Cafe Del Mar

On 20 June 1980, CAFÉ DEL MAR, located on the island of Ibiza, in the locality of San Antonio de Portmany, was opened. A well-known Catalan architect, Lluis Güell, was entrusted with the design, decoration and architecture of this Café at the edge of the sea. It very quickly began to be visited by personalities from culture, literature, bohemians and intellectuals. The reason was its particular cult of the sunset, undoubtedly one of the most marvellous and unbelievable on the planet. This ritual is accompanied by music different from what we are accustomed to hear in the Ibiza night (jazz, classical, blues, etc...). It was this music and the sunset which gave fame and a different renown to this magic place.

At the beginning of the eighties, cassette collections began to be sold of the music heard there. In 1994, the English company React published the first “Café del Mar” CD, which included work by artists of world renown like Underworld, A Man Called Adam, Stelle, Tabula Rasa, etc... The success of this collection meant that in the summers of 1995 and 1996 “Café del Mar – Volume Dos” and “Café del Mar – Volume Tres” were published.

This success led to the executives of Polygram UK (Universal Music) to decide in 1997 and 1998 to publish “Café del Mar – Volume Cuatro” and “Café del Mar – Volume Cinco”, which included artists of recognised world standing The summer of 1998 saw the inauguration of the first Café del Mar shop, selling sportswear (T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, merchandising, etc…) all with the Café del Mar logo.

In 1998, the record company CAFÉ DEL MAR MUSIC was set up, in San Antonio de Portmany (Ibiza), recovering the rights of recording exploitation of the CAFÉ DEL MAR name. CAFÉ DEL MAR MUSIC’s first record launch was “Café del Mar – Aria” in Spring 1999.

CAFÉ DEL MAR MUSIC reached an agreement with Universal Music to exploit the CAFÉ DEL MAR name worldwide except in Spain, solely and exclusively for the recorded exploitation of:

“Café del Mar – Volume Seis” (1999)
“Café del Mar – Volume Siete” (2000)
“Café del Mar – Volume Ocho” (2001)
“Café del Mar – The Best Of” (2003)

In autumn 1999, Bruno Lepretre selected, compiled and mixed “Café del Mar – Chill House”, a double CD reflecting the environment of the Ibiza night in Café del Mar.

Following the spectacular success of “Café del Mar – Aria” with the critics and in terms of sales, in December 1999 “Café del Mar – Aria 2 New Horizon” appeared, created, arranged and directed by Paul Schwartz.

To bring the music of Café del Mar to new generations, in Spring 2000 an album was compiled called “Café del Mar – Dreams”, which included the most famous works in Café de MarVols. 1, 2 and 3.

In June 2000, the company IBIZA MUSIC & CLOTHES was established, to distribute Café del Mar’s CDs and apparel worldwide. With the advent of the new millennium, in July 2000 Café del Mar celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a spectacular fiesta on the seashore, attended by more than 5000. Several of the artists on the discs performed live, e.g. “Afterlife”, “A Man Call Adam”, “Mandalay”, “Instrumental Classic”, plus a set of DJs with Bruno Lepretre, Lenny Ibizarre, Levitation, etc. This mass fiesta, with actuations, a set of DJs and performance, led to the recording of a TV special, broadcast on Channel 4.

In August 2000, “Café del Mar – 20th Anniversary” was published, a commemorative double CD. The first, compiled by Bruno (Resident DJ), contains the new artists and music of this millennium. The second, compiled by Ramón Guiral, is a tribute to Café del Mar’s 20 years, and includes emblematic works connected with its renowned sunset. There is also an interactive track where the most beautiful images of the Café and its sunset can be enjoyed.

At the end of the year, a company specialised in website design began work on that for www.cafedelmarmusic.com which was placed on the web at the beginning of 2001 in three languages (Spanish, Engish and German). The average successful entries in the last year were 45 million.

In March 2001, “Café del Mar – Chill House Mix 2” was issued, reflecting the best of the “deep house” of the Ibiza nights.

In Summer 2001, “Café del Mar – Dreams 2” was published, compiled by Bruno and continuing the innovative line, discovering new musical talents, bringing together artists from different countries and cultures.

During that year, the music publisher CAFÉ DEL SOL was founded, belonging to the company Ibiza Music & Clothes, and administered worldwide by the company Music & Sales.

“Café del Mar – Volume Nueve” (May 2002) was the first album in its famed saga, published by Café del Mar Music for the whole world. Compiled by Bruno, it was a great international event.

In June 2002, the album “Café del Mar – Classic” was published, with world famous classical works adapted to the Café del Mar sound. This album was the first production by Café del Mar Music, directed and arranged by Javier Losada and played by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

On the occasion of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, the Spanish government developed a CD Rom with all developments from those six months. The music accompanying these images was from Café del Mar and was sent to all heads of government, delegations, attendees and media.

At the end of 2002, “Café del Mar Chill House – Mix 3” was published, compiled and mixed by Bruno, continuing his now-familiar series.

Café del Mar signed an agreement with Radio Club 25 for broadcast of a weekly radio program, every Saturday from midnight until 2 a.m., discussing our philosophy and playing the music of Café del Mar.

