Limiting Puerto Rico’s musical identity to reggaeton means missing out on much of the island’s soundscape. While the success of artists like Bad Bunny and Tainy takes center stage, the soundtrack of this Caribbean corner is also shaped by other projects that spread Puerto Rican culture even in exile. This is the case of The Marías, led by María Zardoya, a Puerto Rican who found her ideal collaborators in Los Angeles to blend the psychedelic flow of Khruangbin, the melodic instincts of Kali Uchis, the laid-back groove of TOPS, and Cuco’s DIY charm, creating a final mix that captures all the warmth of the Californian golden hour.
The music of Josh Conway, Jesse Perlman, Edward James, Gabe Steiner, and Zardoya as The Marías could be tagged with many labels (psycho-soul, bedroom funk, lounge pop?), yet it would still be hard to define. This mystery is precisely what’s making their project resonate more with each step. This fall, they’ll return to Barcelona and Madrid to present Submarine, their second album: on October 29, they’ll perform at Razzmatazz and on October 30 at La Riviera.
More information and tickets here
