The first listen of Haus of Sound’s new single, “Mirage,” is like walking into a room where a beautifully ornate vase has just been shattered against a wall. There's a jagged, crystalline energy here, a collision of theatrical drama and raw, modern discontent. Evolving from their 2000s tribute roots, the Everett band has synthesized the best of that era’s angst—the coiled tension of early...

KAYTIE’s new single "Evil Person" arrives with the pristine, deliberate clarity of a single ice cube cracking in a silent room. For a piano-driven ballad, there is a surprising amount of sharp edges here. Kaytie Kear, the 20-year-old singer and songwriter behind the name, doesn’t just perform a song of heartbreak; she presents evidence. This is the autopsy of a connection so personal and...