María Zardoya

María Zardoya is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the indie pop band The Marías. Her music, characterized by a bilingual, genre-blending sound drawing from dream pop, jazz, and Latin rhythms, has earned the band a devoted following and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Zardoya also maintains a successful solo career under the name Not for Radio, releasing her debut album Melt in October, which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, followed by the EP Bloom in April. Her distinctive, intimate, and cinematic style explores themes of identity, heartbreak, and cultural duality, resonating deeply with her fans.[edit]

María Zardoya, born on November 21, 1994, in Puerto Rico, spent her earliest years on the island before her family relocated to the mainland United States. She was raised in Snellville, Georgia, where her connection to music began at a very young age. Her father, who hailed from Spain, took the initiative to teach her how to play the guitar, igniting her passion for instrumental music. This early instruction quickly led her to explore songwriting, and she started composing her own pieces, initially expressing herself in Spanish before naturally transitioning to writing in English. As she progressed through high school, Zardoya continued to refine her musical talents, actively taking singing lessons and lending her voice to the school choir, further solidifying her foundational skills.

Upon graduating from high school, Zardoya harbored ambitions of pursuing music professionally and made the significant decision to move to Los Angeles. This was a bold step, as she arrived in the sprawling city with only one familiar friend there. To support herself while chasing her dreams, she secured an agency job. A truly pivotal moment in her early career journey arrived when she participated in a Halloween costume contest organized by her agency, where she unexpectedly won a substantial $5,000 prize. This financial boost proved to be a critical turning point; she strategically used the winnings to purchase a car, providing her with the necessary independence and means to fully immerse herself in the competitive Los Angeles music scene.

In Los Angeles, Zardoya began to establish herself by performing in various small bars, often going by the stage name Zara Sky as she developed her unique artistic voice. It was during one of these intimate performances, specifically at the renowned Kibitz Room located within Canter's Deli, that a fateful encounter occurred. She met drummer Josh Conway, who was working as the sound engineer for the evening. Their connection was immediate and profound, marked by a shared musical sensibility. They started writing songs together without delay, quickly discovering a powerful creative synergy that propelled their collaboration forward. This dynamic partnership soon formalized into the creation of their indie pop band, The Marías. [edit]

The Marías released their debut EP Superclean Vol. I in 2017, followed by Superclean Vol. II in 2018. Their lush, cinematic sound caught on quickly. The debut album Cinema arrived in 2021 to critical praise. In 2022, Bad Bunny featured the band on Otro Atardecer from his blockbuster Un Verano Sin Ti, a track that has since racked up over 450 million Spotify streams. That same year, Zardoya and the band opened for Halsey on the Love and Power Tour.

In 2024, The Marías released Submarine, an album that chronicled the end of Zardoya's relationship with Conway. The record earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2026. Zardoya also launched her solo project Not for Radio, dropping the album Melt in October 2025 and the EP Bloom in April 2026. [edit]

Zardoya is known for her vintage-inspired fashion and has been called a style icon. Her music blends dreamy psychedelic pop, jazz, and Latin influences with bilingual lyrics. TIME recognized her as a Latino Leader in 2024. Fans connect with her honest songwriting about love, loss, and cultural identity. She often describes her work as existing in a liminal space between cultures and genres. [edit]

María Zardoya commands a global audience that spans continents, driven by the cinematic allure of her music and the intimate resonance of her solo work. Despite this widespread cultural footprint, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated her profile without assigning a placement in the published rankings. She currently holds no position within the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list, reflecting a status of high recognition that has not yet crystallized into a specific numerical rank. Her fanbase remains a vibrant, organized community primarily identified through digital spaces like the r/theMarias subreddit rather than a formal collective noun. While fans deeply engage with the band's psychedelic dream-pop aesthetic and the unique lore of a group named after its lead singer, no official name documents their identity. The mythology surrounding Zardoya is less about viral hysteria and more defined by professional milestones and personal narratives, from the band's Grammy nomination to her recent solo pivot with *Melt*. These moments anchor her reputation in a space where artistic integrity meets mainstream success, even as she awaits a formal ranking placement.[edit]

Her musical journey began with a bilingual duality; she wrote her first song in Spanish and her second in English. Before achieving global fame, she performed under the stage name Zara Sky. A $5,000 victory in a Halloween costume contest provided the funds for her pivotal move to Los Angeles. Growing up, she immersed herself in Pedro Almodóvar films, which deeply shaped her artistic vision. The band The Marías bears her own name, a tribute to her central role. She also co-wrote and performed on Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's track Ojos Tristes. Legends of her resilience persist, particularly the story of how her breakup with drummer Josh Conway became the catalyst for The Marías' breakthrough sound. This personal turmoil fueled a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Recent chapters include her 2025 solo debut *Melt*, which explored darker themes of heartbreak, and a somber 2026 tribute to her niece Victoria Zardoya, who passed away and inspired an organ donation honor walk.[edit]

Zardoya's father is from Spain and her mother is from Puerto Rico. Her mother was the first in her family to earn a college degree and a master's degree, working as a teacher while raising kids. Her father tried various business ventures, some unsuccessful, but kept going. Zardoya has said both parents defied odds by moving to a country where they didn't speak the language. [edit]

Zardoya is closely associated with her bandmates in The Marías: drummer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman, and keyboardist Edward James. She has collaborated with Bad Bunny, Tainy, Young Miko, and Selena Gomez. She opened for Halsey on tour. [edit]

Zardoya met Josh Conway in 2016 at the Kibitz Room in Los Angeles, and they began a romantic relationship while forming The Marías. Their partnership lasted several years, but the band's 2024 album Submarine documents the breakup. Zardoya has spoken about the challenge of balancing public openness with privacy, citing the Spanish saying about washing dirty laundry at home. As of 2026, she is not publicly known to be in a relationship. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, María Zardoya's net worth in 2026 stands at $1 Million. This financial standing stems from diverse revenue streams anchored by her work with The Marías. Album sales, extensive touring schedules, and streaming royalties contribute significantly, highlighted by the band's feature on Bad Bunny's Otro Atardecer, which has surpassed 450 million streams. Her solo project, Not for Radio, further bolsters her earnings with the album Melt reaching number 13 on the Billboard 200. Additional income flows from her songwriting credits and potential endorsement opportunities.[edit]