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...

While Brooklyn, New York has given the world many great musicians, Nicholas Dante is the best of them all. Dante is queer and works as a singer, songwriter, and producer. By mixing high-concept concepts with cinema and history music, he tells difficult stories through his music. The name of Dante's first solo album is "Inferno," and it's not just an album; it's an experience. It's an...