Dylan Forshner's new EP, “Hopeless Optimism,” presents itself not so much as a collection of songs but as a series of candid diary entries set to intricately picked acoustic strings. This five-song journey from the Welland, Canada artist begins in a place of palpable internal wrestling, where the lyrics – and Forshner’s delivery – map out the grim territories of being overwhelmed, using substances...

Monrad's latest EP "Not by Design" dives into the complexities of middle age with unflinching honesty and gritty musical prowess. "Not By Design" is Monrad's newest album. He is a great Belgian singer-songwriter who lives in Kortrijk. The emotional and mental problems of middle age are at the heart of "Not By Design," a six-track album that looks at life's big questions. Each song on this album...