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María Zardoya, of the Marías, chooses to relive her breakup every night

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María Zardoya, of the Marías, chooses to relive her breakup every night

As I delve into the heartfelt world of Zardoya and her band The Marías, I can’t help but be moved by their poignant music and the profound experiences that shaped it. Their latest album, “Submarine,” is a testament to the power of love, loss, and growth, and it resonates with an intensity that transcends the boundaries of music.

As the crowd’s “otra” softly fades away, a solitary beam of light shines on María Zardoya. The lead singer of The Marías is positioned in a see-through bathtub, clutching a microphone and partially immersed in its comforting warmth. The haunting piano melody of their second album’s ballad, “If Only,” from “Submarine,” reverberates through the entire Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Zardoya’s voice echoes with a mournful, siren-like tone, and a trumpet imparts a dark, jazz-inspired twist to the haunting scene.

After the song ends with its last echoes, the 29-year-old vocalist submerges herself in a portable water container, fully immersing her head beneath the surface. This action seems to muffle her surroundings as she recalls the poignant instances of heartache that sparked the Los Angeles band’s recent work, “Submarine,” launched in May. The album offers a clear glimpse into the romantic split between the group’s creators, Zardoya (singer and lyricist) and Josh Conway (drummer and producer).

Before crafting the aquatic ambiance for “Submarine”, the band wasn’t sure if they could pull off such a significant change in tempo. However, their commitment to expressing vulnerability and honing their skills helped them navigate this transition successfully, resulting in one of the most talked-about breakup albums of the summer. The band members include Zardoya, Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman, and keyboardist Edward James.

María Zardoya, of the Marías, chooses to relive her breakup every night

Prior to the second Los Angeles performance of the Submarine tour, I had a chance encounter with the Puerto Rican vocalist in a secluded tent. Despite her petite stature, she was adorned in a long dress featuring a large floral motif at its core. Sipping from an official Marías water bottle emblazoned with “María’s Bathwater” – a witty inside joke between the band and their fans – she recollected the precise instant when she realized they had surpassed the breakup hurdle. This revelation occurred during their concert at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, just a few weeks earlier. The stage design enabled her to ascend to a platform, providing her with a fresh perspective from which to perform.

Zardoya shared, “I had never viewed the stage from that angle before since I’m typically the one on it. However, this time, I could observe the guys below and it moved me deeply, causing a few tears to fall. I exclaimed excitedly, ‘Guys, like, we made it!’ It was an incredibly touching moment because we’ve conquered so many challenges together, and now it feels like a family. We’re stronger than ever.”

But this unified feeling among the band didn’t happen overnight.

The Marías, established in 2016, swiftly carved out a space for themselves in the realm of alternative music. Their experimental indie song “Only in My Dreams” and bilingual love ballad “Cariño” solidified their status as emerging talents. From the start, this band has utilized a distinctive duality to stand out. Lead vocalist Zardoya writes lyrics in both English and Spanish, while Conway seamlessly incorporates Latin influences to give their sound an authentic touch and differentiate it from typical indie music.

“Zardoya shared a lot of Latin music with him. By being around my family and our culture, he learned the nuances quite fast,” Zardoya explained. “He understood that it mattered to me to express this aspect of my identity. So when he began blending reggaeton and indie psychedelic genres, things became quite intriguing.”

The band persisted in leaving their mark within the non-mainstream sector by earning a Grammy nomination for their debut album “Cinema,” which was released in 2021. Their unique blend of soulful rock, ethereal pop, and Latin beats has remained both captivating and innovative over the group’s nine-year history. Furthermore, they have teamed up with other prominent Latin musicians such as Bad Bunny, Young Miko, and Tainy for collaborative projects.

María Zardoya, of the Marías, chooses to relive her breakup every night

“Andres Garcia, a dedicated fan since our junior high days, shared his thoughts after attending the L.A. show, stating, ‘We’ve been following the Marías for years, and their blend of Spanish elements into their genre holds deep significance to us.’ He added, ‘I admire how the Marías remain true to the indie genre while authentically expressing themselves. It’s a trend I see many contemporary Latino indie artists adopting as well.'”

