Jon Gold’s new single, "Lullaby for a Dream," is an act of gorgeous disorientation. You see the name—a pianist rooted in the intricate soils of jazz—and you prepare for one thing, but what arrives is a mist-laden skiff drifting from an entirely different shore. Gold, a Delaware musician, has composed a piece of British-Gaelic folk, and the cognitive dissonance is half the immediate magic....

Matt McKnzi stands out as a star in coming up with new ideas and evaluating himself. This new song of his, "Atlas," is a great mix of soul, hip-hop, and some heavenly sounds. And it shows how well he can mix different styles and still make music that makes you feel things. His unique style, a mix of neo-soul and energy R&B, is making waves in the...