Janet Devlin’s new single, “Houston,” arrives as a gleeful contradiction, a two-stepping Americana anthem for the sovereign state of one. It has all the upbeat, country-rock fixings for a roadside sing-along, yet its heart is miles away, floating in a self-imposed, wonderfully stubborn vacuum. The track opens, and you’re ready for a communal good time; instead, you find yourself at a party where the...

Kwolek's album, “T > H > I > S”, presents itself not just as music, but as a meticulously self-contained universe, shaped entirely by one pair of hands – from the songwriting straight through to the final cover design. It’s a lonely planet populated by distinct misfits, each broadcasting their internal monologues from a different, slightly staticky frequency. There’s an undeniable intimacy born from...