Matt Nation drops "April’s Fool," and I am instantly struck by the sheer exhaustion of loving a hologram. The Brooklyn-born, LA-based artist has a knack for dissolving the borders between alt-pop, R&B, and nu-disco, but here, he channels a soul-stirring pop-punk urgency through a laid-back, indie-pop filter. https://open.spotify.com/track/7rPHpg1lXMiQFFuuIX9ZT5 It is a strange, brilliant contrast. A melancholic chord loop cycles endlessly, creating a flowing foundation for Nation's...

Ben Hutcheson is an up-and-coming performer in the country rock genre, and he hails from the aesthetically beautiful South West area of England. His music is characterised by a strong sense of promise. He is a prime example of the new breed of English singer-songwriters who are well-positioned to have a substantial influence on the way current music is perceived and created. Ben Hutcheson, who was...