Before listening to a single note of Suris’ new album, “Pertinax”, I spent a few minutes just looking at the word. Pertinax. It has the distinct ring of a Stoic philosopher’s last defiant utterance or maybe a type of beetle known for its unusually stubborn shell. What a curious flag to fly for a collection of songs in an age of fleeting distraction. But...

Filipino-Black pop star Taylor Heavenly has released her new single, "Clown," along with a stunning music video. The song starts off like the first scene of a movie, with big production and a sense of drama that draws people in. From the first note, the music has a cinematic aspect as the strings swell, the beats hit with purpose, and every sound detail combines to create...