Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

Mesmershade Blends Darkwave, Synthpop, and More in Captivating New Release "Is This A Trap" Mesmershade, a unique pair from Tokyo and Honolulu, is back with a new song called "Is This A Trap" The beautiful singing of Juniper Jow and the superb music of M. Munigant are featured. Mesmershade is a group of musicians who came together by chance during a singing contest and have spent...