Katie Belle's voice floats through the speakers like smoke curling toward the ceiling. Her latest single "Cigarette," marks another significant milestone in the Atlanta native's ascending career trajectory. Long-time partner Fabio Campedelli produced the song, which shows Belle's amazing ability to turn personal thought into something that everyone can relate to. The first notes pull you into a sonic atmosphere that feels both familiar and fresh....

Sam Ostler’s new single, “Lights,” then. It unfolds less like a sudden, intrusive glare and more like the slow, determined burn of a really good stage light finally finding its mark after a prolonged blackout. It’s pop, yes, vibrant and undeniably contemporary as advertised – clean lines, clear intentions. Yet, there’s a certain satisfying heft beneath the melodic uplift, a feeling that these notes...