Ava Valianti represents something increasingly rare in contemporary music: genuine precocity without artifice. This Massachusetts artist, who is only fifteen years old, handles general themes with a level of emotional depth that is shocking. She shows that youth can bring out the best in complicated human experiences, rather than hiding them. "Distant," her sixth single, functions as a sonic archaeology of friendship's dissolution. The track excavates layers...

Athens-Based Band Casual Americans Channels '90s and '00s Vibes with Fresh Flair in Debut Album "Casual Americans" Casual Americans changed the sound of indie rock with their first full-length record, "Casual Americans" The band came from the lively music scene in Athens, Georgia. The band has made a sound that is both familiar and completely new by combining old nods to the '90s and '00s with...