Mar de Copas

Mar de Copas

Mar de Copas is a popular Peruvian rock band from Lima. The band is regarded as the best alternative band from Peru. It was founded in 1992 by Manuel Barrios and Toto Leverone. They began recording in 1993 with their debut album Mar de Copas. They are well known in their country but not internationally. Their lyrics are rich in poetry and metaphors, and their melodies have a melancholic feel. They are known as a "Cult Band" by their fans.

History

Mar de Copas was founded by Manuel Barrios and Toto Leverone in 1992 right after splitting up their band "Los Inocentes", Gustavo Jimenez on bass. Barrios and Leverone are the co-writers of most of their songs. They have influenced and produced for many bands in Lima. Their lead singer Luis García was the vocalist of the 1980's Peruvian rock band Narcosis. Claudia Salem and Phoebe Condos were friends of the band. One day Barrios asked them to sing along while they rehearsed, and he liked the sound as a whole. Condos has co-writed a few songs and Salem left the band in 2005. Cesar Zamalloa was introduced to the band after their first album and has had great influence in their recordings ever since. He has played for "Orgus", "Cimarrones" and "Circo Ficcion".

Mar de Copas gained great popularity because of their lyrics and music. They brought back to the 90's such special melodies from "La nueva ola" (the golden age), and added new soft rock tunes that are not common to see in a Peruvian band. Music critics specify that Mar de Copas ranks alongside contemporary artists such as "Duncan Dhu", "El Ultimo de la Fila" and "Soda Stereo". Their lyrics talk about ordinary lives, passion, depression, solitude, strength and falling in love.

Mar de Copas influenced and contributed to bands such as: "Libido", "Campo de Almas", "TK", "Dolores Delirio", "Cementerio Club", "Zen" and "Los Hnos. Brothers". The band pushed rock music back in the radio stations and fought against the black market. Mar de Copas preferred to rely on sales than in concerts, TV appearances or going abroad. They have a close relationship with their fans by playing in small but cozy venues, playing soccer in fan clubs, advertising their own merchandise, writing songs dedicated to special requests, and never changing their style.

As of November 2007, the band is working on their new album.

Members

Current Members

• Luis "Wicho" García - Vocals, harmonic and production
• Manuel Barrios - Lead guitar and vocals
• Toto Leverone - Drums
• Cesar Zamalloa - Bass
• Phoebe Condos - Keyboards and back vocals

Former Members

• Claudia Salem (1993 - 2005) - Back vocals and tambourine

Secondary Musicians

• Felix Torrealva - Bass
• Miki Gonzales - Guitar and harmonic
• Victor "El Gato" Villavicencio - Piano and keyboards
• Miguel Navarro - English Horn
• Jose-Javier Castro - Guitar
• Abel Salcedo - Acoustic Guitar
• Alonso del Rio - Acoustic Guitar
• Gerardo Cristobal - Bass
• Jorge "Coqui" de Tramontana - Guitar
• Christian Molina - Guitar

Discography

Albums

• (1993) Mar de Copas
• (1994) Entre los Árboles
• (1997) Mar de Copas III
• (1999) Suna
• (2000) Mar de Copas 12 Grandes Exitos
• (2002) Mar de Copas En Vivo
• (2002) Ramera
• (2004) Si Algo Asi Como El Amor Esta En El Aire
• (2004) 12 Canciones
• (2005) De Tierra
• (2005) De Tierra DVD

Singles

From Mar de Copas:

• "Mujer noche"
• "Dulce y veloz"
• "Fugitivo"
• "Prision"

From Entre los Arboles:

• "Entre Los Árboles"
• "Prendí otro fuego por ella"
• "País de tus sueños"

From III:

• "LB"
• "A Dios"
• "CPAM"

From Suna:

• "Suna"
• "La máquina del tiempo"
• "Enloqueciendo"

From Mar de Copas En Vivo:

• "Ramera"

From Si Algo Así Como El Amor Está En El Aire:

• "Balada de un encuentro fugaz"
• "Si algo así como el amor está en el aire"
• "Perdido"

From Un día sin Sexo (Soundtrack):

• "Un día sin sexo"

Videography

"Mujer noche"

• The first official video made by the original members. The edition of the song was recorded in 1998 specially to fit the video.

Director: Hugo Martinez. Edition: Giancarlo Paz. Visual Art: Patricia Salazar.

"Enloqueciendo"

• The second official video was made as a 16mm movie. The real meaning of the song remains hidden under the different pictures and portraits.

The whole video was written and produced by Rafael Besaccia.

"Suna"

• The third official video is the first Peruvian band's attempt to make it with animated drawings. All the pictures are made by Rafael Besaccia on paper. The themes are classic visual poetry from the 20th century. The video hides the real identity of "Suna".

"El rumo del mar"

• The fourth official video is one of the most acclaimed videos of Mar de Copas on the web. Its purpose is to induce viewers to see how the band started and where are they now. All pictures and recordings are taken live.

The video was produced and edited by Gerardo Cristobal.

"Un dia sin sexo"

• The fifth official video was the most transcendent video made for a Peruvian movie. The song fits the movie with the same name and was recorded just before Claudia Salem left the band.

