When you hear the name Stephen Thomas, you might right away think of Charleston, West Virginia, or maybe his own genre name, "Universal" As a label, it does not feel like a neat box. Instead, it feels like an open field where hip-hop and alternative pop music mix. His most recent song, "Breaking Hearts," sounds a lot like that. It utilises sounds from artists like...

Shane Revers opens the heavy door to "Inside Room 17", and you immediately realize you are stepping into an incredibly private emotional space. This debut EP builds its architecture entirely out of heavy memories and the agonizing passage of time. He notes influences like the Jonas Brothers, John Mayer, and James Bay, yet he manages to spin these stripped-down acoustic pop inspirations into a...