Simona-Valentina’s new album, “Mirrors & Feathers,” arrived much like an unexpected guest at a tea party – one who’s been through a rather significant ordeal but still manages a fascinating, slightly skewed smile. This London-based songwriter, with roots trailing back to Transylvania, offers a collection that feels less like a polished performance and more like eavesdropping on intensely private, courageous conversations, rendered in dreamy,...

With the release of Jeppediinho’s debut album, “Games of Life”, we are reminded that sometimes the most profound rulebooks are written by those who’ve mastered a different kind of joystick. Jesper Holmgren, a former professional e-sports player, has constructed a thirteen-level odyssey that treats human emotion like a side-scrolling adventure: there are pitfalls, power-ups, and a final boss that turns out to look suspiciously...