"Mase J: Derby's Storm in a Rhyme Vesse Mase J has carved out a niche for himself as Derby's most recognised alternative rap musician, despite the city's rich musical history. His music is as unabashedly distinct as it is appealing, embodying the spirit of a maverick and the force of a roiling storm. Mase J has continued the popularity of his early releases after receiving high marks...

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...