Because of the deft manner in which she combines the styles of country music, pop music, folk music, and the music of her Brazilian ancestors, Anna Lopes stands out as a bright light in the huge musical tapestry of linked genres and worldwide influences that characterises the music business. At the age of 19, she uprooted her life and travelled to the United States to...

NYRE, a name that might conjure up images of a misplaced Scrabble tile, delivers something far more resonant than random letters with their new EP, "Avoidant." It’s a four-track dive into the deep end of heartbreak, the kind that leaves you feeling like you’ve accidentally swallowed a handful of gravel and regret. I can’t help but think of those old grainy black and white...