The fastest pop songs arrive like a notification. Ben Lester’s self-titled debut does something more interesting: it lets the listener wait for the message to finish forming. Across 13 tracks for Mayfield Records, the London singer, songwriter, performer and producer turns patience into part of the pleasure. The result is indie pop with an arranger’s discipline, a record built for people who like a chorus but...

FLAVUS NOVA’s new single, “Blur,” kind of snagged on my ear the first time through, like catching a thread on a splinter. There's an immediate, uncomfortable honesty to it. This isn't background music for sorting your sock drawer, unless your socks are currently staging a tiny, threadbare rebellion against perpetual use. https://open.spotify.com/track/5gscoLfTvvYunm9hfyOOZp?si=0c71f009834440a7 The Northern Ireland native, now navigating the UK/Ireland scene, paints a stark picture here....