The fiercely independent, Idaho-raised rapper nick! channels a deeply overstimulated, restless frequency on his new EP, "GEEKED!". Born in 2006 and building a fervent following entirely without industry co-signs, he occupies an interesting lane in new-wave underground hip-hop. His music sounds precisely like the brain chemistry of an internet-raised creative processing the blinding speed of newfound success. He writes and produces melodic, hard-hitting rap...

Arashk Azizi, a contemporary composer, navigates the profound depths of human emotion with his signature "Piano Poem" style. His latest release, "Elegy Sonata," is a four-track EP. "Elegy Sonata" grapples with death and grief, fear and mourning. Azizi's piano becomes a vessel, pouring out despair and flashes of raw anger, reflecting upon loss—loss that, it appears, resonates deeply with his personal journey. You know, it...