Mar de Copas is a Peruvian alternative rock band from Lima. They emerged from the South American independent music scene of the 1990s.
Mar de Copas sold over 50,000 copies of their first four albums in Peru, where an album with 5,000 copies sold is considered a "Disco de Oro" (Best-seller music award). No other Peruvian band has done the same. They are influenced by American and Spanish songwriters from the 1960s and 1980s, including music periods from La Nueva Ola and Alternative Rock.
History.
Mar de Copas was founded by Manuel Barrios (guitar and vocals) and Eduardo Leverone (drums) in 1992, after splitting up their band Los Inocentes. Barrios and Leverone have confirmed they are heavily influenced by Nino Bravo, Manolo Galván, Los Secretos, El Ultimo de la Fila, Pistones, The Smiths, R.E.M., The Church, James, Elvis Presley and Carlos Gardel.
They worked with fellow musicians and Felix Torrealva on their first album under the name "As de Copas". They invited their close friends Claudia Salem and Phoebe Condos to sing backing vocals for the first seven songs they wrote. Luis "Wicho" García, who at the time worked as the sound engineer at the recording studio of Miki Gonzáles promised to sing the remaining songs and remain as their lead singer. García was part of Narcosis with Jorge "Pelo" Madueño and Fernando "Cachorro" Vial. García also played an important role in other projects for Miki Gonzáles such as La Banda Azul. By 1993, Barrios and Leverone finished writing 12 songs, and changed the name of the band to "Mar de Copas". The band signed a contract with El Virrey record company to initially make 300 cassette copies for them. Their first album was named "Mar de Copas". Songs like "Fugitivo" and "Canción" were inspired in trips they made to Punta Sal and Tarma respectively. Rodrigo Quijano wrote the song "Canción" which is considered their most notable trova song. Barrios and Leverone wrote melodies based on country music in "Recompensa" and "Héroe del delito". "Faena" is attributed to bullfighting and "Mujer Noche", their signature song, was chosen for their first music video. In August 1993, the band played live for the first time at the Phantom Pub in Lima.
In 1994, El Virrey changed their name to Eureka Records. Felix Torrealva left the band and Cesar Zamalloa became the new bass player. Zamalloa played for Orgus, Cimarrones, Oblivium, and formed his own metal band called Ultramotor. After Zamalloa joined the band, Mar de Copas finished writing and editing 12 new songs between October and November in 1994. The album "Entre los Arboles" was finalized and recorded in chronologic order when the songs were written. By local success, their first two albums "Mar de Copas" and "Entre los Arboles," were sold in CD format. Songs like "Entre los Arboles" and "Tras Esa Puerta" have become their best feats impossible to replicate in their latest albums. Miki Gonzalez played the lead guitar on "Aqui en el borde del mar", Phoebe wrote the lyrics in "Blu Ice", and Barrios sang the full song "Morir un poco", attempting to duplicate his success in "Una Historia Mas" as done on the first album. After the album was finished, each member started alternate music projects that lasted until 1997. Mar de Copas has been called a depressive band due to their lyrics such as "El dolor después del amor / vuélvete a morir / no sé si ese cuerpo que cayó fui yo al morir, / enamorado de la soledad". Barrios has stated that his songs were written at the worst times in his life and that recording albums is a natural process.
Mar de Copas created their recording studio Villa Ruby and independent label Mar de Copas Productions S.A. In mid-1997, the band released their third album, "III". The songs "C.P.A.M" and "L.B.", "Carta para amigos muertos" ("Letter for My Dead Friends"), and "Luis Barrios" (Manuel Barrios' brother), were the starting point for their recognition as "Banda de Culto" ("Cult band") in Perú. The band made the slang "caleta" commonly used in concerts by their fans when requesting songs that weren't part of their regular set list. "III" had no accompanying single. Barrios and Leverone wrote a song based on the Mexican Bolero called "Ni para rogar un beso" and their first vals "A Dios". "De tierra" is a song based on social issues from the 1990s and it became the name of their first recorded live concert at the Teatro Peruano Japonés years later. "L.B.", "Vaquera", and "Despedida" were included on the movie soundtrack of "No se lo digas a nadie". Despedida is considered one of their darkest songs as it relates to suicide and depression.
In 1998, the band re-released their first two albums with bonus tracks including songs like "Con el mar" (written by Zamalloa). In 1999, Mar de Copas released their fourth album "Suna" and three music videos. By then, they have influenced and produced for many bands in Lima such as Libido, Campo de Almas, TK, Dolores Delirio, Indigo, Cementerio Club, Wayo, Voz Propia, Daniel F, Zen and Los Hnos. Brother's. Their sound and lyrics evolved with the addition of new genres. For example, songs like "Samba" were inspired by Argentinean music. The song "Adios Amor" had inspiration from the war between Peru and Chile. The theme is about a Peruvian soldier who departed for the war on his wedding night and died in the battle of Tacna. "Adios Amor" became one of the favorite songs for radio stations in 1999. Mar de Copas had four hit singles that year. The band also recorded two Italian ballads: "Serenata" and "Desconcierto".
In 2000, Mar de Copas was the first local band to play at the "Gran Estelar de la Feria del Hogar", a festival that featured only international artists until that year. In 2001, the band moved to another studio in San Antonio Miraflores, Villa Ruby II. They had an active concert schedule for a year. In 2002, Mar de Copas released their first live double album "En Vivo". In November, Mar de Copas recorded a media album "Ramera", which includes their four videos, an electric version of a song titled "Ramera", a demo song by Barrios titled "Cancion que dejo de andar", and four acoustic songs.
In 2004, Mar de Copas released "Si algo asi como el amor esta en el aire" and a month later presented the album live at El Parque de la Exposición. They received another "Disco de Oro" and had four number one songs: "Si algo asi como el amor esta en el aire", "Balada de un encuentro fugaz", "Perdido" and "Llevame". In October, the band recorded the first DVD Peruvian production "De Tierra" at the Teatro Peruano Japones. Mar de Copas edited these songs for their then-upcoming album "De Tierra" with acoustic songs and three unreleased demos: "Cada vez", "Vacio", and "Luis". In 2005, the DVD was released which includes the concert, rare footage of the band, videos, demos, and interviews of the band. By the end of the year, Mar de Copas made the soundtrack of "Un dia sin sexo" directed by Frank Pérez-Garland. In 2006, Claudia Salem left the band.
By the end of 2008, Mar de Copas played in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Centro Cultural Buen Ayre. In 2013 and after 9 years of their last album, the band released 2 albums, "Seis" and "Lado B". Seis features 12 songs and 2 new videos for "Siglo XX" and "Atardecer". The video for Atardecer was recorded with clip from fans and friends in the concert celebrating the release for their album at Embarcadero 41 in Barranco. It is also their first album to be available for purchase in iTunes. Lado B contains songs from movies, plays, and acoustic covers played in the last decade and recorded with electric guitars. Most of these songs were played in concerts "a capella" so they promised new versions to their fans. Covers included are "No Me Imagino" by Los Secretos and "Estación" by Sui Generis.
Since then, Mar de Copas is often the headliner of major rock concerts in Lima. They are the local band with most official album sales in Perú where piracy has increased since the 1990s. Mar de Copas plays a concert once a month at La Noche Bar in Barranco which considered today their home venue.
References.
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