Dylan Forshner's new EP, “Hopeless Optimism,” presents itself not so much as a collection of songs but as a series of candid diary entries set to intricately picked acoustic strings. This five-song journey from the Welland, Canada artist begins in a place of palpable internal wrestling, where the lyrics – and Forshner’s delivery – map out the grim territories of being overwhelmed, using substances...

An upbeat and soulful tune, "Blow The Blue Away" by Diya Shanmugaraj expertly fuses elements of soul music, commercial pop, chill house, and dream pop. The end product is an enchanting and harmonized medley that would be excellent on any playlist. Its infectious melodies and easily accessible lyrics have a wide appeal due to its commercial pop influence. The song has all the makings of a...