Little by Little

## Audio

"**Little by Little**", otherwise stylized as "**Little By Little**", is the ultimate single and sixth track for *CINEMA*, the debut album of the American indie pop band The Marías. It was released with minimal warning on the 23rd of June, 2021.

## Background and conceptualization

"Little by Little" was the first track on the finalized version of *CINEMA* to be finished. One day, a neighbor of The Marías had asked the band if they would be able to housesit. The team replied affirmative in exchange for the ability to use the house as a makeshift studio, which they were permitted to do so.

> *And she was like 'I'll pay you guys' and I was like 'no, you don't have to pay us, but there's one thing that we would like to do' and she's like 'OK, what is it?' and we're like 'we'd like to set up a studio in your living room.' ... She agreed to it and so we recorded 'Little by Little' there.*
> María Zardoya, for mitú
>
>

A mere nine days after the track list for *CINEMA* had been announced, María would resort to social media in order to confess the upcoming release of the single.

> *They convinced us to release this song tomorrow. ... [I don't know,] should we?*
> María Zardoya, via social media
>
>

This promise was soon fulfilled as on the 23rd, two days prior to the release of *CINEMA*, the single was published.

## Theme

In an interview with Apple Music, María described the track as a classic love song.

> *It's a classic Marías love song about self-reflection in a relationship and knowing that you need to change things about yourself, but not putting the pressure on yourself to change everything at once. I think it's just taking things slow, not putting so much pressure on yourself all at once.*
> María Zardoya, via Apple Music
>
>

## Lyrics

* Little by Little
* English Translation

**[Refrain]**

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

**[Verse 1]**

Quiero amanecer entre tu piel de miel

Luego acariciarte hasta quitar tu sed

Tal y como estás me enredo en tu ser

Dame un ratito para aparecer

**[Chorus]**

I wanna make you feel alright

I wanna do it right this time

No matter what the hell I say

It don't mean that I don't wanna stay

Promise I'll apologize, baby

'Cause honestly I'm changing

You got the moonlight stuck in your teeth

You got me tongue-tied tryna get it

**[Refrain]**

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

**[Verse 2]**

Vamos a quedarnos en tu cielo, amor

Juntos enredados en tu habitación

Pase lo que pase moriré en paz

Dame un ratito para hacerte más

**[Chorus]**

I wanna make you feel alright

I wanna do it right this time

No matter what the hell I say

It don't mean that I don't wanna stay

Promise I'll apologize, baby

'Cause honestly I'm changing

You got the moonlight stuck in your teeth

You got me tongue-tied tryna get it

**[Refrain]**

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

**[Refrain]**

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

**[Verse 1: Translated]**

I want to wake up between your honey skin

Then caress you until you quench your thirst

As you are, I get entangled in your being

Give me a little while to show up

**[Chorus]**

I wanna make you feel alright

I wanna do it right this time

No matter what the hell I say

It don't mean that I don't wanna stay

Promise I'll apologize, baby

'Cause honestly I'm changing

You got the moonlight stuck in your teeth

You got me tongue-tied tryna get it

**[Refrain]**

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

**[Verse 2: Translated]**

Let's stay in your heaven, love

Together, entangled in your room

Whatever happens, I'll die in peace

Give me a little while to make you more

**[Chorus]**

I wanna make you feel alright

I wanna do it right this time

No matter what the hell I say

It don't mean that I don't wanna stay

Promise I'll apologize, baby

'Cause honestly I'm changing

You got the moonlight stuck in your teeth

You got me tongue-tied tryna get it

**[Refrain]**

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

Little by little

## Critical reception

Co-editor Andrew Ha for UCSD Guardian claims Maria's SOMA performance of "Little by Little" felt like a "tender embrace." Riff Magazine's
Arianna Cook-Thajudeen claims Maria's vocals, both in Spanish and English, are "undeniably gorgeous."

## Gallery

* Behind the scenes
* Live performances

@themarias 〢 Twitter
The studio the song was recorded in.@themarias 〢 Twitter@themarias 〢 Twitter

"Little by Little" - Live for Latin Alt HD3Latin Alt 88.5 HD3 〢 YouTube
Live at Gold Digger Studios.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkqHTgdT8-w
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH0XDnYGB5c
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC3Iq5IPtIE
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1407197098861236225
5. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CQaMn6mDn71/
6. ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/album/cinema/1563957170
7. ↑ https://ucsdguardian.org/2022/02/06/concert-review-the-marias/
8. ↑ https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/the-marias-cinema/
9. ↑ https://twitter.com/themarias/status/1407481559641333763