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...

Christopher-James: The Unconventional Maestro of Montreal's Rap Scene In the heart of Montreal, where poutine and maple syrup meet the thrumming beats of an electrifying music scene, we find a unique voice rising. That voice belongs to Christopher-James, an artist who has been meticulously crafting his own brand of rap for over three years. Uniquely marked by his signature melancholic tones and sincere lyrics, Christopher-James' music offers...