The Bay Area music scene is set to warm up this winter with María Zardoya's solo debut, Not for Radio. The Grammy-nominated frontwoman of the indie-pop band the Marías is slated to showcase her latest musical endeavor with a series of intimate performances at Oakland's Fox Theater from January 5-7, 2026. Not for Radio is a striking departure from the lush, alternative pop sound for which Zardoya and her band are known, promising listeners a more subdued and introspective experience.
Zardoya aims to primarily create a space to tell personal stories, one not confined by expectations to gain commercial traction. According to a San Francisco Chronicle report, the project's 10 tracks are said to feel like stepping into "an alternate reality" for the singer. Lyrics that resemble diary entries and a minimalist production style signal a clear intent to veer away from radio-friendly pop sensibilities and instead embrace a confessional approach to songwriting.
This will be the first opportunity for Bay Area fans to hear live tracks from Zardoya's solo album, "Melt," which is scheduled for release on Atlantic Records on October 10. The title feels appropriately chosen, as the music is described as a collection of intimate, psychedelic ballads that emerged from a period of reflection and transformation. Crafting these songs was something Zardoya took seriously, evident in the care to quickly follow a more secluded path away from her band's limelight.
The project originated in the quiet solitude of Upstate New York during a collaborative and creatively fertile retreat at the home studio of artist-producer Sam Evian. "Musically, I had so much more I wanted to say," Zardoya told the Oakland venue's website in a statement that underscores the artistic compulsion behind her solo project. Zardoya deliberately sought an environment far removed from her usual stomping grounds to bravely let herself be exposed to a different climate and community, which has clearly fed into the raw and revealing nature of her latest work.
In addition to her upcoming solo venture, fans can rest assured that Zardoya remains a prominent figure with The Marías. They had quite a year with their 2024 album "Submarine," which climbed to No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and a single peaking at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Alongside their success, Zardoya has enhanced her profile with collaborations featured on a Grammy-nominated album by Bad Bunny from 2022, and more recently with a 2025 hit single alongside Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco.
For more information and tickets, visit the Fox Theater's website at The Fox Oakland.
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