Efecto Mariposa: “We still have the same excitement as at the beginning, but with a different perspective”
Celebrating more than 25 years of a career is not just about numbers or anniversaries. For Efecto Mariposa, it is above all a moment of conscious pause: looking back without excessive nostalgia, appreciating the road travelled and, at the same time, continuing to move forward with the same curiosity as always. With a new tour ahead and the release of “Comienzo”, the band finds itself at a vital point where experience adds depth without becoming a burden.
In this conversation, Efecto Mariposa talk about second chances, small decisions that change everything, the kind of complicity that only time can build, and that invisible side of concerts that does not always reach the audience. They also reflect on today’s music industry, their roots in Málaga, and the emotional bond with songs that, once released, no longer fully belong to them.
An honest and calm interview, where past and present coexist without conflict, and where music remains at the centre — even when it is not always the starting point.
Let’s imagine this interview does not begin by talking about music. What feeling, image or state best describes the moment you are in now as a band?
We are in a very beautiful moment, as we have spent more than half of our lives devoted to our passion, and being able to celebrate it today surrounded by friends and colleagues is a luxury. With another tour ahead of us and the same excitement as at the beginning, but with a certain maturity that allows us to experience everything in a different way than in our early days.
“Comienzo” speaks about starting over from a different place, with more experience and memory. When revisiting this song today, what new meaning did you discover that was not present when it first came to life?
The meaning is the same. It is a song in which we talk about starting again or fulfilling a dream, and everyone can relate it to their own life. In our case, it was inspired by the moment we were going through, with changes on a professional level, but above all on a personal one. A new member arrived in the family, and that is the big change — the one they always say “changes your life”.
While working on this new single, was there any specific detail — a phrase, a sound, an emotion — that made you feel the song no longer belonged to the past, but to the moment you are living now?
The collaboration with Gabriel De la Rosa moved us from the very first moment. His voice and the way he interpreted “Comienzo” together with us has been simply perfect.
After so many years together, which part of the creative process remains uncomfortable, difficult or even conflictive, and why don’t you want to get rid of it?
More than the creative process itself, it would be the moment of choosing the setlist for each type of concert we do, whether acoustic, theatre, club, with a band, at a festival… It is always difficult for us to decide which song or songs to leave out to make room for others.
Spain often appears in interviews as “the place where everything began”. But what less obvious aspect of living and creating here has influenced your music in a silent way?
It could be living in Fuengirola, Málaga, and going every Sunday — and many days that were not Sundays — to Eagles, a bar, concert venue and jam session space… where you could mostly hear and make music from abroad.
In the studio, ideas are always left behind. Do you remember any song, arrangement or concept that never saw the light of day but that you still consider especially valuable?
We do not remember any in particular. We usually go into the studio with everything quite advanced already. Sometimes a new arrangement, a guitar part or a new sound may appear, but not much more than that.
What was the most risky artistic decision you made guided only by intuition, without being sure it would work, and what did that experience leave you with?
Saying no to some proposals. We have always tried to be faithful to ourselves, and on the occasions when we were not, those were the moments we later regretted.
If someone were to discover Efecto Mariposa for the first time today, which stage of your discography would you like them to start with, and why?
Complejidad, because that was when we started to be more ourselves.
After so many concerts together, which small gestures, looks or silences between you say more than any rehearsal or conversation?
Any of them. We know each other very well and usually have a lot of complicity.
The music industry has changed radically. Which current rule or logic of the music business feels most foreign to you, and which one would you change without hesitation?
The current one feels the most foreign. We are romantics when it comes to music; we belong more to the vinyl era, even though we were born in the CD era and now live in the digital one.
Is there any ritual, phrase or habit you repeat before going on stage that is rarely mentioned in interviews?
We always like to spend those minutes before the concert together as a full band, hugging each other. We keep changing and adding phrases to that ritual of the group hug. It is better not to mention the phrases, because they would be hard to explain or understand — they are usually anecdotes that make us laugh.
Looking back, which seemingly small decision ended up having a decisive impact on your career — a true “butterfly effect”?
Recording our album 40:04 together with Bori Alarcón. He brought out the best in us, and today he is one of our closest friends.
Was there any story from a fan that made you listen to one of your own songs differently, as if it no longer fully belonged to you?
We always find it very beautiful when these stories reach us, from a couple who were listening to “Nunca” while their baby was being born, to couples or friends who met at one of our concerts…
Behind every concert there are images the audience never sees. Which backstage moment deserves to be told not with words, but through a camera?
All of them. They are moments filled with nervousness, emotion and respect for the audience… and they would definitely be worth seeing.
To finish, thank you for this conversation. If you could leave our readers not with a piece of advice, but with a question you would like them to ask themselves while listening to your music, what would it be?
Thank you for this warm and caring interview.
Simply that they let themselves go and enjoy the songs as we did when creating and recording them.
See you at the concerts!
Interview: Andrei Lukovnikov
