There's a curious jolt in hearing a title like "Us Against The World" from an act called The Cockney Cowboy. The name itself is a glorious contradiction, a pairing of gritty East London reality with the wide-open romance of Nashville. You half expect a joke, but what Justin Vella delivers is a dead-serious, straight-shooting country ballad that smells less of hay bales and more...

Pelumi, also known as P3Lz, is one of those really rare artists who has a fierce genuineness that cannot be faked. She is lovingly acknowledged as one of the rare jewels in the industry. Her profound connection to the streets of Toxteth, which are located in Liverpool, not only helps to form who she is as an individual but also provides inspiration for her songs. From...