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 Miki González 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.