August 6, 2026
Hip Hop
Hip Hop
Equal parts cinematic storyteller and unfiltered hometown talent, Houston MC Nick B opens up about balancing raw vulnerability, stage-shaking energy, and unshakeable authenticity.
I recently went to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts to photograph “Not For Radio”’s most recent tour. This was my experience of the show.
I arrived at The Hobby Center curious and excited about what I might find inside for a couple of reasons. For one, I have only ever known the Hobby Center for musicals. For another, this was my first opportunity to experience Not For Radio. Not For Radio is singer/songwriter Maria Zardoya’s solo project after a decade of making music with The Marias so I was fascinated to see a more personal facet of her art. I was not disappointed.
Once inside, I was greeted with a magical atmosphere. The lighting, music, and set design created an otherworldly feeling of being in the middle of an enchanted forest. I was promptly escorted to the left wing of the pit, where a woman who I believe to be the tour manager laid down some ground rules. I would only be able to photograph the first few songs before having to put down the camera and sit down to enjoy the show.
Two songs later, my time was up and I made my way down to see the show proper. I did my best to capture the relationship Zardoya had with her musicians and the audience, but I left somewhat reluctantly. The first few songs are always a bit of a negotiation as the audience and artist size each other up. Sure enough, the show only got better as both artists and listeners connected more deeply.
A glass of white wine put thoughts of my photographer job far behind me as I was transported. The fans, knowing better than me what to expect, matched the coven aesthetic to a t. Zardoya’s hauntingly soft vocals floated through the space. Piano and cello accompanied her in weaving magical stories of love, attachment, and desire that resonated powerfully in the hall. The mercurial costume design and her ethereal pacing only added to the feeling that I was in the middle of a mossy coven ceremony. The spell has yet to wear off.
My heartfelt thanks to Not For Radio’s representatives at Huxley for the access and the tickets.
Photos by Francisco Ramos.
Edited by Diego Frias.
