This is salsa reborn, carried by two Peruvians with global reach: actress-singer Isabela Merced, fresh from Hollywood blockbusters the Last of Us and Superman, and producer Tony Succar, Miami's own double Grammy and double Latin Grammy winner. Together, they've turned a pandemic-born ballad into a tropical anthem, fusing Peruvian soul with Afro-Caribbean rhythm.
A Song Reborn in Salsa
Initially written in 2020 by Merced and her brother Gyovanni Moner, "Apocalipsis" emerged during the pandemic as a pop-driven ballad about intensity and endings. Today, under Succar's baton, it has transformed into an electrifying salsa anthem. "Apocalipsis has always been one of my most passionate songs," Merced tells New Times. "Hearing it come alive in salsa feels like it was meant to be. Tony brought an explosive energy and authenticity that made me fall in love with it all over again. It's our love letter to Peru, to salsa, and to music that moves both the soul and the body."
Succar agrees. "The music always finds the right moment to come out," he explains. "Isabela was busy, I was busy, but when we finally came together, it was the perfect time. We wanted to represent our country, Peru, and show that our culture has depth, richness, and joy to share with the world."
In true pandemic fashion, much of the track was crafted over Zoom, with Merced recording vocals from Los Angeles while Succar guided the salsa orchestra from Miami. The final version still carries the immediacy of those remote sessions.
Merced laughs when remembering it: "Tony sent me the salsa arrangement, and I was like—wow. I recorded my parts over Zoom, which was crazy. What you hear today is still my voice from those sessions. But performing salsa live for the first time? That was nerve-racking, and magical.""The music always finds the right moment to come out,"
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Merced's career has skyrocketed, but music remains her emotional home. She recalls growing up with música criolla and salsa playing every Sunday while cleaning the house with her mom. "It was like a religion," she says. "I grew up thinking I'd be a pop star, but deep down, my roots were always tropical. With this project, I feel like I'm going back to that little girl who fell in love with Peruvian music. It's a step in the right direction."
Performing salsa demanded she learn to listen differently. "I had to really feel every instrument, every note in my body," she explains. "Thanks to Tony, I discovered how beautiful it is to live inside the music. Now I just want to sing salsa more. I love it."
Tony Succar: Miami's Peruvian Son
If Merced represents the new global Latina star, Succar embodies Miami's tropical melting pot. Raised in Kendall, he sharpened his craft at FIU and on local stages before achieving international acclaim."I'm from Miami, Kendall forever," he grins. "I played in bars, Blue Martini, Calle Ocho. The Cuban community opened doors for me, and I owe them so much. My wife's Cuban, and my daughter is Peruvian-Cuban; it's in our blood. Miami is like a cultural theme park, and that's where my music comes from."
For Succar, salsa is more than a genre; it's history. "Tito Puente used to say salsa was just a name, like spaghetti sauce. The real heartbeat is Afro-Cuban rhythm. That's the source. What we're doing with 'Apocalipsis' is honoring that while adding our Peruvian swing."
A Tropical Wave Rising
There's no better moment for "Apocalipsis." Salsa and tropical rhythms are resurging across global pop, fueled by younger artists reclaiming tradition with modern flair. Miami, as always, is the epicenter. Watching Merced perform with Succar's band, you see the transformation. "With every rehearsal I felt more comfortable," she admits. "Covering songs like La India's 'Mi Propiedad Privada' was intimidating, but it pushed me. I love singing salsa now, it feels like a gift."
Succar nods: "Seeing her on stage was incredible. We did three songs for a special performance, and it felt like a cabaret, sensual, alive. Imagine that with lights, dancers, the crowd moving… That's the dream. And it's coming."
Both hint at live performances soon. "It's going to happen at the right time," Succar teases. "When it does, it will be a spectacle. Everyone dancing, everyone sweating, that's the essence of tropical music."
For Merced, this project is a return to self. "This is about Peru, about our culture, about reminding myself where I come from. It feels like home."
Succar adds: "We're putting our flag high. Peru has talent, art, and music to share. We're just two Peruvians bringing that to the world in our own way."
From Hollywood stages to Miami dance floors, they're proving salsa isn't nostalgia, it's our living heartbeat, the bloodline of Latin identity pulsing stronger than ever.
