Martin Lopez, former Opeth and current Soen drummer, interviewed on PerfectProg.com by Joan López.

M: Yeah, I heard a lot of reasons of my departure… the main reason was that I wasn’t happy playing with Opeth.

Since I was a child my dream was always playing in a metal band and live of it, but after nearly ten years in Opeth my desires weren’t the same and I did not feel any challenge anymore, and life on the road seemed empty and meaningless to me… all that, added to the feeling of not having all the space and time needed to create music and develop as composer, was my motivation to move out. The only option for me was leaving Opeth and devote myself to something else for a while and then start again with new energy.

J: Several years after this departure, and after leaving a legacy of true classics with that band how do you see your days of working with Opeth?

M: With great pride and quietness, I think that we introduce a new style and a new way to create music with Opeth and that's always going to be a souvenir.

J: Are you still in contact with them, or at least with Mendez?

M: Yes, but not as much as before.

J: I remember an interview you gave in 2004, and then you mentioned you were involved in a possible new project with a Tool-like sound ... Was that the seed that finally created Soen?

M: Yes, the idea behind Soen has been refined over several years but playing with Opeth requires 100% of your time, so it never happened to be more than an idea and a pile of semi-finished songs.

J: You can tell us how was the genesis of Soen? How did you meet each other?

M: I met Kim long ago when he was looking for a drummer for experimental rock band and I was looking for a guitarist for what later turned into Soen. We complement each other very well and slowly we were shaping what the band is today.

Joel shared stages with Kim’s former band, so he was who made ​​the connection. To Steve I knew him on the road before and when the band began to take shape as something serious I decided to call him and offer the bass player vacancy.

J: I know you're a big fan of Death and you always liked Tool progressive style ... I guess it's a special situation to be exploring that musical path with Steve as a partner in the rhythm base of the band ... isn’t it?

M: Of course, it is a dream come true. Steve is an incredible bass player and a great person, musically is a guy who works for the band and adheres well to my playing which is very valuable to the "groove" of Soen.

J: I remember hearing some demos of you in which there was a heavier progressive sound, with even some guttural vocals, which obviously brought me to mind Opeth ... finally, that sound did not appear in Cognitive ... was that something that was decided in a premeditated way trying to avoid the ghost of your former band, or simply was something that flowed?

M: The truth is that I do not care about what they say or something... on the guttural voices I think it was only a growl on "Slithering" if I'm not wrong, and we decided to "keep it off of our land" simply because we felt that did not fit well with all the songs.

J: Now let's talk about your debut album "Cognitive", a great album by the way… how was the writing and recording process?

M: Thanks! Well, I wrote the skeleton of the songs and then the guys add their touches. We do our best for everyone can add their bit, for the simple fact that while more people are involved in creating, more enhanced is the final product.

On the producing… the album was produced by Kim and me, what took us about 4 or 5 weeks of recording extended for a period of 6 months.

J: Since it was knew about the imminent release of the album, it was created an atmosphere of positive expectation around the band, but especially around your comeback after several years of absence on the progressive metal scene ... Is this something you expect? And how do you feel in front of this special affection of the fans?

M: I’m surprised and very grateful for the welcome of the people especially in Latin America that gave me a warm welcome.

J: Related to the same… in this new musical stage you've taken the leading role in the band establishing great closeness with the fans, which is always well received, especially by the Latin fans ... How you assume this role? Is it in someway a response to the welcome you have given?

M: Yeah it may be… there's also the fact that although I don't consider myself a shy guy I never wanted to mix my personality with the music I make, because I believe that this is much more interesting than me as a person... I am a regular guy quite simple.

I believe that this time many people approached Soen without having listened our music before, just for the simple fact that I play in the band, and it seemed important to show my gratitude.

J: Overall, I think the audience has received the album very well, beyond the comparisons to Tool, it has been to the liking of the majority, what is your impression about it?

M: I am very pleased with the reception of the people and the press. Tool Comparisons were something for which I was prepared. Tool is one of my favorite bands and Soen explores the same feelings… I consider Tool a genre of music more than a band and what I find is that some people prefer to discuss superficialities instead of seeing things as they are, and this is that Soen makes good music… You could then go into the issue that 90% of the bands sound like Metallica, Pantera and Sepultura, and that does seem boring.

J: Did Soen achieve to capture the sound that was looking for into "Cognitive"?

M: Totally

J: What inspires Cognitive? There is some concept or idea contained in the album that’s trying to convey through the music?

M: The idea has always been to make the best possible music based on the emotional depth and an interesting rhythm.

J: Now tell us where can we find the album and more information about you

M: For now all the necessary information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/SoenMusic, within a couple of weeks we’ll "release" our website… And I give you a scoop, in a few days will be released a new video of the band playing the song "Delenda" live, it will be soon. And we are preparing a video of the song Last Light in which we want to involve all our friends who want to. The information will be released in due course on our Facebook!

J: About the live playing... There are shows scheduled to come?

M: Not yet, tours are being planned to promote "Cognitive" but still aren't sign commitments.

J: What are the plans and goals for short and long term with Soen?

M: The plan is to continue writing music and touring to promote the album. Other than that, I can not talk about long term because I promised to myself to keep going with Soen while it feels rewarding and it do not become routine a to me.

J: To finish, I thank the good vibe and give you the space to share a last few words to share with our readers about yourself, Soen and what is coming, and we hope to have you doing shows all over the Americas soon (Especially in my country Chile)...

M: I feel very connected to Chile because in a hard time in the life of my parents, the Chilean people were gave them shelter and solidarity. I send a hug to the Chilean and Latinamerican friends and I would like playing live especially for you in your beautiful countries with that enthusiastic, warm and expressive audience.

Joan López