Ava Valianti represents something increasingly rare in contemporary music: genuine precocity without artifice. This Massachusetts artist, who is only fifteen years old, handles general themes with a level of emotional depth that is shocking. She shows that youth can bring out the best in complicated human experiences, rather than hiding them. "Distant," her sixth single, functions as a sonic archaeology of friendship's dissolution. The track excavates layers...

Coming from New York City, Sean Kennedy is quickly becoming a prominent figure in the field of music. "Tell Me" is the first studio album by this multi-talented musician, in which he demonstrates his abilities as a vocalist, songwriter, and composer. Kennedy's love for music started early when he was only ten years old, and it has only grown stronger since then, especially when he...