Over lunch in Williamsburg, María Zardoya—the lead singer and namesake of the indie-pop band the Marías—is just as warm and bubbly as her music. We slide into a small booth and start chatting like old friends catching up after a whirlwind year, which it truly has been for Zardoya.

Here’s a quick recap: In 2024, the Marías released their second studio album, Submarine, right after Zardoya and the band’s drummer, Josh Conway, ended their long-term relationship. The breakup left fans—and even Zardoya herself—wondering if the Marías would continue.

The band is indeed still together, but from that uncertainty emerged Zardoya’s new solo project, Not for Radio, along with an album called Melt, which comes out today. Not for Radio marks a creative reset born from heartbreak… and a bit of an identity crisis. “After the breakup, I had so many questions,” Zardoya says. “Who am I as an individual after a seven-year relationship? Who am I without that context? That led me to ask who I am musically without the relationship.”

To explore those questions, she teamed up with songwriter Sam Evian. “I told Sam I was going through a tough time and had a lot to express. I wrote a song, and he sent me a track he’d been working on,” she explains. She also brought in Luca Buccellati, who had collaborated with her on the Marías’ song “No One Noticed.” That initial experiment eventually became “Not the Only One,” the sixth track on Melt, though it would be nearly a year before it found its place on an album.

In February, Zardoya, Evian, and Buccellati spent three weeks writing and recording in upstate New York—an unexpected setting for the San Juan-born artist. “I wanted to record somewhere completely out of my comfort zone and away from LA,” she says. “As a Puerto Rican island girl, the polar opposite was going to upstate New York in the dead of winter.” Between sessions, they took long walks in the woods and ate farm-fresh duck eggs.

The sound of Melt has a soft, gothic feel that may be familiar to fans of the Marías, whose production tends to be lush, layered, and hypnotic—but here it’s slower and moodier. “The Marías are very much a band, but from day one, Josh and I have written all the music together. So what you hear is a blend of both our styles,” Zardoya notes. “With my solo project, I wanted it to feel like music you’d listen to in nature, sitting under a tree, or on a train gazing out the window.” (If a song ever strayed from that vibe, she’d say it wasn’t “vampire enough”!)

The album’s tone draws inspiration from the wintry stillness of the New York woods, as well as Evian and Buccellati’s love of The Lord of the Rings (which, yes, they got Zardoya into too). “Sam, Luca, and I worked so smoothly because we share similar musical instincts. We’re inspired by the same things,” Zardoya says. “When we wrote ‘Back to You,’ it felt like the stars were aligning—the melody just came out of nowhere. We were each in our own creative zones, and before we knew it, we had a complete song.” Interestingly, they later discovered that the planets had literally been aligned that night.

A week before the album’s release, Zardoya hosted an elaborate listening party for fans at Blithewold Garden on Bard College’s campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. “I really care about attention to detail in world-building,” she tells me. “I wanted people to experience the album with all their senses.”

After a quick Metro-North ride to Poughkeepsie, I step into the gothic garden of her dreams—like a party co-hosted by Mary Shelley and Emerald Fennell. Candelabras flicker beside towering arrangements of deep calla lilies, with stacks of shortbread cookies nearby.Towering six-inch sandwiches and vegetable bouquets set the scene. As a final touch, guests—each given a CD player loaded with the new album—pose for tintype photos and press wildflowers into keepsakes. The entire experience seamlessly reflects the world of Melt: textured, whimsical, romantic, and surreal, embodying Zardoya’s vision for her bold new chapter. “I’m just excited for people to get to know me in a different way,” she says with a smile.

Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about María Zardoyas latest project reflecting its described rich atmospheric and subtly shadowy nature

General Beginner Questions

1 Who is María Zardoya
María Zardoya is a singer songwriter and the lead vocalist of the dream popshoegaze band The Marías She is known for her sultry ethereal vocals and cinematic sound

2 What is the name of her latest project
The specific name of the latest project would need to be confirmed as this is a hypothetical FAQ It could be a new album EP or single

3 What does it mean for music to be atmospheric
It means the music creates a strong mood or a sense of place often using reverb layered sounds and textures that make you feel immersed in it like youre in a specific environment

4 What is a subtly shadowy sound
It describes a mood that is dark mysterious or melancholic but not aggressive or overtly scary Its more like a hint of sadness or intrigue woven into the music

5 Is this project similar to her work with The Marías
Yes it likely shares the dreamy lush qualities of The Marías but as a solo project it might explore a more personal and distinct sonic palette that is entirely her unique creation

Deeper Dive Creative Questions

6 How does she create such a rich and layered sound
She likely uses techniques like layering multiple vocal tracks incorporating lush string or synth arrangements and employing studio effects like reverb and delay to build depth

7 What are the common themes in the lyrics of this project
Based on the description you can expect themes of introspection desire nostalgia love and melancholy all wrapped in poetic and evocative imagery

8 What makes this project entirely her unique creation
While influenced by dream pop and shoegaze this project probably pushes her personal artistic vision further perhaps by experimenting with new instruments production styles or more autobiographical songwriting

9 Whats a good song to start with if Im new to this style
Look for the lead single or the track that has the most traction These are usually designed to be the most accessible