At 2 a.m., the smallest thought can take over the room. Stargazer understands that escalation on Insomniac, a debut single that compresses insomnia, anxiety and emotional isolation into 2:27 of alternative rock, emo, electronic production and hip-hop-influenced delivery. It moves with the pace of someone trying to outthink their own fear, then finding that the mind has already sprinted ahead. The song refuses the easy...

When Los Angeles's Love Ghost made their new song "Dopeman," they mixed the raw energy of alternative rock with the pounding beats of Afrobeat in a way that is both bold and surprising. Ghanaian musician Camidoh and DJ Switch Ghana, who is also from Ghana and has great turntable skills, work together on this international project. It has a rhythm that is both creative and...