If you’ve spent any time drifting away to the hazy, velvet-smooth sounds of "Only in My Dreams" or "Hush," you probably felt the chemistry. It wasn't just a vibe. It was the actual, real-life love story of Maria and Josh The Marias (aka Maria Zardoya and Josh Conway).
For years, they were the ultimate indie-pop power couple. They met at a gig in Los Angeles at the Kibitz Room—Josh was doing the sound, Maria was on stage—and basically started writing songs together that same night. They lived together, shared a dog named Lucy, and built a band that felt like a secret club for the hopelessly romantic.
Then things changed.
If you're looking for a messy, public tabloid blowout, you won't find it here. These two are way too cool for that. But the romantic chapter of Maria and Josh The Marias did officially close, and it’s shifted the entire DNA of the band in ways that are honestly kind of beautiful.
The Breakup That Nobody Saw Coming (Until the Music Started)
They were together for about eight years. That’s a lifetime in "band years." In 2022, they decided to call it quits on the romance side of things. It wasn't an overnight decision, and it definitely wasn't easy. For a while, the band actually went quiet.
Fans started noticing the shift. The social media posts were different. The "mom and dad" energy of the group felt a little more distant.
Maria has been pretty open about it since then. She described that period as "survival mode." Imagine having to go into a recording studio and pour your heart out into a microphone while the guy who just broke your heart is the one sitting behind the glass, adjusting the levels.
That is exactly how their 2024 album, Submarine, was born.
Josh has said that when they first split, they weren't even sure if the band could keep going. It was a "delicate time," he told reporters. They had to figure out who they were as people without being tethered to each other 24/7.
How Submarine Changed Everything
Most breakup albums are about the "ex." Submarine is a little different. It’s more about the feeling of being underwater—that muffled, isolated sensation where you can’t quite hear the rest of the world.
The track "Run Your Mouth" is a huge standout here. Maria admitted she wrote it during a time when she was being "conflict avoidant." She didn't want to fight; she just wanted everything to be okay. But as anyone who’s been in a long-term relationship knows, avoiding the fight usually just makes the silence louder.
The New Band Dynamic
It’s not just the Maria and Josh The Marias show anymore. One interesting side effect of the breakup is that the other band members—Jesse Perlman and Edward James—actually got more involved.
Before, it was very much a duo-centric project. Now, it feels like a full four-piece band.
- Jesse (Guitar): His riffs are more integrated into the songwriting now.
- Edward (Keys): The atmospheric layers are deeper than they were on Cinema.
- The Collaboration: Josh still produces, but the "gatekeeping" of the creative process has loosened up.
Maria's Solo Era: Not For Radio
If you're keeping up with them in 2026, you know Maria has branched out. She launched a solo project called Not For Radio and released an album titled Melt in late 2025.
People panicked. They thought, "This is it, the band is over."
But Maria was quick to shut that down on Instagram, saying, "The band will be here forever."
Josh is actually her biggest fan for the solo stuff. He’s been seen commenting on her posts, telling everyone how good the new music is. It's a level of maturity that’s honestly rare in the music industry. Usually, when the lead singer goes solo after a breakup with the drummer, it’s a total disaster. These two? They’re just evolving.
Why Their Story Still Matters
We're obsessed with Maria and Josh The Marias because they represent a very specific type of modern maturity. They proved that you can lose a partner but keep a collaborator.
The music they’re making now—like the 2025 singles "Back To Me" and "Nobody New"—deals with the aftermath of moving on. "Back To Me" is particularly heavy; it’s about that weird sting you feel when an ex finally moves on to someone new, even if you don't actually want them back. It’s that raw, human ego stuff that hits hard.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re still mourning the "couple" version of the band, here is how to appreciate the new era:
- Listen to 'Submarine' as a Chronology: Start from the beginning and listen for the shifts in Maria's voice. You can hear her move from "avoiding conflict" to "finding herself."
- Follow Not For Radio: If you want to hear Maria's most unfiltered, gothic-romantic thoughts, her solo work is where she’s playing with sounds that don't always fit the "Marías" brand.
- Watch the Live Shows: The chemistry on stage is different now. It’s less "lovey-dovey" and more "musical powerhouse." The respect between Josh and Maria is palpable, even if they aren't going home together after the set.
The era of Maria and Josh The Marias as a romantic item is over, but their creative bond seems stronger than ever. They’ve traded codependency for individual growth, and honestly? The music is better for it.