Listening to Arnold J.’s new single, "Muddy Waters," isn't quite like anything else swirling around right now. It arrives with the gentle insistence of incoming tide, pulling you into its specific gravity. Arnold J., Ghanaian-born and now Canada-based, weaves a sound tagged as alt-country and folk, but those labels feel thin, like trying to contain smoke. There’s earthiness, sure, but his soulful vocal lines...

Manchester's TerrorBird crashes in with a debut single that turns toxic attachment into a sharp, handmade indie rush. 'Crawling' has the energy of finally blocking the number, changing the lock, and walking out with your best outfit on. TerrorBird, the Manchester project led by vocalist and songwriter Alicia, does not tiptoe into debut territory here. She kicks the door open, laughs once, and lets the...