Listening to Arnold J.’s new single, "Muddy Waters," isn't quite like anything else swirling around right now. It arrives with the gentle insistence of incoming tide, pulling you into its specific gravity. Arnold J., Ghanaian-born and now Canada-based, weaves a sound tagged as alt-country and folk, but those labels feel thin, like trying to contain smoke. There’s earthiness, sure, but his soulful vocal lines...

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...