A bright pop hook and a bad text arriving in the same minute can ruin an entire afternoon. Analiese understands that collision. Her debut EP, "Miss Melancholy", turns high-school heartbreak, shaky friendships, body-image worry, and prom-night drama into a seven-song pop release built for the car ride home. For a pre-release project, the idea lands fast: this is coming-of-age pop with mascara-smudged nerves and an appetite...

The Toronto Hood Pop artist Ekelle turns self-worth into a sleek, dance-ready reset with help from producer Audio Gibbs. Ekelle does not tiptoe out of a bad situation on "(Turn Me) Loose". She throws on confidence, checks the mirror, and makes the exit feel like a party that started without the person who failed to value her. The Toronto rapper, singer, and songwriter has built her...