In his new song "BoysBoysBoys," Binoy shows that he has a strong voice. The song has a lively look at the crazy and fun world of queer hookups. From Nairobi, this singer, musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist gives the pop style a new look by drawing from many different cultures in his work. When it comes to music, Binoy's background includes sounds from East Africa and India....

Seishin Takeno's "Echoes," a sonic postcard from Kanagawa. Nine instrumental pieces, I've been told. Not nine songs, mind you – more like nine shaded windows into a particular kind of quiet. This isn't music that yells; it leans in, like a friend confiding a secret you half-hear on a summer porch. Immediately, you're not so much listening as remembering. Or maybe anticipating. It feels...