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...

Ubiquity Machine's latest song "Angela" is a musical acknowledgement of love uncertainty that feels both deeply specific and broadly resonant. It comes at a time when fake confidence is becoming increasingly popular. This indie-alt pair from Washington, DC, is known for gently pushing the limits of alternative music. Their newest work is a song called "Angela." And let me tell you, it’s not just another track...