Music moves fast. One minute a band is the darling of a subreddit, and the next, they’re playing sold-out shows at the Hollywood Bowl. The Marías occupy a strange, shimmering space in that timeline. If you’ve spent any time on "Lofi Girl" style playlists or wandered into the hazy world of "Bedroom Pop," you know the voice. It belongs to María Zardoya. She’s magnetic.
But there is a specific version of The Marías that gets lost in the shuffle of Spotify algorithms. People see the aesthetic—the red velvet, the vintage cinema vibes, the smooth jazz influences—and they stop there. They miss the grit. They miss the fact that this isn't just a "vibe" band; it's a meticulously crafted project led by Zardoya and Josh Conway that bridges a massive gap between English-speaking indie and the Latin American psych-soul scene.
The Marías and the Myth of the "Overnight Success"
We love a good discovery story. The one where a band uploads a song and wakes up famous. That’s rarely how it actually goes. For The Marías, the foundation was laid in Los Angeles, born from a chance meeting at a show where Josh was performing and María was just... there.
They didn't just start writing hits. They started writing scores.
Honestly, that’s the secret sauce. Before Cinema or Submarine existed, they were writing music for film and television pitches. You can hear it in the DNA of their early EPs, Superclean Vol. I and Vol. II. It’s why their music feels like it has a physical location. It’s not just audio; it’s a room. It's a dimly lit bar in 1970s Madrid or a rainy street in Echo Park.
Why the "Bedroom Pop" Label is Kinda Insulting
The industry loves labels. It makes things easy to sell. When The Marías first blew up, everyone dumped them into the "Bedroom Pop" bucket alongside artists like Clairo or Cuco.
It’s a lazy comparison.
While the DIY ethos was there, the technical proficiency of The Marías was always on a different level. Josh Conway isn't just a drummer; he's a producer with an obsessive ear for texture. We’re talking about a band that uses live brass, complex jazz progressions, and bilingual lyricism that isn't just a gimmick. It’s their reality. María, born in Puerto Rico and raised in Atlanta, moves between Spanish and English because that’s how her brain works. It isn't a marketing play to capture the "LatinX" demographic. It’s just who they are.
The Invisible Influences: From Pérez Prado to Tame Impala
If you listen closely to a track like "Hush" or "Carino," you aren't just hearing modern indie. You’re hearing a lineage.
- The Bolero Influence: There is a romanticism in María’s delivery that mirrors the great Bolero singers of the mid-20th century. It’s about the space between the notes.
- The Psych-Rock Edge: Underneath the silk, there’s a lot of Kevin Parker influence. The drum saturation on Submarine is a direct nod to the psychedelic revivalism of the 2010s.
- Cinema Paradiso: They are obsessed with film. Pedro Almodóvar's influence is all over their visual identity—the saturated reds, the high-tension melodrama, the feminine power.
Most fans notice the red outfits. Very few notice the way they use silence as an instrument.
What Happened During the Submarine Era?
The transition from their debut album Cinema to 2024’s Submarine was rough for the band, even if it sounded beautiful to us. Rumors swirled. Personal shifts occurred. The creative partnership between María and Josh is the heartbeat of the band, but they also used to be a couple.
Navigating a breakup while being the primary creative engines of a rising global act? That’s heavy.
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Submarine sounds different because it is different. It’s bluer. It’s colder. It feels like being underwater, which is exactly the point. While Cinema was a tribute to the external world of movies, Submarine is a deep dive into the internal world of isolation. If you haven't sat with tracks like "Run Your Mouth" and realized they are actually about the anxiety of communication breakdowns, you’re missing the narrative. It’s not just "chill music." It’s a breakdown set to a groove.
The Marías on the Global Stage: More Than Just an Opening Act
There was a moment in 2022 when The Marías opened for Bad Bunny during his World’s Hottest Tour. That was a turning point.
Think about the contrast. You have the biggest reggaeton star on the planet, and then you have this ethereal, jazzy indie band from LA. It shouldn't have worked. But it did. Their collaboration on "Otro Atardecer" introduced millions of listeners to a side of Latin music that isn't focused on the club. It’s focused on the comedown.
This is where The Marías really matter. They are proof that "Latin music" isn't a genre. It's a massive, diverse spectrum that includes psych-soul, dream-pop, and jazz. By being "The Marías nobody noticed" in the mainstream pop world for so long, they built a cult following that is more loyal than any radio-driven fanbase.
Real Talk: The Live Experience
If you get the chance to see them live, notice the band. Edward James on keys and Jesse Perlman on guitar aren't just backing tracks. They are a tight, improvisational unit.
The live arrangements often deviate from the records. They lean into the "jam" aspects of their music. It’s where the "jazz" influence isn't just a stylistic choice but a performance method. They aren't just playing songs; they are creating an atmosphere.
How to Actually Listen to The Marías
If you want to move past the surface level, you have to change how you listen to them.
First, stop putting them on as background music for studying. I know, I know—the lo-fi playlists told you to do that. But try this: put on Submarine with a good pair of headphones. Notice the panning. Notice the way the bass interacts with the vocals.
Second, look at the lyrics of the Spanish tracks. If you aren't a native speaker, translate them. There is a specific kind of longing in "Déjate Llevar" that doesn't quite translate perfectly into English. It’s a "saudade" or a "duende"—a feeling of beautiful sadness that is central to their identity.
Actionable Insights for the Aspiring Listener
- Start with the EPs: Don't just jump into the albums. Superclean Vol. I is the purest distillation of their original vision.
- Watch the Visuals: Their music videos are short films. Watch "Little by Little" to understand their obsession with the 1930s-70s aesthetic.
- Follow the Producers: If you like their sound, look into Josh Conway’s production work. He has a very specific "dry" drum sound that defines the band's rhythmic identity.
- Pay Attention to the Transition: Listen to Cinema followed immediately by Submarine. You can literally hear the emotional shift in the band's history. It’s a masterclass in how life events dictate sonic choices.
The Marías aren't just another indie band. They are a bridge between cultures and a testament to what happens when you prioritize texture over trends. They might have been the band "no one noticed" in the crowded pop landscape five years ago, but they’ve become an undeniable pillar of the modern alternative scene. Turn the lights down, hit play on "Ruthless," and actually listen. You'll hear exactly what everyone else has been missing.