The orchestral opening stops a listener’s scroll. Roger K’s “Please Don’t Put It on Me,” arrives as cinematic dark pop with a real ache at its centre. The independent Australian singer, songwriter and producer gives adult force to a child’s plea, placing inner-child pressure, fear and self-worth against trap and drill-informed drums. It is direct, dark and built for the moment when somebody finally says the...

Lost Lot’s new single, “Waiting,” does a funny thing to the air in the room. It settles it. For three-and-a-half minutes, everything seems to hold its breath, letting a story of profound and stubborn love fill the space. On the surface, it’s a gorgeous slice of widescreen Americana—guitars shimmering with the texture of sun-bleached highway signs, a rhythm section that provides a steady, relentless...