Q&A: Lucas Sanchez

How would you describe your sound?
With my music, I like to pull from a lot of genres that have influenced me over the years like rock, blues, funk, pop, jazz, and even classical. I’ve heard people say that my music reminds them of a combination of John Mayer, Santana, and Hendrix. My songs also feature instrumental sections that are usually solos from various instruments or just the band grooving before we get back to the verse or chorus. I would maybe describe it as pop/rock-fusion.

When did you first become interested in playing music?
I’ve been interested in playing music as far back as I remember. From pounding on the pots and pans in my kitchen to my Mom teaching me songs on our old Casio keyboard, music was always an important part of my life. I didn’t start playing guitar until I was nine years old when my Dad had bought an acoustic from our local music store so he could take lessons. Something about the instrument just mesmerized me, so I would pick it up and attempt to play it whenever I could. When my dad realized I was much more interested in the guitar than he, my parents decided to sign me up for guitar lessons.

What’s the strangest or funniest thing that’s ever happened to you at a show?
The funniest thing to happen to me during a show was when I was in my previous band. The drummer mistakenly shouted out the wrong name of the band we were opening for into the mic to hype the crowd up. I just turned around and whispered the correct name of the band to him. It was an embarrassing moment, but now we laugh about it.

What are you listening to these days?
There are so many to choose from, but right now I am mostly listening to Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, John Mayer, Billie Eilish, and Charlie Puth. When I feel like listening to blues and jazz, I’ll put on Chick Corea, Julian Lage, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Emmet Cohen.

What are some of your favorite Bay Area music venues?
I really enjoy going to the smaller clubs around the Bay. My favorite ones are probably Yoshi’s Oakland, Hotel Utah, and The Black Cat in SF. When it comes to the larger venues, I like the SF Jazz Center, the Masonic, the Fillmore, and Davies Symphony Hall.

What are some of your favorites hangs in the Bay Area?
I am a nature lover, so one of my favorite places to go in the Bay Area is Muir Woods. Nothing beats taking a hike through the California redwoods. They are so peaceful and astonishingly beautiful, it makes for a serene experience. I also enjoy taking a trip to the Ferry Building at Embarcadero because of all the cool shops and great food.

What does music mean to you?
Music means the world to me because without it, I don’t think I could find a job I would enjoy doing as much. I probably spend 60%-80% of my time in a normal day doing music-related things. I feel very fortunate to be a musician.

What inspires you to write?
What inspires me to write is hearing great music (whether it be classical, jazz, or pop) and thinking about how much it has influenced me and made a positive impact on my life. I hope to do the same for others with my music. Music can help us through the hardest times of our life and accompany us at our best. To me, that’s one of the most beautiful things about the world.

What’s your favorite neighborhood in the city?
I would have to say the Haight because of its rich musical history and the fact that it’s right by Golden Gate Park.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to find out about you?
Probably that I am 50% Latino.

Is there anything you’d like to plug?
My website! lucassanchezmusic.com