In the vast auditory expanse that is the world of music, every once in a while, a collaboration will arise that will serve to remind us of the unpredictability of the beauty that may occur when different pathways converge. Enter British music producer Pyrosion, whose name has long been connected with musical expertise, and his newest tune, which includes Smhylie, who is known for her...

Casey McQuillen’s single “Better” arrives not with a bang, but with the quiet, decisive click of a well-made lock securing a door. It’s pop music, certainly, groomed and gleaming, yet beneath the surface bubbles a fierce kind of self-possession that’s less about demanding attention and more about curating who gets past the velvet rope of your own contentment. Coming from someone known for empowerment...