You’ve probably heard it in a dimly lit cafe or while scrolling through a particularly aesthetic TikTok feed. It’s that voice—silky, bilingual, and sounding like it’s being whispered directly into your ear over a jazz record. That is the sound of The Marías. But who are The Marías, really? They aren't just a singer named María. They are a multi-disciplinary collective that managed to bridge the gap between English-speaking indie rock and the burgeoning "Latin Alternative" scene without ever sounding like they were trying too hard.
Honestly, the band’s rise feels like a fever dream. It started in Los Angeles, which makes total sense when you hear the cinematic, Hollywood-glam-meets-psych-soul vibe of their music. They didn't have a massive label backing them at the start. They had a vision. And a lot of red velvet.
The Meeting That Changed Everything
The heart of the band is the creative and (formerly) romantic partnership between María Zardoya and Josh Conway. It’s a classic "musician meets musician" story, but with a bit more soul. María was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Atlanta. She eventually found her way to LA, performing solo sets with just her guitar. Josh, a native Angeleno and talented drummer/producer, saw her perform at a show at the Kibitz Room. He was tasked with running sound for her.
He didn't just mix her levels; he fell for her sound.
They started writing together almost immediately. It wasn't just about making catchy tunes; they were essentially scoring their own lives. This wasn't a corporate project. It was two people in a room experimenting with vintage gear and a mutual love for Radiohead, D’Angelo, and Tame Impala. They recruited friends—Jesse Conde on keys, Edward James on guitar, and Gabe极 on bass—to fill out the live sound, and The Marías were officially born.
More Than Just "Dream Pop"
People love to slap labels on things. You'll see them called "Dream Pop" or "Bedroom Pop" all over Spotify playlists. While that’s not technically wrong, it's kinda reductive. There is a deep, rhythmic complexity to what they do. Josh Conway’s production style is incredibly precise. He treats silence like an instrument.
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Take a track like "I Don't Know You." It’s sparse. The bassline carries the weight while María’s vocals float on top like smoke. Then you have their Spanish tracks, like "Cariño" or "Déjate Llevar." For many listeners, this was their introduction to the idea that Spanish-language music didn't have to be Reggaeton or traditional Boleros. It could be cool, psychedelic, and modern.
They tapped into a specific "Alt-Latino" identity that resonates with kids who grew up speaking Spanish at home but listening to The Strokes in their headphones. It’s a fluid identity. It's effortless.
The Cinema of Cinema
If you watch a video by The Marías, you’ll notice a very specific color palette. Usually red. Deep, saturated, Hitchcock-ian red. María Zardoya isn't just a vocalist; she’s effectively the visual director of the band's universe. She has spoken in interviews about how much film influences their work. Think Pedro Almodóvar or Wong Kar-wai.
The music is visual. When you listen to Superclean Vol. I or Vol. II, you aren't just hearing songs; you're seeing scenes. This cinematic quality is what led to their Grammy nomination for Cinema, their debut full-length album. It was a massive moment. An independent-leaning band from the LA scene getting a nod for Best Immersive Audio Album proved that their "mood" had technical substance behind it.
The Bad Bunny "Otro Atardecer" Effect
If there was a moment where the question "who are The Marías?" shifted from indie circles to the mainstream, it was 2022. Bad Bunny, the biggest artist on the planet at the time, released Un Verano Sin Ti. Track 16 was "Otro Atardecer," featuring The Marías.
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Suddenly, millions of people who had never heard of the LA psych-soul scene were hearing María’s breathy vocals. It was a perfect pairing. Benito’s rougher, reggaeton-rooted energy bounced off María’s smooth delivery perfectly. It didn't change the band's sound, but it certainly expanded their zip code. They went from playing clubs to selling out multiple nights at the Hollywood Bowl.
The Breakup and 'Submarine'
Life isn't always a vintage film. In late 2023 and early 2024, rumors began to swirl about the status of María and Josh’s relationship. For a band built on the chemistry of two people, a breakup is usually a death knell. But for The Marías, it became the catalyst for their most ambitious work yet: Submarine.
Released in 2024, Submarine is an exploration of isolation. If Cinema was red, Submarine is blue. Deep, aquatic, suffocating blue. They didn't break up the band. They kept working together, which is honestly wild when you think about the emotional toll.
The album deals with the complexity of being "fine" but lonely. Songs like "Run Your Mouth" show a more upbeat, almost disco-adjacent side, while tracks like "Sienna" are devastatingly personal. It’s an album that proves they can survive their own history. They aren't just a "vibe" anymore; they are a resilient creative unit.
Common Misconceptions
People often think María is the only one in the band. She’s the face, sure. But Josh Conway is the architect of that sound. He produces, mixes, and writes a significant portion of the music. Without his drums and his obsession with analog textures, the "Marías sound" wouldn't exist.
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Another misconception? That they are a "Latin" band in the traditional sense. They are a band from Los Angeles. They happen to speak Spanish. They don't want to be pigeonholed into a specific "World Music" category. They want to be next to Arctic Monkeys and Khruangbin.
Why They Matter Right Now
In an era of hyper-fast, TikTok-optimized music, The Marías feel slow. In a good way. They make music that invites you to sit down and actually feel something. They’ve managed to maintain a high level of "cool" without being pretentious.
They also represent a shift in how we consume culture. We don't care about language barriers as much as we used to. A kid in Tokyo can vibe to "Basta Ya" just as easily as a kid in Puerto Rico. The Marías are the soundtrack to a borderless, aesthetic-obsessed world.
How to Get Into Their Music
If you're new to the band, don't just hit "shuffle." You have to experience the eras.
- Start with "Cariño." It’s the quintessential Marías track. It’s romantic, bilingual, and sounds like a sunset.
- Move to "Hush." This shows their darker, more electronic side. It’s edgy and showcases Josh’s production chops.
- Listen to "Run Your Mouth." This is the bridge to their newer, more evolved sound. It’s catchy but lyrics-wise, it’s quite heavy.
- Watch the music videos. Seriously. You can’t fully understand the band without seeing the visual world they’ve built. Start with the video for "Little by Little."
The Marías have proven that they aren't a flash in the pan. They’ve moved past the "indie darling" phase and into something much more permanent. Whether they are exploring the depths of the ocean in Submarine or the glitz of old Hollywood, they remain one of the most consistent and visually striking bands of the decade.
To understand them is to understand the modern LA sound: a mix of cultures, a love for the past, and a very, very stylish sense of melancholy.
Next Steps for Deep Diving into The Marías:
- Check out the "Submarine" Short Film: To get the full context of their latest album, watch the visual companions they released. It explains the blue aesthetic better than words ever could.
- Explore Josh Conway’s Production Credits: If you love the way The Marías sound, look up other artists Josh has worked with. You’ll start to hear his "sonic signature"—that crisp, dry drum sound and lush reverb—across other projects in the LA indie scene.
- Follow María’s Creative Direction: María often posts her mood boards and film inspirations on social media. Following her provides a masterclass in how to build a cohesive visual brand as an independent artist.