Listening to Marie Chain’s new single, “Holy Water,” is like turning a corner to find yourself in the midst of a sacred ritual already unfolding. It’s a gathering by a riverbank, but the river is made of sound—a compelling, moving current of Global Soul that tugs you in before you’ve even had a chance to decide if you want to get wet. https://open.spotify.com/track/2cvoVVph7OUL2iUNs1KPJB?si=7eceaad2ae824ed6 The beat has...

The opening seconds of Brett Copeland’s single, "I Wanna Live", don’t ask for your attention; they stage a hostile takeover. This is a song that feels less written and more clawed out of a desperate moment, built with the kind of volcanic energy that powers revival tents and bar-room brawls. Copeland’s voice is the main event—a raw, muscular instrument that sounds like it's been...