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...

It's... a sunbeam through a raincloud, isn't it? That’s the initial feeling, anyway. Hal St John and Cherrie Anderson, the British-Filipino duo known as Ooberfuse, have delivered a track that bounces between vibrant pop and something a bit more globally aware. This song feels less like a commercial, and it might just be the flavor needed to add a punch. I was doing some...