Not for Radio | Melt Review

by Bea Willis

There’s a quiet that only winter knows with the hush after snowfall, when sound folds into itself. In Melt, Not for Radio, María Zardoya, retreats into that hush and sings from within it. Alone in the snowy woods of Upstate New York, she turns love’s dissolving edges into reverie, crafting songs that drift between water and air, confession and dream. Her voice floats in the air as half vapor, half velvet, going through glacial synths and moonlit bass lines, each track a warming into tenderness.

“Puddles” has a descending keyboard figure that mirrors falling drops; drip, drip, drip, as Zardoya’s voice hovers above, tender and suspended. The song begins like a slow-motion reflection, a face rippling on frozen water. Synth swells thaw the stillness; by the bridge, harmonic light seeps through the fog. Her harmonies arrive like the shimmer of melting ice—transparent, fleeting, and beautifully unresolved.

A cool bass line pulses beneath glistening guitar cuts on two and four in “My Turn.” Zardoya slips into a psychedelic haze, her tone equal parts smoke and sunrise. The chorus turns vaporous, a swirl of reverb and echo that blurs the border between voice and memory. The flowing melody brings out the lyrics of declaration and realization that time has turned, and so has she.

Sunlight sneaks through the clouds in “Moment.” A flicker of funk colors the rhythm, and her phrasing blooms with quiet joy. The dream-pop shimmer masks a bittersweet core with lyrics telling how joy feels when it’s already passing. The production’s evolving synth textures trace emotional movement, with clear beginnings, hesitations, and a sudden release.

“Back to You” is Melt’s beating heart. Zardoya repeats a single longing “I hope it brings me back to you” until the phrase becomes an incantation. The simplicity is its power: like writing a wish in snow, only to watch it melt. Her melodic ascent on “I can learn how to fly” is an example of how she can sing in a way that is fragile, bringing the emotion of hope suspended between worlds.

“Swan” is a piano ballad that glides with shadowed grace. The melody unfolds in long arcs, like a bird circling an empty lake. Each glissando in Zardoya’s singing, matched with equally emotive accents, allows a rippling of expression. Zardoya’s vocal control with her barely-there vibrato and perfectly spaced breath reveals her mastery of singing from the heart.

Electronica hum meets the pulse of a montuno-inspired piano loop in “Not the Only One.” The tension doesn’t rise; it simmers. Against the steady beat, unusual harmonic shifts offer subtle release. Her light delivery flirts with detachment, but beneath the surface, emotion stirs like heat under frost.

Distance becomes rhythm in “Magnet.” The repetition of “so far away” collapses time, pulling intimacy from absence. Production mirrors magnetism itself as the textures are drawn toward the vocal core, bass frequencies tugging at treble edges. Its renderings frame the vocals, making the attraction audible.

“Vueltas” is Zardoya bringing a fresh sound as she sings in Spanish. Guitar and strings open a hidden doorway; a soft Latin beat carries her voice. The vocal phrasing is exquisite, with each syllable curved with affection. It’s enjoyable, fresh, and bilingual, meeting bicultural grace.

A breeze through open curtains is how “Water on Your Nose” flows. The lyric simplicity, “Stay with me through the summer,” anchors the track’s delicate realism. The production gleams, letting Zardoya’s vocals dance like sunlight on water.

“Slip” is the last ember of warmth fading into night. Minimal and haunting, Zardoya lets the mood breathe. The steady beat and Rhodes have a subtle crackle note. Zardoya’s breathy vocals are cinematic yet intimate.

Melt is María Zardoya’s Not For Radio, exploring the sound of an artist shedding form, finding new sound hues, and turning it into a landscape of tone and tenderness. Zardoya sings to dissolve the distance between self and song, heart and horizon, and to erase our preconceived notions of her music.

Artist: Not for Radio
Album: Melt
Label: Atlantic Recording Corp.

Buy and Stream Links
Release Date: October 10, 2025

About the author

Bea Willis

Author

With an unwavering passion for music that began at the tender age of five, I embarked on a journey of self-expression through the piano, later expanding my repertoire to the guitar and the art of singing. As a seasoned performer in cozy coffee shops and harmonious choir ensembles, I've immersed myself in the diverse tapestry of musical genres, seeking to uncover the intricate qualities that strike a chord within our souls.

Beyond my personal experiences, my journalistic pursuits have led me to explore the stories and inspirations behind the melodies we hold dear. As a music journalist, I aim to delve into the heart of each composition, shedding light on the creative minds that have shaped the soundscape of our lives.

In my downtime, you can find me serenading my loyal canine companion with heartfelt tunes on the guitar or indulging in retail therapy to enhance my ever-growing wardrobe. Songwriting holds a special place in my heart, and I yearn for the day when I can share my creative talents with the world. Until then, my passion for uncovering the emotional power within music continues to drive my insightful reviews and analyses, as I journey through the rich landscape of melodies that move us.