As I have mentioned so many times on this blog, TikTok is such a great way for up-and-coming music artists to get exposed to the world. This app has helped propel the careers of so many popular artists today; when an artist goes viral on there, it can propel them into stardom and take their careers to new heights. Now most of the time, artists go viral on that app because of some attachment to a single of theirs. Sometimes this attachment comes through a meme or a joke on the app; even though the circumstances around their virality may be humorous, the talent of that artist makes them stick with their new audience. Other times, though, artists go viral for something about them other than their music. Weirdly this is the case for the rising Indie-Pop group The Marias. Recently, I have been seeing many videos on TikTok of the seemingly eccentric live shows put on by The Marias. I kept seeing memes of them running out onto the stage and hyping up the crowd in an aggressive manner. There have been many videos that have gone viral of The Marias jumping around to music by artists like Ken Carson and Playboi Carti. Now, I knew that their music was obviously not like this, but I have to admit these memes are funny and made me want to check The Marias out. From their persona and their stage presence, I imagined the music by The Marias to be Industrial or Punk sounding. When I looked them up recently, I realized this is so far from the case. To be honest, the difference between the music they make and the music on these TikTok videos about them is pretty funny because it is so different. But I also have to say that I really enjoyed the music that I heard from The Marias when I looked it up and realized I had to look into them even more. The Marias released their debut album CINEMA in 2021 to rave reviews. It was praised for its unique, soulful sound, which set them apart from their peers(especially in the Latin Music scene, in which they are heavily involved due to their Puerto Rican heritage). The Marias released their second album, Submarine, earlier this year. Critics and Indie music fans online praised this album, and it is starting to receive a bit more notoriety due to the memes surrounding it. Due to how much I enjoyed the limited sample of music I have heard by them so far and due to the reception of Submarine, I have decided to go back and review this record for myself. With that being said, here is how I feel about The Marias’ Submarine. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from Submarine, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole!
The Marias get this record going on a Dark and groovy note with the some ‘Ride.’ This track certainly leans into the title of the record. The filter that is put on this instrumental(which is extremely prevalent at the beginning of the song) makes the song sound like it is literally being played underwater. When I put this song on for the first time, I immediately thought of The Gorillaz. Now, if you know me, you know about my love for that group, so obviously, I was hooked. Everything about this instrumental is metallic and dystopian. The melody is pretty gritty, and the beat is very chunky. The vocals on ‘Ride’ are almost indistinguishable, sounding like they are being sung by a sad robot. I really like how these vocals sit on this instrumental, as it adds to the track’s Orwellian feeling. On ‘Ride,’ The Marias are introducing the listener to the journey of this record, asserting that they are literally taking the listener on a ride. ‘Hamptons’ has a much lighter and brighter of a sound than the song that precedes it. There is still a bit of a melancholy tone to this melody, but it still feels more positive than the one of a song that precedes it. This melody is super interesting to me. Somehow, it feels light and heavy at the same time. The basis of the synths that drive this melody are pretty full and dense. Some twinkling synths come in and out and are super feathery, though. The complementary synths on top of that basis in the melody almost sound like bells; although they are pretty shiny sounding, they also sound kind of anxious. The beat for ‘Hamptons’ is super unique and hard to pinpoint. It almost feels like a weird DnB take on Reggaeton. The arrangement of the drums definitely makes me think of the music of the Caribbean, but the off-kilter pacing is similar to ambient Electronic music. The vocals on this track are so breathy and sweet, giving this song a pleasant element that makes it pop. On ‘Hamptons,’ The Marias are singing about falling in love with someone who lives a classier lifestyle than they do. They will do anything to get this person to want them to but do not think this person is into them in the same way. When I