At the Hollywood show, Zardoya addressed her “Latin community” and named several Latin American nations to spot who was present. The main singer expresses gratitude for having the chance to connect with her audience about the shared experience of being Latina in America. Every night during the Submarine tour, Zardoya takes time to move among the crowd while singing. As fans jostle and struggle to catch a peek of the singer in lace attire, she feels it validates the difficult times she went through for ‘Submarine’ performance.

“The theme of ‘Submarine’ revolves around the concept of poignant love. Regardless of whether the tunes are cheerful or rhythmic, the lyrics consistently touch upon a life-changing heartache. For instance, the song ‘Love You Anyway,’ which blends psychedelic rock elements, focuses on the lines, ‘I realize you’ve always loved me / But I know you’ve also had to witness my departure.’ This indicates that despite their love, they must endure being apart. The track ‘Sienna’ creates a dreamy atmosphere and takes listeners to an alternate reality where Zardoya and Conway find happiness together, raising a child named Sienna who would have been adorable and bore a striking resemblance to one of them.”

Zardoya shares that writing the album was incredibly humbling for her. Following a seven-year relationship, she admits it made her see life from a new perspective. During those tough periods of growth, she found solace in Buddhism.

“Zardoya expresses that what’s transformed him most is appreciating the current moment for its beauty. He acknowledges that nothing endures forever, and all we truly have is this present instant,” Zardoya explains. “This perspective has been beneficial for him, especially during tours, as it encourages him to tackle each situation individually instead of focusing on the bigger picture.”

María Zardoya, of the Marías, chooses to relive her breakup every night

Following the intense emotional investment in “Submarine”, Zardoya believed that revealing it to the world could aid her healing process. However, as she performed its intimate aspects on tour, she discovered that she was repeatedly re-experiencing a traumatic event each night.

On some evenings, Zardoya expressed that she feels exasperated, tired of pondering over and replaying the same dreams and difficulties in her mind. She declared, “I’ve had enough!” However, at other moments, she reflected gratefully, stating, “I’m thankful I experienced it.” She added that it taught her humility as an individual and made her more appreciative of life, as well as more resilient when faced with challenging situations.

Balancing on a delicate tightrope between emotional fatigue and politeness, she’s acknowledged that the fallout from her breakup might linger longer than usual for someone not in a band with their former partner. As she narrates the peaks and valleys of their relationship through her nightly performance, she encounters a pivotal moment where she must make a choice.

“Zardoya explains, ‘My aim is to convey the emotions in these songs authentically. To achieve that, I need to re-live the feelings portrayed by the song. It’s a choice I make.’ Alternatively, I could merely sing the song and move past the situation. However, I prefer to fully immerse myself in the emotions and invite my fans to do the same. After all, what’s the purpose if we don’t?”

After just a few more U.S. stops, the Marías are set to embark on their Submarine tour across Europe in late October. However, the band has more plans for “Submarine,” as Zardoya discloses they will soon release a follow-up EP to the album. This new EP was penned during the same creative period as the original album, but some songs were composed after its release, all fitting within the same thematic universe.

Zardoya remarks, “It seems to me that you’re still drowning in a crowd, and it feels even lonelier.” He adds, “The music here is melancholic, more like ‘crying in the disco’ tunes.”

With the final notes of “Cariño” echoing, Zardoya sprints towards the stage’s end and leaps into the throng of elated fans, intending to ride the crowd wave. The front rows of the venue lift their hands high, readying themselves to catch the singer. While the band continues to play, she is carried through the compact audience – her smile visible even from the edge of the crowd. Unlike typical solace after a breakup, such as watching romantic comedies or spending time with friends, Zardoya finds her greatest solace in the embrace of her fans.

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2024-08-30 04:31

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