Wally Lopez is no stranger to the electronic music scene. As one of Spain’s most influential DJs and producers, his career has been a testament to passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to his craft.
Photo credit: Wally Lopez official
With decades of experience, Wally has shaped the sound of a generation and continuously evolved, refusing to rest on his laurels. From iconic performances at Space Ibiza to timeless collaborations, Wally’s journey is marked by innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
In this exclusive interview, Wally Lopez opens up about his inspirations, the evolution of his sound, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. In this conversation, we get a closer look at Wally Lopez’s thoughts on the evolving world of DJing, the importance of family, and the exciting projects he has lined up next.
EG: Hi Wally, welcome to EG! Where are you joining us from today?
Wally Lopez: From Ibiza! I just wrapped up my last three shows on the islands—Mallorca, Formentera, and Ibiza—and now I’ve got just one show left in Madrid before heading back to my beloved States!
EG: You’ve been a key figure in the electronic music scene for years. What first inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?
Wally Lopez: Honestly, I love what I do. It’s not just a job for me—it’s my life. The real success is being able to keep going after all these years. Plus, I want to set an example for my kids. I want to show them that you need to dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams. I’m obsessed with making them proud of me.
EG: Your style has evolved so much over time. How do you keep your sound fresh and innovative with each new release?
Wally Lopez: Maybe it’s because I don’t want to get old (even though I am getting older—LOL). I don’t want to take the easy route of just playing all my old tracks and being the Wally Lopez from the golden days. I love staying updated and surprising people. They still think I just play my remix of ‘Just a Little More Love’ over and over! 🤣🤣
EG: Can you tell us about a particularly memorable performance or event that stands out in your career?
Wally Lopez: Oh, definitely those openings and closings at Space Ibiza in the car park. Also, a closing I did for Momento Desert Festival years ago, Creamfields Buenos Aires in 2007, and this year when I played for the Spanish national team after they won the Eurocup—400,000 people in the crowd and millions more on TV. That was something special.
“Enjoy making music, enjoy the process of releasing it, and never take “no” for an answer”
EG: Wow, that must be something special! You’ve started several labels over the years. What advice would you give aspiring producers looking to create their own platform?
Wally Lopez: Use your label to express yourself. Don’t think of it as a business because making money from it is tough. Focus on the artistic benefits instead. Enjoy making music, enjoy the process of releasing it, and never take “no” for an answer.
EG: You’ve collaborated with so many artists throughout your career. How do these collaborations influence your music and creative process?
Wally Lopez: There are two types of collaborations: when you never actually meet the other person and when you join them in the studio. The second option is amazing—you learn so much about music because they always know something you don’t. It’s also a great experience as a producer, translating someone else’s ideas into music. The first option, though? It’s cold, and you don’t learn much from it.
EG: The pandemic had a significant impact on the music industry. How did you adapt to the challenges, and did it influence your music?
Wally Lopez: Oh, absolutely. Everyone pushed me to be super active on social media, but all I wanted was to be with my family. I didn’t take advantage of those moments for promotion; I just wanted to survive and be close to them. But what really happened was that I found myself again as an artist during the lockdown. I realized exactly what I wanted for myself as an artist after feeling lost for a while.
EG: Mental health is such an essential topic in the music industry. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance with such a busy schedule?
Wally Lopez: I think I’m mentally strong by nature, but the real balance comes from my family. They’re the reason I always have my feet on the ground and where I draw all my energy from. When I’m stressed or feeling down, they lift me up with just a hug or their support. My wife has a phrase that really helps me when I’m in doubt or feeling like I won’t achieve my dreams: “SIN MIEDO LÓPEZ.”
EG: Inclusion and diversity are crucial in today’s music industry. How do you think the industry can improve in these areas, and what steps do you take to support inclusivity?
Wally Lopez: The most important thing is education. I teach my kids at home and through their school that we’re all the same, with the same rights, and that love should be the message. We need to love each other more—hate is a terrible weapon that we need to put away. You can also educate people through social media, our parties, our music, and our festivals.
“Maybe in the future, we’ll be able to translate directly from our brain to the mixes. Who knows? Perhaps I’m just crazy!”
EG: With the rapid advancements in music technology, how do you see the future of DJing and music production evolving?
Wally Lopez: Things are moving so fast that it’s hard to keep up. Sadly, I think there will come a time when some places will recognize who’s there and what music they love most and create a playlist for them using AI—without any DJ. But I also hope there will be a reaction to this, with real and talented DJs rising up and forming an underground army against it! Ahahaha, like a Terminator movie but with music.
As for DJ equipment, now you can get stems directly with Pioneer, make loops, change them, have your music in the cloud, and see the best songs in key… maybe in the future, we’ll be able to translate directly from our brain to the mixes. Who knows? Perhaps I’m just crazy!
EG: What can we expect next from you? Any exciting new projects or collaborations you’d like to share?
Wally Lopez: I just released a great collab with Manuel de la Mare with an amazing Trace remix. I need to finish a super song I started with David Tort, and I’d love to join Glenn Morrison in his amazing studio in Canada to create a hyper-mega-bomb track. 😊
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