first started playing ‘Echo,’ I immediately downloaded it for my personal playlist. This one has me hooked from the start. ‘Echo’ has the kind of Futuristic Funk sound that I absolutely adore. The bassline for this one initially reminded me of Thundercat. This bassline is so funky and retro; it has the kind of tone that will give the stank face to anyone who loves old-school Funk or R&B. The synths that are put on top of this gritty bassline are very warm and sweet. I love how the grooviness of the bassline contrasts the shininess of the synths, as it gives ‘Echo’ such a cool texture. ‘Echo’ has a laid-back Poppy beat that fits the tranquil feeling of the melody so well. The way that this melody sits on top of this beat makes the song feel so full. The vocals on ‘Echo’ are just as entertaining as the instrumental. The airy nature of the vocals contrasts the deeper sound of the melody; this contrast makes the vocals hit so nicely. On ‘Echo,’ The Marias are singing about falling head over heels for someone and not being sure if they feel the same way. ‘Run Your Mouth’ is seemingly the biggest song by The Marias on this record so far. Not only is it the first song that pops up on TikTok when I search their music, but it is also their biggest song on Spotify so far from this record(significantly bigger than the other singles from the record). It is easy to see why so many people are attracted to this one from the start. Like ‘Echo,’ I downloaded this one almost immediately after hearing it because I enjoyed it so much. ‘Run Your Mouth’ makes me think of the Indie Synth Pop that was big at the beginning of the 2010s. The first two artists I thought of when turning this one are Tove Lo and Tegan & Sara. Like the first three tracks, there is an undeniably groovy bassline that drives this one. The synths that are put on top of this bassline are shimmering and vivid, which gives the song so much life. There is also a distorted guitar riff that comes in with a bit of a Latin Rock feel that gives the song texture. The drums on ‘Run Your Mouth’ are quick and springy; this is the kind of song that will get anyone dancing when it comes on because of its fun energy. The vocals on ‘Run Your Mouth’ are high-pitched and punchy. The vocals fit the energy of the instrumental so nicely and make it all the more enthralling. On ‘Run Your Mouth,’ The Marias are calling out an ex, telling them to look into their own faults instead of highlighting the faults they see in their partner.
After that brief jolt in energy, The Marias calm things down once again on ‘Real Life.’ This song has a Latin Jazz sound that is very warm and soothing. It has a bit of a Bossa Nova feeling, which I really dig. Like the first four songs, the melody is driven by a groovy Bassline. This Bassline is complemented by a sultry, Latin-esque guitar riff, as well as some synths with varying levels of distortion. The beat for ‘Real Life’ has an old-school Jazz Pop tempo which is so relaxing. As cool as this instrumental is, I would say the vocals are even better. The lead singer’s tone and timbre fit this track so well; she adds to the already balmy feeling of the track. On ‘Real Life,’ The Marias sing about a budding infatuation with a new partner. ‘Blur’ is another track with a retro Jazz-Pop sound, albeit a different kind than the one on the previous track. Instead of having a Latin Bossa Nova feel, this one has a bit more of a Motown feel. ‘Blur’ has the grittiest bassline out of any track on the record yet. The bassline that drives this track is so distorted and dirty that it almost makes me wonder if Thundercat had anything to do with its creation. I love the wonkiness of this bassline when it pops in and out, as it gives the track such an interesting texture. Towards the end of ‘Blur’(especially in the bridge), a bit more instrumentation comes in, giving the song a bit of a hard rock element for a bit that stands out. Vocally, ‘Blur’ really makes me think of Lana Del Rey. The way the vocals are delivered on this one has such a Lana feeling to them. These vocals fit the instrumental so nicely, as they contrast the tougher parts of the track and match up with the lighter parts well. On ‘Blur,’ The Marias sing about living in bliss and diving into a relationship they know will end up causing them problems. ‘Paranoia’ picks up the energy a bit. This one is not as high-key as ‘Run Your Mouth,’ but it is significantly more upbeat than pretty much any other song on the record. ‘Paranoia’ has a blissful Indie Pop sound that really makes me think of the early 2010s. When I hear this one, I think of artists like Tame Impala or even Glass Animals a bit. The melody for this track is so sunny and sweet; the guitar riff that drives this one makes me think of a breezy sunny morning; it makes me want to go on a bike ride on a trail by the river. The shimmering synths that come in and out add to the warm feeling of this song, making it feel like it is washing over me as a listener. Vocally, ‘Paranoia’ is probably the most low-key track on the record so far. In fact, I hardly pay attention to the vocals when I listen to it, but it does feel like they get drowned out a bit. On ‘Paranoia,’ The Marias are singing about how their partner keeps thinking that they are in love with someone else. This sentiment is annoying because all the lead singer wants to do is spend time with their partner. ‘Lejos De Ti’ has a sound that feels very similar to the one on ‘Blur.’ Sonically, these two songs match up very well. So much so, I feel like this song and ‘Paranoia’ maybe should have been switched around in the tracklist. There is a bit of a Psychedelic Indie Rock element to this track that is similar to ‘Paranoia.’ It is almost like a Psychedelic filter was put on top of the retro Pop-Rock sound we heard on ‘Blur.’ My favorite thing about this instrumental is the whooshing sound effects that are set behind the melody. These sound effects, especially when paired with some of the filtered synths behind this melody, make this song feel super ethereal. ‘Lejos De Ti’ is the first song that is completely in Spanish. I love how the singer delivers these Spanish vocals on ‘Lejos De Ti,’ as the beauty of that language adds to the atmospheric sound this song has. On ‘Lejos De Ti,’ The Marias long for their partner, expressing their love and admiration for this person and wondering how they are falling head over heels for them.
‘Love You Anyway’ brings back some of the more old-school Funk that was prevalent on the record before the last couple of songs. It fuses the Psychedelic Pop of songs like ‘Lejos De Ti’ and the retro R&B/Soul sound we get on songs like ‘Ride.’ I enjoy how these two styles of music mesh on ‘Love You Anyway,’ as it gives this one so much texture. ‘Love You Anyway’ has some grittiness in the bassline and some floatiness in the synths. The beat for ‘Love You Anyway’ feeds into the groovy feeling of this song nicely; the filter that comes onto the drums near the end of the track is just so funky. The vocals on ‘Love You Anyway’ are pretty pronounced; the vocal delivery and inflection give this one some pretty cool textures. On ‘Love You Anyway,’ The Marias sing about coming back to a person that they know has always loved them but have had a tumultuous time with. In the end, they know this person can be good for them. ‘Ay No Puedo’ is another track that has a very Latin Rock feeling to it. This is the kind of track one expects to hear while at a Caribbean Live Jazz/Rock bar or lounge. The instrumental for this one is very simple, yet also very effective. This melody consists of a groovy, Latin guitar riff that is complemented by a bassline and some light synths. This melody has the kind of tone that makes me want to Salsa dance all night long. The drums on this track have a very Caribbean feeling to them. I do not know exactly what type of drums are being played on ‘Ay No Puedo,’ but I would imagine they are some sort of Bongos. This is a song I am definitely adding to a relaxing playlist, as it just injects me with calm and positive energy. ‘Ay No Puedo’ is the second song on the album sung fully in Spanish. The vocals on this one add to the soothing nature of the instrumental and make this one feel all-encompassing. On ‘Ay No Puedo,’ The Marias sing about a partner who left them out to dry. Even though this person has hurt them, they still feel an undeniable attraction to this person. Apart from ‘Run Your Mouth,’ ‘No One Noticed’ was the biggest single from this record. If you were to search for The Marias’ music on TikTok, this is the other one that immediately pops up. Admittedly, ‘No One Noticed’ does not grab me as much as ‘Run Your Mouth.’ This one brings back the Psychedelic Pop-Rock that has been prevalent throughout the record. Something about this instrumental does not grab me as much as some of the other instrumentals, though. Don’t get me wrong, it is very pleasant. The guitar riff that drives the melody has a glorious tone and the synths that complement it are lovely. It is also a bit too mundane, in my opinion. As far as the vocals go, however, ‘No One Noticed’ has one of my favorite performances on the record. The flow in which the lead singer sings with is a bit off-kilter, giving the song a pretty cool texture that does stand out. On ‘No One Noticed,’ The Marias sing about being in love with an ex. Even though they are doing everything they can to get over this person, they can not stop thinking about the great moments in their relationship.
