María Zardoya opens door to her alternate reality on ‘Melt’
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corporation and Nice Life Recording Company
María Zardoya, best known as the ethereal voice behind The Marías, took a leap of her own with Melt, her debut solo album. Released on Oct. 10 under the artist name Not for Radio, the 10-track record drifts through R&B, jazz and alternative pop, blending cinematic production with intimate lyricism. Zardoya wants to welcome people into an entire world she built — an “alternate reality” where she can let intimate, deeply felt ideas about love, loss and letting go truly unfold. The result is a deep exhale, peeling away from The Marías’ polished dream pop and moving toward something more personal and untamed.
Melt tells a story of evolution. Zardoya doesn’t abandon the lush soundscapes that made her famous — she distills them. The production feels handcrafted, filled with foggy synths, soft horns and strings that hum beneath her delicate voice. Where The Marías once built worlds of glossy perfection, Melt builds one of imperfection, exploring solitude and longing.
However, The Marías remain together, fully supportive of Zardoya as she explores new layers of her own sound and identity.
“don’t worry, the band will be here forever. i love making music as the marías, and nothing will ever change that,” Zardoya said in an Instagram post. “i wanted to challenge myself to make a project that resonated with me in a different way.”
“Moment” floats with a jazz tempo and glittering keys as she murmurs, “But this moment will change and I’ll never be all yours.” The track glows with heartbreak and surrender. “Not the Only One” introduces crisp drums and dreamy layering that expand her vocal reach, while “Vueltas” blooms with sweeping strings and Latin warmth, echoing the aching sincerity of classic boleros. “Slip” unfolds with hypnotic rhythm, then drops into a breathing production break that feels like silence becoming sound.
Even when Zardoya pares everything down, the emotion never dies. “Back to You” opens with a gothic piano unraveling into whispered reflection. “Water on Your Nose” captures quiet devotion as she sings, “I don’t have to try to love you, it comes easy to me.” The simplicity of her delivery turns the line into a love spell.
Jolting the record’s serenity with a flash of grunge guitar layered over rainfall samples, “Puddles” provides a rare moment of grit that keeps the album grounded.
Through Melt, the album production floats gently and the lyricism leans on meaning and mood, perfectly blending as one. Zarydoya’s production instincts shine through every horn, string and harmony, being intentional and guiding listeners through her self-made fog.
While Melt captivates you into Zarydoya’s world through its writing and composition, a few tracks could benefit from more dynamic shifts or bolder storytelling to fully match its emotional ambitions. With Melt, Zardoya builds her own world — mystical, moody and refreshingly vulnerable. It captures a woman stepping out of a band’s shadow and into her own creative light. The album doesn’t demand attention; it earns it quietly through honesty and sounds that linger long after it fades.
4 swans out of 5
This article was written for The Daily Texan the official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin
