A Problem Like Maria

A Problem Maria (a.k.a. APLM) is San Francisco born, Metro Manila raised Maria Carmina. She is part of two collectives: The Hai and Gentle Whale.

Hip-hop, folktronica and synthpop are the most familiar genres to APLM, but by no means the only ones. The musical path of this rapper/singer/songwriter is as prone to retreading as it is to wander off somewhere new. She describes her work as “post quietly-feeling-your-feelings revival.”

Working with constant and close co-creators has often been part of APLM’s process. Her debut trio of 2011-2012 EP releases were all joint projects: Radio Wire Empire Solves A Problem Like Maria with RWE, Decompose with <a href="spotify:artist:3KstYJyLtTmsxAPLkkEDt8" data-name="Water Gun Water Gun Sky Attack">Water Gun Water Gun Sky Attack</a>, and Europa with <a href="spotify:artist:0Y6jPI2degBCORutR1M6Iu" data-name="Almost Technicolor">Almost Technicolor</a>. Other notable repeat collaborators include Ghost Night, <a href="spotify:artist:5J5FYFvs9CY8WEa5aaY9IZ" data-name="Mattir">Mattir</a>, New Dark Age, <a href="spotify:artist:7vMwQhIGdp8f2Ct9ojLVjO" data-name="Rekapper">Rekapper</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:044vlDbh4XUcZQplPBI2Yi" data-name="Similarobjects">Similarobjects</a>. She is also featured in two <a href="spotify:artist:78EtaZEZun2b47RmIqPT7d" data-name="Shadow Moses">Shadow Moses</a> songs.

In 2014, APLM made her live performance debut at the Chillout State of Fete Dela Musique in Metro Manila. The following year, she performed with <a href="spotify:artist:5iVUAvHkhAZqJ1yTsMqJ5V" data-name="Six The Northstar">Six The Northstar</a> at the Malasimbo Music &amp; Arts Festival in Puerto Galera.

APLM/StratosFear&#39;s &quot;Love Like&quot; is included in the Satchmi/Jam 88.3 curated LP <a href="spotify:playlist:43gKQU7ms2h0FymUpBzV0K" data-name="Fresh Filter: Vol. 1">Fresh Filter: Vol. 1</a>. The song is also featured in the OST of D5 Studio web series <a href="spotify:playlist:1BOYrkjnsaOfFV7Cf2fBxV" data-name="Forever Sucks">Forever Sucks</a>.