The songs of Stephanie Phillips' music have a clear sense of connection to her. There is a sense of affinity in these songs as she talks about the ups and downs of life. Her style of music, which she calls "progressive folk," Stephanie writes songs that stay with you and make you feel intense emotions long after the last tune is played. Andrew Bird, Cat Stevens, and...

The first listen of Haus of Sound’s new single, “Mirage,” is like walking into a room where a beautifully ornate vase has just been shattered against a wall. There's a jagged, crystalline energy here, a collision of theatrical drama and raw, modern discontent. Evolving from their 2000s tribute roots, the Everett band has synthesized the best of that era’s angst—the coiled tension of early...