"Submarine"

By James Yu Feb. 12, 2025

There is almost never a time throughout my day during which I wished for the time to pass faster. Some of my most enjoyable moments—whether it be spending time with friends or traveling across the country for debate tournaments—become distant memories before I am able to fully appreciate the beauty of them. As such, I deeply appreciate music that is not afraid to take a slow and steady approach. Most exemplary of this is LA indie band The Marías’s newest album: “Submarine.” Throughout the album, The Marías do not shy away from the sluggishness of life, instead embracing it through wispy, drawn-out memories.

The third song on the project, “Echo,” is representative of everything I admire from

“Submarine.” The song’s smooth beat perfectly compliments lead singer María Zardoya’s soft vocals. Despite its several distinct singing pitches, Zardoya’s wide vocal range enables her to fill the role of singer for the entire song while delivering a variety of unique sonic elements. Similarly, layered under Zardoya’s ethereal, almost whispering singing, “No One Noticed” maintains a constant, relaxing riff. The layering of different vocals and instrumental parts is where “No One Noticed” shines brightest. Each part of the song operates on its own schedule, culminating together to form a cohesive sound once overlaid. “Sienna” follows the same sonic themes as the previous two, with its dreary romantic lyrics evoking feelings of sweet serenity.

However, calm and collected is not the only thing “Submarine” brings to the table. “Run your Mouth” turns up the tempo while preserving the wispy lyrics common throughout the album. The groovy guitar instrumental gives the song an upbeat kick,

while still exploring the same themes of melancholy romance and strife prominent in the shower songs.

“Submarine” continues to explore experimental sound design through its second track “Hamptons.” The song’s unique spatial audio builds suspense and an adventurous atmosphere for listeners to dive deep into. I wish that more songs on the album incorporated “Hamptons” surround sound design; the three- dimensional audio truly aids in immersing listeners into the themes “Hampton” explores.

Overall, listening to “Submarine” helps me clear my thoughts and value the world around me, as if I am an isolated submarine submerged in the illustrious deep sea. I highly recommend listeners give the album a full listen through, even if slow, vocal-heavy indie music is not their traditional style, as they too may gain a greater appreciation for the mundane.

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About the Contributors

James Yu is a Junior at Leland High School and Page Editor for the Sports Section. He loves listening to music and reviewing the newest releases as Music Columnist. Outside of Journalism, he enjoys debating for the debate team, hanging out with friends, and sleeping.