On January 1st, Phoenix band Marloma released “Win,” a three-minute track that frontwoman Marloma calls “the embodiment of female rage and revenge fantasy.” It’s their heaviest rock song to date, marking a sharp turn from the vulnerable, introspective sound that’s defined the band since its founding.
The shift isn’t random. Marloma has always written music aimed at young women processing difficult emotions, describing the sound as “Sad Girl Indie-Pop Rock” that comes from deep vulnerability. “I truly hope that when people listen to my music they feel validated in any harsh emotions they may try to hide,” she says. She’s intentional about prosody, matching melodies to the emotional weight of words. When she sings “high,” the pitch goes up. With “Win,” she’s taking that same technique and channeling it into something more confrontational.
There’s a music video coming that amplifies the intensity. Marloma describes it as “the darkest visual story I’ve ever experimented with” and admits filming it meant confronting her own trauma head-on. “I really put my trauma on display in this video and it was honestly pretty hard to film and relive but I couldn’t be more proud of how it turned out and the message it gets across,” she says. She won’t reveal the plot, but the message is clear. “The thesis is that our vulnerability connects and empowers us as women.”
The band’s sound reflects its diverse lineup. Guitarist and producer John Curtis-Sanchez brings punk-rock influences and over a decade of experience. Kalleigh Gibson‘s bass lines and vocal harmonies draw from country music. Cassidy Brooke handles keys and backup vocals with classical training. Angelita Mia Ponce‘s drumming pulls from Latin and R&B. “I like to think of our compositions as a total genre melting pot since I’m an alternative-pop girl myself,” Marloma says. “And I genuinely believe that we are doing something unique within the music sphere.”
Curtis-Sanchez, who co-produces almost every song Marloma has released since 2023, has particularly shaped the band’s creative approach. Where Marloma writes in isolation and follows planned timelines, he’s comfortable with experimentation. “He isn’t afraid of vulnerability or imperfection in the beginning stages of writing or composing,” she notes. “We end up with a better product than we would have by allowing happy accidents in before polishing the piece.”
That collaborative energy has helped the band build momentum in Phoenix. They’ve played major venues like The Marquee, where acts like Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry and Post Malone have performed, and nearly sold out their 2023 EP release show at The Rebel Lounge. They’ve gained a loyal following of young women who show up to every gig.
“Win” is just the opening salvo. Marloma has been working on a concept EP for five years that she describes as the largest project she’s ever imagined. It’s a cautionary tale about addiction involving around 100 local Arizona creatives, from animated videos and character vocalists to comic book lore and visual aids. The songs feature different lead vocalists to carry the storyline, which relies heavily on wealth and status, childhood trauma and 2016 nostalgia. The release show will include instrument raffles, video games and theatre elements.
The ambition tracks with what Marloma represents. She calls her fans “martians,” a name that references both the band’s signature green branding and something more personal. “For the longest time it felt like my out-of-control emotions and sensitivity made me alien in some way,” she says. “That name is for anyone who feels different, so that we can all be different together.” Her target audience is women between 14 and 35 who feel deeply misunderstood. She wants them to see their feelings as strengths, not weaknesses.
The green that defines everything about Marloma honors a friend lost to cancer at 14. The band is named after Loma Mar, the tiny Redwood Forest town where summers were spent in a great-great grandparents’ cabin. But “Win” shows what happens when you take all that grief and vulnerability and transform it into something fierce. The mission hasn’t changed. It’s just gotten louder.
Marloma’s music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, or visit their website for tour dates on Bandsintown.
