Flavor Wave’s single, “The Optimist,” arrived less like a declaration and more like someone tentatively drawing back a dusty curtain on a grey afternoon. From West Chester, PA, these five lifelong friends – Kyle Loedel (vocals, lyrics), Matthew Stretch (lead guitar), Patrick Blair (rhythm guitar), Noah Montgomery (bass), and Joshua Speaker (performer/drums) – typically tread alternative rock paths nodding to influences like The Strokes....

The Queens-based Pop/R&B singer-songwriter Nia Marie turns breakup panic into a sleek, replay-ready single with Juan Arango at the controls. "Selfish" hits like the message you typed, deleted, typed again, then sent before courage ran away. Nia Marie is back with a Pop/R&B breakup single that feels close, moody, and painfully honest without dragging its feet. It has that late night playlist pull, but it also...