In Focus: The Marías
A deep dive into the genre-bending LA band that have established themselves as a triple threat in the alternative scene
Photo: Kenzie Bright
If you’ve been present in the indie-pop or the indie space in general, you’ve probably heard about Los Angeles-based duo The Marías. Born out of a stroke of luck by meeting in LA venue, Canter’s Deli, partners Maria Zardoya (the group’s namesake and lead vocalist) and Josh Conway (drums) began their path towards becoming one of today’s hottest indie acts (even if they claim to be a psychedelic soul act). Later on, keyboardist James Edwards and guitarist Jesse Pearlman completed the group. By 2016, the group was complete.
The Marías began releasing music with their debut single, I Don’t Know You, in June of 2017. This began their path towards their Superclean era, an era that spawned two extended plays: Superclean Vol. 1 and Superclean Vol. 2. After working on songs for television and the work falling through, they decided to turn around and release their music as a set of EPs. On their Bandcamp, The Marías describe themselves as “...a smooth rendezvous of jazz percussion, hypnotic guitar riffs, smoke-velvet vocals and nostalgic horn solos”. Their self-descriptor suits them well, as all of those elements are apparent in their first two EPs.
Involved in every song they create, their projects are as homegrown as they come. Utilising their bilingualism to create music in both English and Spanish, their music appeals across languages. Regardless of the consumer’s understanding of either language, the production and smooth vocals will coax anyone into craving more. Following the release of a cover of Britney Spears’ classic “...Baby One More Time” in 2019, their sultry cover took off, as did their success. To this day, the band still plays their infamous cover on tour.
What followed post-Superclean was the CINEMA era. Their debut effort was centred around their love for the thing they named the album after. Cinematic inspiration and elements are present throughout their debut album, serving their thematic choice well. Beyond the music, The Marías also produce stunning visuals through their music videos and tour setup(s). Inspired by their roots, The Marías have established themselves as a triple threat with their ability to create enchanting music, enticing visuals, and give a performance with soul.
June 2021 brought on the biggest splash yet for the group. Once CINEMA was released, the positive reception of the album pushed them further into the spotlight. The focus on making a dynamic album as an ode to cinematic elements worked immensely well in their favour, giving them success and appraisal for an outstanding debut effort. Every listen to the album comes with a new feeling, a new revelation, or a feeling that maybe you’re starring in your own movie, even if just for a moment.
Their single from CINEMA, Hush, became a hit across the alternative charts, bringing them their first single to have a slot on the charts. Futuristic, catchy, and irresistible, Hush was bound to be a success. Not only do The Marías bring cinema into the music sphere, but they also combine genres, musical methods, and audio aesthetics to create a cohesive package of an album. Boxing them into one genre feels like an impossible task; likely one nobody but the band themselves will succeed in. Their style, however, has remained consistent in heart but grown as time progresses. They grow into themselves and produce music that is something special amongst a resurgence of experimental practices and alternative crawling back into the forefront.
Their first-ever tour, The Cinema Tour, saw the group making waves in the United States. Even though they were newcomers to the touring world, their performances enticed audiences and established them as an act that had no intentions of disappearing off of the radar any time soon. In fact, the group were picked as an opening act for Halsey on their Love and Power 2022 tour alongside indie newcomer Abby Roberts and a few select shows with fellow alternative powerhouse Wolf Alice. They also were slated for a few well-known festivals, playing Coachella and Tomavistas Fest, alongside spots in Greatest Day Ever, and Lollapalooza post-touring with Halsey.
While there are plenty of acts breaking into the music scene every day, The Marías aren’t your everyday act. Making waves in music with their unique aesthetic, sound, and crossover impact, they have secured a solid place in the indie and alternative spheres. A triple threat at heat, this group has even more potential up their sleeve; nevertheless, proving it with every effort. If you haven’t gotten into The Marías, now is the time.