Rising New England songwriter Ava Valianti transforms personal anxiety into sharp indie pop commentary "Laugh Track". Few artists in the crowded field of indie pop are able to capture the strange nervousness of modern life as well as Ava Valianti does in her latest song, "Laugh Track." This song is a truly honest reflection on how we see ourselves and how hard it is to go...

The opening seconds of Brett Copeland’s single, "I Wanna Live", don’t ask for your attention; they stage a hostile takeover. This is a song that feels less written and more clawed out of a desperate moment, built with the kind of volcanic energy that powers revival tents and bar-room brawls. Copeland’s voice is the main event—a raw, muscular instrument that sounds like it's been...