Melt Came to Life at The United Theater: Inside Not For Radio’s Swan Lake–Inspired Performance

On Saturday, January 24, I stepped into The United Theater on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles and experienced a performance that felt less like a concert and more like a carefully staged piece of theater. Not For Radio’s live presentation of Melt unfolded as a two-act performance inspired by Swan Lake — dramatic, emotional, and impossibly intentional.

The United Theater itself set the tone before a single note was played. Originally opened in 1927 as the United Artists Theatre, the space was commissioned by Hollywood icons Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith as a temple to storytelling. Nearly a century later, its Spanish Gothic architecture, soaring ceilings, and ornate detailing still feel sacred. Being inside a room built for spectacle and narrative made the night feel elevated from the very beginning.

The show opened with a string quartet, immediately signaling that this would not follow the structure of a traditional live set. Instead, the evening unfolded deliberately, moving through two distinct acts — much like a ballet — each with its own emotional arc. The pacing was quiet and cinematic, inviting the audience to sit with the music rather than rush through it.

When María took the stage, the room fell into a reverent stillness. The way her vocals filled the theater felt magnetic and angelic, stretching effortlessly into every corner of the space. Her voice carried a weightless power — restrained yet commanding — perfectly suited for a performance rooted in classical inspiration. In a venue like The United Theater, every note lingered, suspended in air.

Melt was performed live in full, allowing the album’s emotional depth to unfold exactly as intended. Each song felt like a chapter, woven together with careful transitions and moments of silence that made the experience feel theatrical rather than performative. The influence of Swan Lake was subtle but present — not literal, but emotional — reflected in the fluidity of the staging, the tension between softness and strength, and the sense of transformation throughout the night.

Some of the most striking moments came with unreleased tracks “Comet” and “Living Room.” Shared quietly and without spectacle, they felt intimate and fleeting — like being invited into a private rehearsal rather than a public performance. Hearing them in that space, before they belong to the wider world, made the experience feel incredibly special.

There were also thoughtful, tactile details woven throughout the evening. María shared some of her favorite YSL beauty products with the audience, blurring the line between artist and observer and reinforcing the feeling that this night was meant to be shared, not simply watched.

As the second act drew to a close, it became clear that this wasn’t just a show — it was a fully realized vision. One that honored the history of the venue, the emotional core of Melt, and the idea of live music as something immersive and transformative.

Not For Radio at The United Theater wasn’t simply beautiful — it was transportive. A rare moment where album, performance, and space aligned perfectly. To witness Melt come to life in such an iconic room, during such a limited run, felt genuinely magical — the kind of night that stays with you long after the curtain falls.