Before the curtain rises, there is already a contract in place. The room has paid for magic, the performer has learned how to make exhaustion look like sparkle, and every seat carries its own appetite. The front row is the most dangerous place in that exchange because it mistakes closeness for knowledge. It sees the shine on the costume, the mouth forming a smile, the...

Allison Kane is one of the few artists with the inborn capacity to weave complex tales with their words, but the fact remains. Recently released by the American vocalist, "Next Life" tells the heartbreaking tale of a love that has been shattered by forces beyond either person's control, leaving a gap that no amount of time or effort can seem to heal. The upbeat pop/punk song takes...