The Marias’s María Zardoya On Her “1950s Art Deco Gothic Bride” Valentino Look at the 2025 VMAs

The Marias, the witchy, bilingual American indie pop band has been having quite the year. From Coachella in April to last night’s MTV Video Music Awards, the group, which includes María Zardoya, Josh Conway, Jesse Perlman, and Edward James, has swiftly gone from an if you know, you know favorite to a sensation nominated for Best New Artist.

“It’s funny, because we’ve been a band for almost 10 years!” shares Zardoya, the band’s lead singer and its eponym, via email. “But we are new to so many,” she continued. Having worked with Bad Bunny in 2022 and opened for Billie Eilish late last year, that certainly rings true—the band has recently been exposed to an entirely new, and arguably more mainstream, audience. “Being recognized and noticed for our work is a rewarding feeling,” Zardoya says. They did not not take home the moon man, but fear not. “We don’t do it for the recognition,” Zardoya assures. “I feel so proud of where we are now.”

Jesse Perlman, Josh Conway, María Zardoya and Edward James at the 2025 VMAs, all in Valentino.

Noam Galai/Getty Images

Zardoya and the band were outfitted by Valentino last night, styled by Courtney Trop and Valeria Semushina. Zardoya’s sheath was a particular standout at the awards show. “[It’s] the most romantic gown,” she says of the look. “It has all of my favorite textures—velvet, lace, silk. I feel like a 1950s Art Deco gothic bride. I’ll be waiting for my groom.”

“I’ll always think of us as the little indie band booking our own shows at bars around the city,” Zardoya continues. Yet with such a massive year comes a promising future. “Evolution, sonically and visually,” is what Zardoya says she’s looking forward to the most. That and the new album she and the band are working on: “I love the direction we’re moving in,” she adds.

There’s also the matter of Zardoya’s upcoming solo album, which lands next month. “Not for Radio is the truest form of me individually,” she says, “sonically and visually, it’s who I am to my core. October can’t come soon enough.” But no need to worry, The Marías fans, nothing’s changing for the band: “The boys and I are also closer than ever before, so I’m excited for whatever the future holds that we get to experience together as a little family,” Zardoya says. Scroll through to join Zardoya as she got ready for the big night.