Pez Mago presents a new album, Cuerpo de ventana, in an intimate performance at Sala Euterpe. Known for his close rapport with audiences, the artist returns with a set built on acoustic rhythms and a folk-inflected sensibility, performing solo with his guitar while revisiting standout tracks from his earlier records. The show promises a proximity between stage and listener, a live storytelling moment where every chord and breath feels undeniably present.
This latest project from Pez Mago, the alter ego of Lucas Álvarez de Toledo, is produced by Jairo Zavala (Depedro) and features Fetén Fetén, weaving ten fresh songs into a tapestry that the artist describes as viewed through glass. Influences span Iberian folk and Anglo-Saxon textures, creating a transparent sonic surface through which melodies, stories, and emotions pass. The album also includes two Spanish adaptations of Leonard Cohen and Billy Joel songs, offered as poetic translations that preserve the original spirit while resonating in a new tongue.
Recording for the album took place during the 2021 curfews, with Pez Mago tracking guitars and vocals from home. He then sent the stems to Jairo Zavala, who crafted instrumental ideas and digitally transmitted them to Fetén Fetén. The duo joined in with an array of folksy instruments, from rattle and whistle to spoon, banjo, anise bottle, pan, water boiler, hoof, pepper can, tambourine, accordion, and violin. This collaborative approach marked a deliberate shift away from the artist’s typical rhythms, embracing a broader palette that still honors the core voice of Pez Mago. The result is a musical conversation that merges intimate lyrically driven moments with playful, folkloric texture. A duet with Mäbu, the heartbreak waltz, and the humorous heartbreak number “Don’t tell me I love you again” add warmth and contrast to the collection, highlighting the album’s range and emotional breadth.
With roots tracing back to a London upbringing in the 1970s, Pez Mago carries a distinct affinity for Anglo-Saxon songcraft. His reverence for writers such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, David Bowie, and Cat Stevens informs a career-long practice of translating and adapting English-language songs into Spanish, while preserving the poetic cadence of the originals. The new releases on Cuerpo de ventana reflect this bilingual sensibility, balancing faithful translation with a fresh Spanish voice that remains faithful to the source material’s mood and meaning. These two Cohen and Joel translations sit alongside the rest of the album as thoughtful nods to the influences that shaped Pez Mago’s artistry.
As Pez Mago’s eleventh album, Cuerpo de ventana marks a milestone in a career that has taken the artist across five continents over the last twenty years. Solo performances have found him in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, and Panama, while his collaborative works with Depedro placed him on stages in Europe, the United States, China, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand during a five-year period. The connection with Jairo Zavala runs deep, tracing back to a long-standing friendship that began in 1991 when the two musicians formed their first project, Zolo Zeppelin, a Led Zeppelin tribute. Even after countless collaborations, their shared musical curiosity has remained constant, pushing new ideas into each subsequent release.
Across a two-decade touring life—playing in intimate cafes, diverse theaters, and outdoor terraces—Pez Mago has delivered more than 1,500 live performances. His work as a songwriter and arranger has found receptive interpreters far beyond his own genre. Notable collaborations include Depedro and Leiva recording “Noche Oscura,” Malú and Melendi recording “Amigo,” Sergio Dalma’s interpretation of “Con lamouth forward,” Raphael’s take on “What does that have to do with it,” and Clara Montes’s rendition of “Luna,” among others. These partnerships demonstrate the broad appeal and versatility of Pez Mago’s music, underscoring the enduring resonance of his lyrical voice and melodic sensibility. [Citation: Artist history and collaborations]