Ava Valianti represents something increasingly rare in contemporary music: genuine precocity without artifice. This Massachusetts artist, who is only fifteen years old, handles general themes with a level of emotional depth that is shocking. She shows that youth can bring out the best in complicated human experiences, rather than hiding them. "Distant," her sixth single, functions as a sonic archaeology of friendship's dissolution. The track excavates layers...

Attack the Sound's "Love is War: Packed" EP is... a thing. A Chi-Pop thing, specifically. Chicago's own ATS is back, celebrating five years since the original "Love is War" single dropped, and they've decided to, well, pack it. Like a suitcase full of emotional baggage you're not sure you want to unpack. https://open.spotify.com/album/1d92wk2RdBsZy409vEXiM8?si=IDZjOJKYQ5G_JsIX49vl_g The central theme, in case the title didn't bludgeon you with it, is...