Casey McQuillen’s single “Better” arrives not with a bang, but with the quiet, decisive click of a well-made lock securing a door. It’s pop music, certainly, groomed and gleaming, yet beneath the surface bubbles a fierce kind of self-possession that’s less about demanding attention and more about curating who gets past the velvet rope of your own contentment. Coming from someone known for empowerment...

James Gale is a Belgian artist and musician. With a direct and intuitive feel that underlines the honesty of his composition, his music is incredibly personal. To blur the lines between different concepts while simultaneously trying to add more and create some exceptional sonic dynamics, his tracks draw from a wide range of inspirations, including pop and rock. James, who suffers from autism, depression, and anxiety,...