Dylan Forshner's new EP, “Hopeless Optimism,” presents itself not so much as a collection of songs but as a series of candid diary entries set to intricately picked acoustic strings. This five-song journey from the Welland, Canada artist begins in a place of palpable internal wrestling, where the lyrics – and Forshner’s delivery – map out the grim territories of being overwhelmed, using substances...

She gives off an air of seriousness and composure when singing, but her performance belies the depth of feeling she channels. A new song by the French singer and songwriter Naya, named "Vaguémo," has been released recently. The song is about melancholy and being on one's alone. She has a distinctive style—dream pop—and a voice like velvet, so smooth and alluring it captivates as she expertly...