Lyia Meta's latest album, "Always You," confidently pays homage to the literary prowess of Denise Dimin while simultaneously infusing it with her own personal experiences and emotions, creating a powerful and original musical expression. Lyia is more than simply a vocalist; she was born in the middle of Los Angeles but spent much of her life honing her skill in Malaysia. She is a multi-talented...

Casey McQuillen’s single “Better” arrives not with a bang, but with the quiet, decisive click of a well-made lock securing a door. It’s pop music, certainly, groomed and gleaming, yet beneath the surface bubbles a fierce kind of self-possession that’s less about demanding attention and more about curating who gets past the velvet rope of your own contentment. Coming from someone known for empowerment...