Azealia Banks: Along the Coast

Zero-fucks-giving Azealia Banks fires her sound engineer, and when he threatens to leak her mixtape, she promptly uploads it instead. Slay-Z features Rick Ross and Nina Sky, plus Kaytranada has produced the R&B lullaby-like “Along the Coast,” with Banks showing off her softer side as she silkily croons. Banks has noted via Twitter that “Along the Coast” is a prelude to what’s to come from …

Maria Usbeck: Moai Y Yo

Former lead singer for machine pop trio Selebrities, Maria Usbeck, sets out on her own for the first time. Her solo album Amparo (co-produced by Caroline Polachek) will come at the end of May, and the influences are quite personal. Brooklyn-based, Quito-born Usbeck sings “Moai Y Yo” in her native Spanish, backed by the gentle lapping of water, sparse percussion and the eventual layering of …

Golden Hour: Goth Easter

Portland, Oregon DIY rock trio Golden Hour are celebrating the holiday weekend a little differently than most. In the music video for “Goth Easter” (off of their EP Don’t Be Cute), they host a fun-filled day for those clad head-to-toe in black; activities include the long-distance PBR toss and a good ol’ plastic egg hunt. It’s an awesome track as well—there are echoes of Karen …