Elise sings Switchfoot

LOCAL ARTISTS

In a dream-come-true moment for San Marcos native Elise Lopez, Switchfoot member Jon Foreman invited her to sing with him during a solo acoustic performance at Camp Eagle in Rocksprings on Aug. 30.

Elise said she had heard that Foreman sometimes brought audience members on stage, so she worked “for hours” to make a poster that said “May I Sing Only Hope?” a popular Switchfoot song written by Foreman.

“When I raised my poster and he invited me up, he asked the crowd, like, ‘how y’all feel about this?’ And they were all excited, and they were really supportive.” She also sang another one of her favorite Switchfoot songs, “Your Love Is a Song,” with Foreman.

“I got to talk to him afterwards,” she said. “And he was just really supportive and super nice.”

Elise said she can relate to the lyrics of Switchfoot songs and loves the variety of musical genres.

“The songs are about being so vulnerable and being able to connect with other people,” she said. “And I really like the music styles. Some of it’s really wacky, some of it’s really put together, pop or really hard rock. I just love how it’s all all over the place.”

Elise, 15, plays guitar and sings while leading Praise & Worship services at New Life Christian Center Church in San Marcos.

She performed Switchfoot songs during Make Music Day earlier this year in San Marcos, Buda and Wimberley.

Elise’s parents, Gilbert and Olivia, were high school sweethearts from San Antonio who attended Texas State together, both earning their TXST bachelor’s degrees in 2005. Gilbert and Olivia had previously seen Switchfoot live in 2009, at a San Antonio Rodeo Faith Night performance.

The Switchfoot website describes their music as “an uplifting brand of alternative rock.” Their album Hello Hurricane won a Grammy Award in 2011 for Best Rock Gospel Album. Their 2003 album Beautiful Letdown sold more than two million copies.