The Marías is an LA-based band centered around Puerto Rico-born, Atlanta-raised lead singer María Zardoya and drummer/producer Josh Conway. After meeting by chance during one of Zardoya’s performances, the pair began writing music together and eventually became a couple. Their creative and personal relationship led to the formation of the four-member band the Marías in 2016. The band’s name is derived from Zardoya’s first name in an apparent nod to María Zardoya representing the band’s artistic identity.

The Marías is quickly becoming one of the hottest must-see bands out there. To celebrate the release of their second album, “Submarine,” they kicked off a tour of the same name last year. From June through November, they toured major cities across the US, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the UK. The tour was a major success, with tickets selling out across the board and creating a momentum that carried over to music festivals this year. Festivals have had a tendency to shine the spotlight on major acts making their long-awaited comebacks lately. While the Marías isn’t a headliner yet, their name appears right at the top of the lineup despite their relative infancy.

That includes at major events like Coachella this past April and the upcoming Lollapalooza in late July. The band has also confirmed they’ll be extending their “Submarine Tour.” Additional dates have been added for the US between July and September, during which they’ll also be playing festivals like Hinterland, Shaky Knees, and All Things Go. Their tireless touring and release schedule isn’t something that just happened overnight. The groundwork they’ve steadily been laying since 2016, helped along by having their finger on the cultural pulse, has become the foundation of their rise to prominence. Check out the selection of five quintessential songs below for a primer on the Marías to get yourself up to speed.

“Cariño”
One of the most striking things about the Marías is the way they seamlessly switch back and forth between English and Spanish. More than just a nod to María Zardoya’s Latin heritage, this choice adds depth to the stories their songs tell. A prime example is “Cariño,” a track off their second EP, “Superclean Vol. II,” released in 2018. The song is pure and simple, but a beautiful and powerful love letter at the same time. The music video pairs Zardoya’s captivating presence with landscapes drenched in the imagery of Latin America, juxtaposed with the band members somewhat humorously styled as a modern mariachi band. The blurred linguistic lines keep the story ambiguous and the visuals are a vivid work of pure imagination.

“I Don’t Know You”
The Marías is celebrated not only for transcending geographic boundaries but also for producing a sound that transcends genre boundaries. They exist in a space somewhere between indie pop, psychedelic, and soul, with the occasional jazz and lounge influence. This isn’t some vague stylistic choice but rather the result of a wide range of distinct musical influences. Zardoya had cited inspirations like Norah Jones, Sade, Nina Simone, and Erykah Badu. At the same time, she’s mentioned Selena and Julieta Venegas, two US-born Latin artists just like her. Her musical partner, Josh Conway, has pointed to Tame Impala, D’Angelo, and the Strokes as influences.

This list perfectly explains the band’s signature sound—a blend of nostalgic yet modern, minimal yet sensually dreamy. By their 2017 debut EP, “Superclean Vol. I,” they already had a firm grasp of their musical identity. One standout track, “I Don’t Know You,” features a duet between Zardoya and Conway, telling the story of a relationship on the brink of collapse. Together, their magnetic voices deliver lines like, “There’s a weight in my bed / Where you laid and you said ….” The band has frequently expressed their love of cinema, and like a great film, their work is as much about what they reveal as what they don’t.

“Hush”
In 2021, the Marías released their first full studio album, “CINEMA.” While their two earlier EPs explored the band’s distinctive cultural- and genre-blending diversity, their debut album, as suggested right from the title, sought to elevate their music in terms of both ambition and polish. The album debuted at No. 176 on the “Billboard” 200 and earned the band two Grammy nominations, including Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

The lead single “Hush” gained traction on radio, rising to No. 33 on the Alternative Airplay chart. It also showcased Zardoya’s gift for captivating listeners even within more conventional genre restraints. But the album isn’t confined to alternative music alone. Another hit song, “Un Millón,” mixes in reggaeton rhythms and resonated deeply in Latin markets, once again proving the band’s potential for broader mainstream appeal.

“Otro Atardecer” (Bad Bunny ft. the Marías)
The narrative the Marías built up around themselves leading up to their debut album took a leap into a new dimension with their collaboration with superstar Bad Bunny. In 2022, the band teamed up with him for “Otro Atardecer,” featured on his hit album “Un Verano Sin Ti.” Thanks to this track, the Marías solidified their position in Latin music markets spanning the US and Latin America. “Otro Atardecer” became their first “Billboard” Hot 100 hit, peaking at No. 49.

But the success wasn’t merely from working with a superstar. The Marías had already demonstrated their unique musical vision, rooted in bilingual and bicultural artistry, while proving their versatility in popular genres like alternative and reggaeton. Because of this, they’ve carved out a rare space for themselves at the intersection of US indie bands and modern Latin music. If the Marías benefitted from their collaboration with Bad Bunny, it’s equally true that Bad Bunny needed what the Marías brought to the table—something the band reaffirmed through their recent collaboration with Selena Gomez and benny blanco on “Ojos Tristes.”

“No One Noticed”
Finally, we arrive at the Marías’ second and latest album, “Submarine.” Released in May 2024, the album is emotionally influenced by the breakup between Zardoya and Conway, though they remain musical collaborators. “Submarine” debuted at No. 17 on the “Billboard” 200, marking a new milestone for the band. Among its tracks, “No One Noticed” took the world by storm, fueled by its popularity on TikTok. The song’s melancholy, dreamy vibe has been used in countless sad shorts. Its streaming numbers really skyrocketed after Billie Eilish posted an Instagram story singing along to it. Interestingly, both “Submarine” and Eilish’s album “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” are indirectly connected through their use of water imagery. Ultimately, “No One Noticed” peaked at No. 22 on the “Billboard” Hot 100, becoming the Marías’ biggest hit to date.

The Marías has described “Submarine” as the conclusion of a trilogy that includes their debut EPs as one series plus “CINEMA.” With their recently released single “Back To Me,” though, it seems they’re already setting the stage for their next chapter. Their upcoming tour stops and festival appearances won’t merely extend the success of their 2024 tour but may offer a glimpse into what the band’s next decade could look like. They were one of highlights at Coachella this year, and they’re yet another reason to look forward to Lollapalooza.