Maria Usbeck – Mantarraya

Ecuadorian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Maria Usbeck returns with “Mantarraya,” the lead single from her upcoming album Naturaleza, due this April. The track arrives after a considerable hiatus following her 2019 release Envejeciendo, with only “Hollow” released last year.

Co-produced with Tyler Drosdeck, “Mantarraya” (Spanish for “Stingray”) blends acoustic guitars with electronic elements to create a bubbly soundscape. The accompanying video, co-directed by Usbeck and Jennifer Medina, features the artist dressed as a stingray wandering through New York City, advocating for ocean conservation.

Usbeck’s approach remains characteristically multifaceted, drawing influence from Britpop, Latin icons like Celia Cruz, and natural environments. Her previous works showcase this diversity – 2016’s Amparo, produced with Caroline Polachek, explored Latin American topography through multiple indigenous languages, while 2019’s Envejeciendo investigated aging through electro-pop.