The recent release of Naeli, a Paris-born artist, "En Passant" ("By the Way"), from the lively second album, is staying on the French music scene to surprise and enchant the listeners once again. This time, Naeli is not just known for her soulful lyrics but also for her mesmerizing stage performances. She again proved that she could grow and attract her audience. From her hit song...

Amara-Fe has definitively shifted from the messy business of becoming into the absolute certainty of claiming with her new album, "A Queen’s Ambition". The rising solo artist, tethered to deep musical roots extending through Mission and Dallas, Texas, arrives fully formed here. There is a palpable weight to her cinematic R&B and electropop arrangements. You can almost feel her surveying her territory, setting borders,...