Australian musician LokkisKott is very expressive in his new single, which is full of painful emotions, melancholy, and bitterness. The man sings about himself, combining haunting vocal and guitar textures with naked authenticity. In New South Wales, Australia’s multi-talent artist, Lachie Alford, resurrects his magical band, “LokkisKott,” with stirring lyrics about love and heartbreak. The heartbreaking story titled “Deep Inside” reveals how difficult it was...

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...