Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

Illbe's roots can be traced back to the city of Liège and the surrounding area. Gauthier Gilissen uses this alias to hide his true identity. Musicology nerd Gauthier is awed by the most outlandish soundtracks and translates them into his own unique musical style. In addition to guitars, he now draws inspiration from movies, which he uses as a source of references and lore. Gauthier's production...