Dylan Forshner's new EP, “Hopeless Optimism,” presents itself not so much as a collection of songs but as a series of candid diary entries set to intricately picked acoustic strings. This five-song journey from the Welland, Canada artist begins in a place of palpable internal wrestling, where the lyrics – and Forshner’s delivery – map out the grim territories of being overwhelmed, using substances...

Ryan Yingst is one such eminent figure; he is a multi-talented musician, songwriter, and recording engineer. Yingst is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist whose sound has reverberated in major venues around the country, leaving an unmistakable impact on a wide variety of albums and singles. From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Yingst set out on an epic adventure to the thriving music mecca of Nashville. His first record was released to...