Adam KennyThe Marias have become a house name when it comes to moody, groovy indie pop. In 2024, the band went onto release their second album Submarine which went onto become one of the most beloved albums of the year. Tracks like “No One Noticed” and “Sienna” going onto have hundreds of millions of listens. Already a beloved band, Submarine helped carve their name in indie pop stardom.
Frontwoman and singer for the band Maria Zardoya, the Maria, announced a new body of work called Melt under the name Not For Radio. A record that continues on what the band does exceptionally well already, but with a personal flare and honesty.
Melting in love
The sound of Melt is not too different or experimental from what Maria has previously done on Submarine. Psychedelic, aquatic, indie pop with some hints of jazz. What makes all of this come together wonderfully however, is Maria’s voice. She has such an ethereal grace to her vocals. Maria sounds the like wisp of a spirit slowly serenading you to sleep as you yearn terribly. Hypnotic, addictive and utterly intoxicating. Her vocals on this album are wonderful. Songs like “My Turn” have a flow between what I can only describe as Maria scream whispering the lyrics whilst gorgeous guitars provide the perfect accent to the track. It’s the perfect mixture of alternative pop and dream pop.
Hazy loved, smoky backgrounds
Songs on this album sound like something old romantic French movie from the 80s. A haze covers the music from the cigarettes of bespoke lovers. Teetering pianos and synth drums echoing throughout the halls of their apartment. It’s difficult to not get romantic when listening to the likes of “Swan”. Singing about these gorgeous animals that stay together for life, intertwined in each others existence. Much of the time, never having another partner. A sadness and depressing reality shows itself this track. Maria wanting to be never not be with somebody, being so scared to even lose a grain of sand. Any loss is a dreadful one. “Swan” peters out into this harrowing realisation. When Maria is away from this person, she’s away from herself. Losing her own self, happiness and wonder.
Yearning in grief
I’m quite confident in saying that I haven’t seen somebody so good at yearning since maybe Jeff Buckley. Maria has such a striking and thoughtful love in her music. She puts you into this day dream about every sort of love. Unrequited love, equally adoring, lost love, even more lost lovers. There’s a constant regression in her confessions where the only finality is the loss of love. “Back To You” conveys this conundrum quite a bit. Maria finds herself going through the cosmos trying to find ways back to whom she wants the most. Be it by being joined in another life. Learning how to fly, defy the impossible. Except the one thing that is truly impossible, and that is to be together.
Some things are best kept for yourself
Melt contains a rawness and honesty that Maria could only on a solo project. Nothing is holding her back from expressing her own thoughts. Far be it to say The Marias are holding her back, but I don’t think anybody would want to use a band (that her ex is apart) to go through the more raw parts of love. Not everything needs to be a group project. Submarine had a wonderful collaboration to it where it showed even though a love has met its end, it had given them so much. Melt, however, deals with the personal grief and shutdown it can cause. Sometimes finding yourself meandering into the same thoughts over and over again. Rawness that can only be done by yourself.
Overall
Melt is a really cool album. Production is incredibly tight. It doesn’t experiment as much as previous work that Maria has been apart of, but for a solo project it’s great. The lyrics, the composition and production of tracks with this awesome blend of dream pop and pyschedlics just works so well. Maria’s vocals are something I could listen to all day and night. Through the tough times and great times. A celebration of what it meant to mourn love. An absolute treat of music.