‘Vicious Sensitive Robot’ switches up the tone and overall feeling we have gotten on the record to this point. This song does have some elements of retro Funk, which we have seen a lot of, but the way it is arranged on this one is different from any of the preceding tracks. ‘Vicious Sensitive Robot’ feels like a cross between 1990s Funk Rock and 1990s Alternative R&B. The guitar riff that drives this one makes me think of Lenny Kravitz, but the synths that complement it and the beat make me think of Erykah Badu(and SZA by proxy). Apart from ‘Run Your Mouth,’ this is probably the heaviest song on the record. The distortion on the beat makes the song hit hard and stand out in a pretty cool manner. The vocals on ‘Vicious Sensitive Robot’ are great. I especially enjoy the high notes that the lead singer hits, as they give the song power and vitality. In ‘Vicious Sensitive Robot,’ The Marias sing about noticing they are way more in love with their partner than this person is in love with them. We go from what may be the most powerful song of the record to the most dainty one in ‘If Only.’ This is the only “acoustic” song on the record. The instrumental consists of a slow, very melancholy piano riff, a trumpet, and a guitar riff. There also seem to be some light synths in the background that give the instrumental a bit of depth. This melody is very gloomy; it has a very cloudy feeling to it, which creates a juxtaposition from the mostly brighter instrumentals we have gotten to this point. Even though this instrumental is so subdued, it still makes a hell of an impact because of its murkiness. Vocally, this may be the best track yet. The lead singer of The Marias does so well to match the somber sound of the instrumental, adding to the overall darkness of this track as a whole. On ‘If Only,’ The Marias beg their partner to stay but expect this person to end up letting them down. The Marias brighten the mood back up a bit with the closing track, ‘Sienna.’ This song has such a floaty sound to it. The guitar riff that drives this melody makes me think of a sunset on a beautiful summer day. The beat for ‘Sienna’ is very soft and slow, really adding to the ethereal nature of this track. This instrumental is pretty simple, but also so effective for what it is. As nice as the instrumental is, the vocals on this track are even more sweet and atmospheric. The vocals on ‘Sienna’ have this joyous and inviting element to them that makes me think of Lana Del Rey, which I obviously love. On ‘Sienna,’ The Marias sing about falling blissfully in love and enjoying the company of their partner. ‘Sienna’ is such a nice way to send this record off, as it is impossible to not feel good when this track comes on.
As I mentioned in the introduction, my initial exposure to The Marias came from a meme that had nothing to do with the music they make. I am really glad that this meme about The Marias became so popular, as it ended up exposing me to a very cool band. I did not know what to expect when going into Submarine, and I have to say that I was happily surprised. In a year that has been full of great Indie Pop music, Submarine still stands out. There is so much to love about this album for a variety of Pop music listeners. For the multitude of sounds that are exhibited on this record, it flows incredibly smoothly. The Marias really show their eclecticism on this record while sticking to a sonic theme. Regardless of the main theme of the instrumentals, which range from Jazz to Synth-Pop to various forms of Pop Rock to Funk to Latin music, two things are certain about every song; the excellent vocals throughout the record, and the album’s concise, deep lyrical theme. The emotions on this album are so palpable in its lyricism and its vocals, making this album flow so well and hit home with anyone who has experienced these feelings of love and loss. Overall, Submarine is a great Indie Pop album from a rising group that deserves all of the hype around them right now. I am thankful for that silly meme surrounding The Marias because it exposed me to a very cool group that I am not a big fan of.
EAST SIDE VIBES 