You know that exact second when everyone is staring at you, waiting for you to blow out the candles, and all you want to do is disappear? Ava Valianti has captured that highly specific, deeply uncomfortable feeling and turned it into an absolute indie pop gem. Her latest single, "Birthday Cake," drops you right into the middle of a party you never wanted to attend....

Sometimes you hit play on a track and it immediately forces you to stop whatever you are doing. That is exactly what happens with the latest release 'Fairytale Lullaby' from a rising star Ka Youn Yoo in the contemporary classical scene. It is not loud, it is not aggressive, but it commands your attention with a quiet intensity that is impossible to ignore. The vibe...