Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

Imagine now that there is a voice telling you about this very transformation, one note at a time. Noora Alho, better known simply as Noora, is the artist behind the uplifting new song "Butterfly." Noora was born in Finland to a British mother and a Finnish father. Imagine that you are encased in a feeling that is equal parts vulnerability and eagerness and that you...