Making music is like alchemy; it turns nothing into something, turning feelings into notes. Benjamin David, a musician with a Midas touch who plays many instruments, has perfected this transformational talent. Benjamin has risen to prominence in modern music thanks to his unique style, which can be heard at illustrious places around the country and has left his imprint on a slew of albums and...

Sam Ostler’s new single, “Lights,” then. It unfolds less like a sudden, intrusive glare and more like the slow, determined burn of a really good stage light finally finding its mark after a prolonged blackout. It’s pop, yes, vibrant and undeniably contemporary as advertised – clean lines, clear intentions. Yet, there’s a certain satisfying heft beneath the melodic uplift, a feeling that these notes...