Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

Merging Street Performer Roots with Intense Rap, Claes' Unique Style Resonates with Emotional Depth Born into the soulful world of street performers, French artist Claes channels Brel and Piaf's poignant narratives into his unique realistic rap brand. His journey in music, deeply influenced by Mano Solo's impactful phrase "fuck your life," veered towards the raw intensity of rap after a quest for meaningful musical expression led...