María Zardoya and her Cinematic Music Experience
The Marías by Bethany Vargas
When María Zardoya and Josh Conway founded their indie-pop band in Los Angeles three years ago, there was no question that the fusion of Zardoya’s talented musical edginess and Conway’s eclectic production skills would create a group so versatile that it defies every mold of a musical genre. Joined by Jesse Perlman on guitar and Edward James on keyboards, the four of them make up The Marías - the next indie band you’re about to fall in love with.
Fronted by Zardoya who is often creatively inspired by her Puerto Rican roots and music, The Marías have created a musical space of their own. Known for writing and performing hypnotizing songs in both English and Spanish, the band has amassed over 5 million monthly listeners and hundreds of millions of streams from both audiences.
Having just released their latest album, Cinema, The Marías bring to light all the ways that music induces visual imagery into listeners’ heads. Inspired by classic films and the directors that Zardoya grew up watching, songs like “Hush,” and “Un Millión” are just small snippets that make up a collection of riveting soundtracks and scores. From sonic moments of club dancing to instrumental pieces that symbolize walking down empty streets, The Marías create a cinematic and musical masterpiece all at the same time.
To reveal the inspiration and creative process behind Cinema, María Zardoya spoke with Amplify Her Voice about her mental health, gender barriers in creative crediting, and why it’s important for her to sing in Spanish.
What were your musical influences like growing up?
I listened to a lot of Latin music growing up… I’d say most were female artists! I listened to Julieta Venegas, Carla Morrison, Vanessa Zamora… and also a lot of Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill.
Who are some artists that influence your laidback, pop-infused sound?
Tame Impala, Radiohead for sure, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu. Those are probably the main ones!
How much does your culture or heritage influence your sound and artistry?
I think it influences everything about my artistry because it’s who I am. I grew up listening to a lot of music in both English and Spanish and speaking both languages in my home and with my friends. So, when it came time to write music, the first song I wrote was in Spanish and the second song I wrote was in English and it just kind of set the tone for the rest of my writing experiences.
Why is it important for you to touch base with your roots and sing in Spanish?
It’s a big part of who I am and I’m also very proud of my culture and where I came from. I want the rest of the world to experience the beauty of my culture and of our music.
You prioritize self-care while on tour. At Amplify Her Voice, we’ve been trying to talk a lot more about the balance between mental health and touring. What things do you find most helpful in your self-care routine while being on the road?
Taking time to experience nature. No matter what city we are in, whether it’s going on a little bike ride around a lake, or visiting a park, or everybody playing soccer. Being in nature helps recollect your thoughts and mind. Also, spending time alone. I love them, but on tour, I’m constantly surrounded by all the guys and at shows, we really give everything we have to our fans and talk to them after the show… it’s a lot of being surrounded by people, so I make sure to give myself enough time on my own.
Have you faced any challenges being a woman in the music industry, and if so, what keeps you motivated to make music despite the roadblocks that come your way?
Yes, I think one of the main things I’ve seen with women in any industry is that whenever a woman is collaborating with a man, people are very quick to assume that the man did all the work. I’ve seen that in my experience in the industry and have talked to a lot of my girlfriends who have had experiences with it in film and directing. I think it’s something that is going to take some time for society to sort of diminish those thoughts. I think there are different levels of that in each person and their experiences. I think even some women have a level of it within themselves. Even though things are changing, I think we are still a very patriarchal society.
Do you have any advice for young women or girls wanting to work in music, especially those who would love to break through in music singing in their native languages?
I’d say protect yourself; you’re really the only person who knows what you want and knows the vision. I think one of the most important things is communicating that vision and being strong, and not letting the industry norms and society dictate your value as an artist and as a woman in the industry.
What do you hope listeners will take away after listening to Cinema?
I hope they are able to understand feelings within themselves that maybe they weren’t able to before. From start to finish, we wanted the album to create a little movie inside listeners’ heads – I hope at the end of the album they’re able to create visuals in their head that we’re able to inspire whatever it is that they are working on or want to work on.