The fastest pop songs arrive like a notification. Ben Lester’s self-titled debut does something more interesting: it lets the listener wait for the message to finish forming. Across 13 tracks for Mayfield Records, the London singer, songwriter, performer and producer turns patience into part of the pleasure. The result is indie pop with an arranger’s discipline, a record built for people who like a chorus but...

Kharise Williams, also known as K Soul, is emerging as a star in the ever-evolving fabric of global music. K Soul blends the pulsating rhythms of her Ghanaian and Jamaican origins with the edgy sounds of London's metropolitan milieu. Her most recent single, titled "Eye Talk," is more than simply a song; alternatively, it is a manifesto of high vibrations and a courageous stance against anything that...