The first encounter with Asta Bria’s new single, “Dragonfly,” is a calculated disorientation. For an artist who once cozied up to funk’s leisurely sway, this is a sharp turn onto a rain-slicked digital highway. The song’s intent for the dance floor is immediately apparent; a commanding, four-to-the-floor beat acts as a gravitational field, pinning you to the present moment. But hovering just above it...

One such game-changer is Livi Jacobs, a diamond in the rough from Vienna, Austria. We sometimes experience a musical extravaganza that gently changes our view on music and its intrinsic potential, going beyond the bounds of sound and emotion. Jacobs is ready to set the music world ablaze with his unique blend of country's endearing authenticity, rock's edgy rebellion, and folk pop's endearing openness. Vienna, Austria-born Jacobs...