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...

Monrad's latest EP "Not by Design" dives into the complexities of middle age with unflinching honesty and gritty musical prowess. "Not By Design" is Monrad's newest album. He is a great Belgian singer-songwriter who lives in Kortrijk. The emotional and mental problems of middle age are at the heart of "Not By Design," a six-track album that looks at life's big questions. Each song on this album...