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...

Born and raised on the vibrant island of Martinique, Klarys was infused with the rich Caribbean rhythms that would eventually shape her musical journey. The first twenty years of her life were painted with the vibrant colours of her native land, imprinting on her an unmistakable musical identity that she carries with her to this day. Now, Klarys is a French artist who combines her powerful...