Mike Stewart Theory’s new single, “It Reaches Us,” feels less like a piece of music and more like a strange meteorological event happening inside your head. You’re immediately dropped into a groove that has the smooth, shoulder-rolling confidence of 80s soul, but something is off in the atmosphere. The air is thick with a psychedelic haze, a sense of temporal displacement that is both...

As he prepares to release his upcoming album "Afrikan Boy," it's only natural that he dishes up some fresh calming, and engaging songs. He understands his role and executes it flawlessly. The 23-year-old Montreal singer/songwriter is offering a great 10-track album that combines Afrobeats with an unexpected injection of R&B, dancehall, and kompa, with the result likely to be a dynamic and fascinating blend that...