Casey McQuillen’s single “Better” arrives not with a bang, but with the quiet, decisive click of a well-made lock securing a door. It’s pop music, certainly, groomed and gleaming, yet beneath the surface bubbles a fierce kind of self-possession that’s less about demanding attention and more about curating who gets past the velvet rope of your own contentment. Coming from someone known for empowerment...

Gracii, the newest precious stone to come out of the pulsating centre of New York City's music industry, is a formidable opponent that cannot be ignored. A new age of musical eclecticism is about to begin, and it will be ushered in by her mix of daring attitude, rich flair, and distinctive sound. Her lyrical cadence promises an experience that is comparable to that of...