THE MARIAS INTERVIEW

THE MARIAS INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW BY CASSIE HICKS

PHOTO BY BETHANY VARGAS

At this point you’ve probably heard of the Marías. Based out of Los Angeles, CA, the band consists of Maria, Josh Conway, Eddy James, and Jesse Perlman. The Marías’ music is best described as the perfect combination of ethereal dream-pop expertly dappled with jazz elements, perfectly setting the scene for a long drive, a futuristic speak-easy, or old fashioned stargazing.

When we sat down to talk with the band it became apparent that although they’ve secured their throne in the dream-pop music scene, they’re still as down to earth as ever.

Maria and Josh tell us over a zoom call last May that the two met about 5 years ago and began writing music on their own. A little further down the line, they made the (fortunate) decision to form a band. That was when they partnered up with Eddy and Jesse. They tell us then that they’ve all always had a deep interest in music. Josh in particular talks about how he grew up “surrounded by the music scene,” which played a big part in his interest in pursuing music. Then in a mundane twist, Josh tells us how when he switched phone carriers and got a deal for a keyboard, he was inspired to start making music of his own.

The band’s creative process differs from time to time. They told us, “sometimes we use photos as inspiration, other times we start with a chord progression or beat, or on the guitar, depending on the mood.” This artistic open- mindedness clearly has an influence on the music they produce, their songs often perfectly capturing paradisiacal emotions and moments. When asked their dream artist to open for, they shared that Radiohead, Tame Impala, and Beach House would be their top choice. They also shared that they draw inspiration from The Strokes, Phoenix, D’Angelo, and Erykah Badu, and are also huge fans of Billie Eilish. Marías fans should be sure to check out some of their favorite songs, including Here, There and Everywhere, I’ll Be Seeing You, Exit Music (For a Film), and anything from the In Rainbows album. Even with the influence of whimsy from other dreamy voices, The Marias always maintain the uniqueness of their beloved dreamy sequences and airy vocals.

If you’re looking for a place to start on their brilliant discography, they have reccomendations for their favorites: “it would probably be Only in my Dreams, Basta Ya, or Déjate Llevar.”

For new artists starting out, they urge, “just write. Keep writing. Experiment with different approaches each song you write, learn an instrument. You don’t have to play but I think it’s important to know how. It depends what you want to go into. Don’t stop.”