During this year, the Café del Mar fiestas/parties came into being. These are some of the cities where we celebrate the events during the last years:

•San Francisco (USA)
•Belgrado (Serbia)
•Bruselas (Bélgica)
•Dubai (Unión de Emiratos Árabes)
•El Cairo (Egipto)
•Cannes (Francia)
•Moscú (Rusia)
•Atenas (Grecia)
•Roma (Italia)
•Riccione (Italia)
•Porto Recanati (Italia)
•Bisceglie (Italia)
•Lecce (Italia)
•Porto Empedocle (Italia)
•Palermo (Italia)
•Santander (España)
•Almería (España)
•Kuala Lumpur (Malasia)
•Bialobrzegi (Polonia)
•Argentina
•Uruguay

In January 2003, the first DAB (Digital Analogic Band) album “The Best” was published, the first artist to have signed worldwide with Café del Mar Music. DAB is made up of Pedro Andreu (Héroes del Silencio drummer) and Luis Sancho (Positive DJ). This album conserves the essence of the music of Café del Mar.

Rue du Soleil is one of the artists most represented in the songs included in the latest Café del Marcollection. Their creative capacity was so spectacular that Cafe del Mar Music proposed a recording contract to them. In May 2003, their first album was published, “Dreaming of...”

In Summer 2003 “Café del Mar – Volume Diez” came out, continuing its world renowned series.

That year was the tenth anniversary of the launching of Café del Mar and, for that reason, a double album was issued, “Café del Mar Best Of...” compiled by José Padilla.

Summer 2003 saw the opening of the second Café del Mar shop in Antonio de Portmany (Ibiza).

In November 2003, and continuing with the saga of dreams, i.e. “Café del Mar – Dreams 3”, the third in this dreamy series was launched and which, little by little, is becoming indispensable for lovers of Café del Mar.

Café del Mar granted the track “Belle Nuit o Nuit d’Amour” to the Universal Forum of Cultures in Barcelona 2004, played by the The City of Prague Philarmonic and included in “Café del Mar – Classic”, for synchronisation in a television spot for International Aids Day. The spot was assigned by the Forum to the UN and broadcast on more than 300 television stations around the world.

At the end of 2003 the company Café del Mar set up its franchise department with the idea of expanding the name worldwide. In line with the group’s philosophy, franchises are granted jointly as a bar and shop.

The second part of “Café del Mar – Classic II” appeared in March 2004. Along the lines of its predecessor, it brings together classical harmony in the solemnity of Mozart, the spirituality of Pachelbel, and with the interior world of Beethoven, among others. This production was directed and arranged by Javier Losada and played by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Café del Mar concluded an agreement with Gum FM for the broadcast of a radio program every day between 7 and 9 in the morning on 8 stations, during which our philosophy is discussed, and Café del Mar music is played.

“Café del Mar – Volume Once” came out in July, as part of our attractive evenings, the jewel in the crown in the Café del Mar style. The volumes are what most distinguish our way of acting and feeling. This CD relates the tale of the famous Buddha of Atlantis, which is in Ibiza.

From now, Café del Mar has opened the following bar and shop franchises:

•22nd May: Café del Mar Empuriabrava (Gerona)
Playa de Empuriabrava
•24th June: Café del Mar Altea (Alicante)
Playa del Albir
•6th August: Café del Mar Lanzarote (Islas Canarias)
Puerto Deportivo Marina Rubicón – Playa Blanca

The 20th of August we´ve celebrated our first 25th Anniversary. For this reason we have the opportunity to see 4 live performances featuring by: La Caina, DAB, Paco Fernández and Tom Oliver, all of them have tracks in the CD “Café del Mar 25th Anniversary”. More than 2000 people enjoyed with the celebration near to the beach with a very, very special sunset…

At the end of year 2004, Café del Mar and Europe FM agreed to produce a radio programme that will be broadcasted on Fridays and Saturdays early morning (2AM to 8AM), with Café del Mar’s music and philosophy. The programme starts on December 2004 until December 2006.

Next year, Café del Mar is to launch 2 new product lines: telephones and cosmetics.

In March 2005 Café del Mar released the 3rd Volume of Aria “Aria 3 – New Horizon” and, in May, “Café del Mar Volume Doce”.

Before the end of the 2005, the Café del Mar fans have the opportunity to listen the two new releases: one of DAB (The Best 2) and the other from Rue du Soleil (Essential Feelings), both are exclusive artists of Café del Mar.

DAB (Digital Analog Band) are Pedro Andreu (from “Héroes del Silencio” band) and Luis Sancho aka Positive (Dj and producer). They began to work on a recording studio called “Atico 13” on May 2001.

Rue du Soleil was founded by four friends. It is not a lable it is friendship. In 1999 they decided to put all their equipment together and built an studio. Till now they spent most of their time, creating and searching for new sounds and grooves. Continuing the Chill series, at the end of 2005, “Café del Mar Chill House – Mix 4” was published, compiled and mixed by Bruno.

Café del Mar has signed worldwide with a new artist called La Caina. On March of 2006 will be released their first CD: Café del Mar by La Caina “Vue Mer”

During the middle of the year 2006 Café del Mar will open two new franchises: Café del Mar Tarifa(Cádiz) and Café del Mar Singapore.

Curiosities:

• To 20 June 2005, 9,132 sunsets seen from Café del Mar Ibiza.
• More than 4 million people have seen the sunset from Café del Mar.
• Worldwide, more than 9 million CDs have been sold.
• More than a million items of apparel and merchandising have been sold.