Listening to Arnold J.’s new single, "Muddy Waters," isn't quite like anything else swirling around right now. It arrives with the gentle insistence of incoming tide, pulling you into its specific gravity. Arnold J., Ghanaian-born and now Canada-based, weaves a sound tagged as alt-country and folk, but those labels feel thin, like trying to contain smoke. There’s earthiness, sure, but his soulful vocal lines...

James Gale is a Belgian artist and musician. With a direct and intuitive feel that underlines the honesty of his composition, his music is incredibly personal. To blur the lines between different concepts while simultaneously trying to add more and create some exceptional sonic dynamics, his tracks draw from a wide range of inspirations, including pop and rock. James, who suffers from autism, depression, and anxiety,...