The first encounter with Asta Bria’s new single, “Dragonfly,” is a calculated disorientation. For an artist who once cozied up to funk’s leisurely sway, this is a sharp turn onto a rain-slicked digital highway. The song’s intent for the dance floor is immediately apparent; a commanding, four-to-the-floor beat acts as a gravitational field, pinning you to the present moment. But hovering just above it...

TOUCAN – “Cool Side of the Pillow” There’s an immediate sensation here, isn’t there? Like slipping into perfectly temperatured water, or perhaps finding that elusive cool patch on the linen during a humid night. TOUCAN delivers this single with a smoothness that feels less like a production choice and more like an exhale. The vocals are just tender, carrying the weight of shared quiet...