“Listen while you read”
At Let Down Studio, our Artist Spotlights aren’t about us, they’re about shining a light on the incredible talent that lives right here in El Paso. This city is full of artists pushing boundaries, telling stories, and creating sounds that deserve to be heard far beyond our desert. In this feature, we are showcasing, No Mud No Lotus (Sergio Lopez) as we sit down and explore the creation of his solo project, writing process, and his message to listeners everywhere. Be sure to connect with him through social media and streaming platforms to experience his music and support his journey.
Connect with No Mud No Lotus
The Story Behind the Name
Q: Your name, No Mud No Lotus, has a really powerful meaning. Can you share the story behind it and how it reflects your journey as an artist?
A: “The name No Mud No Lotus itself was inspired by a book of the same title by Thich Nhat Hanh who was a Buddhist monk and teacher among many other things. I read the book and it really resonated with me and helped me through a time where I was sorting through some internal struggles. It truly helped me with practicing mindfulness and understanding. The concept itself of ‘no mud no lotus’ (as I perceived it), is that the lotus flower (positivity, joy, compassion, etc.) cannot grow without mud (negativity, suffering, discontent, etc.). So simply stated, it just means to me that you can’t have good without the bad. It’s just the duality of life and I feel like it really applies to many things.”
That balance between light and dark sits at the core of what makes No Mud No Lotus feel real. The music isn’t about avoiding struggle, it’s about embracing it as part of the process.
Growing Up in El Paso’s Scene
Q: El Paso has such a unique music culture. How has growing up and creating here shaped your sound and perspective as a musician?
A: “As stated, El Paso does indeed have a unique culture, especially in music. Punk, metal, tejano, ska, oldies cover bands, everything really. It’s just a great environment to be around if you appreciate all types of music and you are open to allowing it to influence the music you write. I do feel I am very eclectic, so there’s always inspiration to pull from regardless of the genre. Although we are discussing No Mud No Lotus, I am always writing and producing all types of music in my home studio. I’ll switch off from metal, to hip-hop to drum and bass and maybe play with some reggae the next time I sit at my studio desk. I’m blessed to have grown up in such a musically diverse city.”
If you’ve ever lived in El Paso, you know how true that is. The city’s music scene has always thrived in its diversity and No Mud No Lotus is proof of how those influences collide into something new.
First Impressions
Q: When someone presses play on your music for the very first time, what do you hope they feel or take away from the experience?
A: “First of all, I hope the music aspect grabs them initially. I try to keep the music in NMNL dynamic and engaging—and I’m still finding my way around songwriting every day. Learning never stops. From there if they read the lyrics, I hope they can relate in some way. Music and art are all about connection and making someone feel something (whether musically or lyrically), so that’s all I’d really like to achieve with it. Some of my lyrics aren’t very literal, and some of the concepts are somewhat abstract, so they are open to interpretation as well.”
At the end of the day, connection is the goal and you can hear that in every track.
Don’t Forget to Connect with No Mud No Lotus
Soul on Record
Q: Every artist has a moment or song that feels like their soul on record. What’s that song for you, and why does it hold so much weight?
A: “I don’t know that I have one specific song that does that for me, but I can say that I definitely know that the songs that DO do that, are the ones that I heard when I was a younger dude. Maybe from about 10 years old to my high school days. It always seems to me that when I encounter that ‘soul on record’ feeling, it’s from a time when I was younger and was absorbing so much and was being heavily influenced by all types of music. Those songs encompass a whole ‘time frame’ feeling for me.”
Sometimes the songs that mark your soul aren’t the ones you write, they’re the ones that raised you. For NMNL, that influence carries into everything he creates now.
What’s Next for No Mud No Lotus
Q: Looking ahead, what’s next for No Mud No Lotus? What vision or message do you want to leave behind in El Paso’s music scene and beyond?
A: “For NMNL, I intend to just keep writing as ideas & concepts come to me. I do everything as far as writing, recording, mixing, artwork, video promos, etc. and I tend to get pretty introspective and mindful as far as NMNL goes, so things do tend to take a little longer for me than a conventional band, I would say. I always have a song or two that I’m working on though. This is my heavier creative outlet and I love my heavy music, so I always have something brewing, but when I hit a dry spell or maybe need to free up some ‘mental bandwidth’, I tend to work on ‘lighter’ material like my hip hop, drum and bass, house, etc. As far as our local scene goes, I hope to just leave my small footprint among all the other amazing music coming out of here.”
Soundcheck with John & Hexx (Music Review)
Hexx – When I first hit play, the massive sound blasting out of the speakers instantly pulled me in. The production stood out right away. You can instantly tell Serg is an incredible audio engineer who knows how to craft a well-balanced mix. I love when a mix is tight enough that you can hear every single element, yet nothing fights for space. Everything works together, but if you focus on one part, it’s still crystal clear. His vocals carry that Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) vibe and lock in perfectly with the guitars and drum patterns. For a one-man production, fuckin’ kudos! No Mud No Lotus proves that great music can be made in any scenario, under any circumstance. Sergio is a prime role model for anyone just getting into the game of music production!
John – Serg, the mind behind No Mud No Lotus, creates music that feels both heavy and emotional. With expert knowledge of the El Paso scene, Serg takes on the task of writing, recording, mixing and mastering his music, which is no easy task on its own. This gives the songs a very personal and authentic feel. His songs mix gritty, and chunky guitars and driving drums with atmospheric layers that give the music a cinematic quality. The vocals are raw, but with a slight touch of polish to bring out a sense of honesty that connects right away. His singles show just how far his sound has come. It’s powerful but also spacious, letting every instrument shine without being overwhelming. As a big fan of atmosphere and heavy hitting tunes, Serg’s music made me feel right at home. For new listeners, No Mud No Lotus is the kind of music that pulls you in with its intensity but keeps you there with its emotion and atmosphere.
Closing Thoughts
We had such a blast sitting down with Sergio to talk about how important this project is to him. We have a deeper appreciation for the heart he puts into every track, not just with the music itself, but the intention behind it. Our conversation reminded us why these spotlights matter: they give us an opportunity to expose great music from local artists.
El Paso’s music scene is full of hidden gems, and No Mud No Lotus is one worth digging into.
