George Island, Florida.