Jake Vera’s “Purgatory”: A Raw Ode to the Afterlife and Beyond Putting out a first song called "Purgatory" seems almost radical. Even though it is not exactly roses, Jake Vera is not here to play it safe. Coming from Dallas, Texas, this self-made artist has made a song that hits you hard emotionally and sounds rough. Working with producer AfwulDrama, Vera crafts an introspective exploration of...

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...