Seema Farswani’s new single, “Under A Blazing Sun,” shimmers in much like that first blast of heat when you step off a plane somewhere thrillingly unfamiliar – a bright, almost disorienting welcome. The songwriter and producer immediately sets out a clear map of intent: a pop-rock engine chugging with determination, quickly threaded through with the intricate, evocative embroidery of Arabian strings and Middle Eastern...

There is a specific kind of melodic stride in Lana Crow’s new release, “Orwellian Times,” that reminds me, quite vividly, of the way people walk when they’re late for a meeting they know is going to be an absolute disaster. It is brisk, purposeful, and rhythmically catchy, yet underpinned by a distinct, vibrating anxiety. This British singer-songwriter has crafted a track that feels less...