Exzenya and her latest single "The Fans Applauded" capture a moment most people try to ignore. There is a terrifying quiet that settles over a performer right before they step into the spotlight. The heart beats erratically, the hands shake, and the mind races with every possible way things could go wrong. It is a deeply isolating feeling, yet it is entirely universal for anyone...

SHAB channels survival itself on her new single, "Skin & Bones". The Persian American artist, a former refugee who rebuilt her life to become a prominent advocate for displaced persons globally, delivers something completely fascinating here. Born in the terrifying aftermath of her partner’s severe car crash, you might anticipate a heavy, mourning dirge. Instead, she weaponizes euphoria. https://open.spotify.com/track/6hdR6RTBE4SaYeg0sMg6Q7?si=72acc5770cc14863 The song hits you with an unabashedly...