Listening to Arnold J.’s new single, "Muddy Waters," isn't quite like anything else swirling around right now. It arrives with the gentle insistence of incoming tide, pulling you into its specific gravity. Arnold J., Ghanaian-born and now Canada-based, weaves a sound tagged as alt-country and folk, but those labels feel thin, like trying to contain smoke. There’s earthiness, sure, but his soulful vocal lines...

The melodic embrace of relationships and self-discovery in Sophia Sheth's new song serves as ample evidence of the complex web of emotions woven into her voice. The heartfelt lyrics and haunting melody of "I Can't Help You" bring the listener closer to universal humanity. As a young artist, she continues to develop with each new song, which is her fifth. As the track progresses, rhythm and...