Up all night: Hope Riot finds her path

Dave Acosta | El Paso Times

For some people, finding a career and life path takes some searching. Myself, I didn’t settle on a journalism career until I was in my 30s, and I’m only now accepting it.

But for others, life doesn’t give them a choice. Some people are just born to do something.

El Paso's 25-year-old singer-songwriter Hope Riot, whose real name is Hope Wright, was practically born into the El Paso music scene. Her father, Rich Wright, was the owner of gone-but-not-forgotten live music venues Wildhare’s Booze & Adventure and Cantina La Tuya.

In fact, I can remember being at shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s, either as a performer or audience member, and thinking, “Who brought this little kid to a punk show?”

“Touring bands have forever been a part of my life,” Riot said. “When I was a kid, there was always someone sleeping on our couch with a guitar. When I met David Garza the first time I was six years old. I saw At the Drive-In in elementary school.”

Now, Riot is releasing her first album, “Lacuna,” produced and co-written with Garza at Tornillo’s Sonic Ranch recording studio. Riot's CD release party will take place at on Thursday at Downtown's Bowie Feathers.

Garza is an acclaimed singer-songwriter from Austin.

“He’s like my Mr. Miyagi,” Riot said. “It was like taking college level songwriting 101.”

Riot and Garza enlisted other Sonic Ranch regulars, such as the Chamanas’ Manny Calderon and Pato Davila, who plays in Mexican singer-songwriter Ximena Sariñana’s band.

Riot herself has been hanging out at the studio since she was a teenager, when her dad suggested she babysit for the studio’s house engineer. Since then, she has had the opportunity to meet and gain knowledge from the many American and Mexican musicians who record at the studio every year.

Last year, Riot toured the western United States for several months. Her strong, husky voice bares a resemblance to Fiona Apple, and her use of guitar pedals, live loops and noise. Riot is inspired in her music by her two biggest influences, Nick Cave and PJ Harvey.

But, it wasn’t until earlier this year, she said, that she finally decided to take music seriously as a full-time career.

Riot said she had offers in the past from the likes of TV on the Radio’s David Sitek to record, but she wasn’t ready to take the plunge and record her first album.

“It was a mix of not knowing what else to do with myself and people telling me to do it,” that finally gave her the courage to accept the inevitable.

“I’m basically in the family business now,” Riot said.

Dave Acosta may be reached at 546-6138; dacosta@elpasotimes.com; @AcostaDavidA on Twitter.

Artist spotlight

Who: Singer-songwriter Hope Riot

What: Release party for debut album, Lacuna

When: 9 p.m. Thursday

Where: Bowie Feathers, 209 S. El Paso St.

Tickets: Free; must be 21 years or older to enter

Listen, purchase: Available digitally on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby; CD available at Red Door Vintage, 820 N. Mesa; Blackbird Cantina Deluxe, 533 W. Franklin; Casa de Yoga, 2419 Stanton and other local retailers.

Information: facebook.com/hoperiotmusic; twitter.com/hoperiotmusic; hoperiotmusic.com; soundcloud.com/hoperiot​