Over lunch in Williamsburg, María Zardoya —namesake and lead vocalist for the indie-pop band the Marías—is every bit as warm and effervescent as her music. Sliding into a small booth, we start chatting like old friends catching up after a whirlwind year—and that it really has been for Zardoya.

To sum it up: In 2024, the Marías released their second studio album, Submarine , just after Zardoya and the band’s drummer, Josh Conway, had ended their long-term relationship. The split left not only fans wondering whether the Marías would continue, but Zardoya as well.

The Marías are, indeed, still together, from that moment of uncertainty came Zardoya’s new, parallel solo project, Not for Radio—and an album, Melt , out today. Not for Radio represents a creative reset born from heartbrea

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