When I pressed play on the latest release from Shelita, titled "Sailors", I wasn't expecting the floor to drop out from under me. You see, "pop" is often a safe word, a designation for the palatable. But this? This is something else entirely. It’s as if someone took a tender ballad and threw it into a particle accelerator to see what sub-atomic emotions would...

An original piece of art has been made by Maria Deirisarri, who lives in Atlanta. With her most recent album, "In the Beginning," she skillfully takes listeners through an array of contexts while also talking about her creative process. Even though her young age might make it seem like she doesn't have much experience, Deirisarri's music is overflowing with timeless knowledge. Her record has a...