The video was produced and directed by Frank Perez-Garland.

Other videos

• There is an early demo video version of "Tras esa puerta" and 2 not official videos of "Fugitivo" and "Perdido" made by an independent director and by the Pontificia Universidad La Catolica respectively.

• "De tierra" DVD, is a live unplugged concert played in 2005. The DVD has 17 songs plus some rarities, "popurries" and songs that are not usually played in concerts. These songs are called "caletas" by their fans.

Earlier Projects

• "Los Inocentes was a band formed by Manuel Barrios, Gustavo Jimenez and Toto Leverone. They influenced Mar de Copas and Los Trece Baladas. "Narcosis" was a band formed by Luis Garcia, Jorge Madueño and Cachorro Vial. "El Aire", formed by Cesar Zamalloa and Manuel Barrios is currently headlined by Jose-Javier Castro. "La Banda Azul" was a band formed by Luis Garcia, Miguel Denegri, Edgar Cuentas and Augusto Castro.

Later Projects

Los Trece Baladas

• Formed by Manuel Barrios, Toto Leverone, Cesar Zamalloa and Jorge de Tramontana. Los Trece Baladas arrange covers of "La nueva ola" and they have gained international recognition from their 2 albums: "Lo que un dia fue no sera" and "Volume 2". Some of the artists they covered are "Nino Bravo", "Jose Jose", "Leonardo Favio", "Jose Feliciano", "Camilo Sesto", "Nicola Di Bari", "Juan Gabriel", "Manolo Galvan", "Los Iracundos" and many others.

Ultramotor

• Formed by Cesar Zamalloa, Constantino Alvarez and Alfonso Montesinos. Ultramotor is a hardcore band and have a large underground follow up. Cesar Zamalloa plays the guitar and plays songs of his previous band "Circo Ficcion".

Luis Garcia & Fernando Chirinos

• Duo that sings and plays songs "a capella" of "Los Secretos", "Antonio Vega", "Pistones", "Duncan Dhu", "Gabinete Caligari", "Nacha Pop", "La Granja", "Metadona", "Narcosis", "Enrique Urquijo y Los Problemas", "El Ultimo de la Fila", "Mama", "Los Bolidos", "12 Garras" and "Radio Futura".

Soundtracks

"No se lo digas a nadie"

• Songs: "LB", "Vaquera" and "Despedida".

"Y si te vi no me acuerdo"

• 57 songs written and recorded by Luis Garcia.

"Bala perdida"

• 38 songs written by Manuel Barrios and Luis Garcia.

"Un dia sin sexo"

• Songs: "Viejo amor, nuevo amor", "Lisa en el espejo", "Llevame", "Falso amor" and "Un dia sin sexo".

Trivia

• The song "CPAM" as explained by Manuel Barrios means "Carta para amigos muertos" (Letter for my dead friends). The lyrics are 3 different letters written by Barrios. While reading them, he added one phrase that changed the whole context of the song: "Un amor que gira hay que olvidarlo, que no vuelve mas" (A kind of love that goes around will never come back). The song "A tu lado" was put together after "CPAM" making the song even more compelling. "A tu lado" talks about a man that says: "If I have to die, I rather die next to you".

• At the end of the album "Entre los Arboles" there is a piano solo played by Luis Garcia. The piece was recorded while in session and Barrios asked Garcia to include it.

• The album cover of "Suna" and all the pictures in it were taken by Manuel Garcia Miro in Scotland and the Netherlands.

• The original name of the band was "As the Copas", but because "Rey de Copas" was a Spanish band, Barrios suggested to change it to "La Suerte". Garcia asked for "Mar" while having drinks for 5 hours. At the end everyone thought "Mar de Copas" was the most coherent name in all night. Weeks later, a radio DJ asked for a name while playing a song, and the only name that came up was "Mar de Copas".

External links

• Mar de Copas.com.pe - Official Website
• Mar de Copas Radio
• Mar de Copas Radio Lycos
• Mar de Copas Myspace
• Mar de Copas Cyloop
• Fan Club in Lima
• Fan Club P
• Fan Club in Arequipa
• Fan Club in Chiclayo
• Fan Club in Cusco

Band references

• Mar de Copas Interview - Official Documentary
• Garcia & Barrios Interview
• De Tierra Intro
• Garcia & Barrios "El Silencio" Live

Music references

Music Videos

• "Mujer noche"
• "Enloqueciendo"
• "Suna"
• "El rumbo del mar"
• "Un dia sin sexo"
• "Tras esa puerta"
• "Fugitivo"
• "Perdido"

Live Videos

• "Prision"
• "Un nuevo intento"
• "No me imagino"
• "Despedida"
• "Si algo asi como el amor esta en el aire"
• "Devuelve un corazon"
• "Otra cancion/Con el mar/Recuerdos de una noche"
• "Pais de tus sueños"
• "Balada de un encuentro fugaz"
• "Cancion"
• "Momento de ti"
• "Adios amor"
• "Entre los arboles"
• "Sobre las vias del tren"