Janet Devlin’s new single, “Houston,” arrives as a gleeful contradiction, a two-stepping Americana anthem for the sovereign state of one. It has all the upbeat, country-rock fixings for a roadside sing-along, yet its heart is miles away, floating in a self-imposed, wonderfully stubborn vacuum. The track opens, and you’re ready for a communal good time; instead, you find yourself at a party where the...

Australian musician LokkisKott is very expressive in his new single, which is full of painful emotions, melancholy, and bitterness. The man sings about himself, combining haunting vocal and guitar textures with naked authenticity. In New South Wales, Australia’s multi-talent artist, Lachie Alford, resurrects his magical band, “LokkisKott,” with stirring lyrics about love and heartbreak. The heartbreaking story titled “Deep Inside” reveals how difficult it was...