There’s a curious sort of old-soul gravity to Amelina’s single, “Step by Step,” one that defies the pop-rock sheen and the artist’s young age. The track opens with a resolute, almost stern, string and piano line that feels less like an invitation to a party and more like the sound of someone tying their shoelaces before a long journey. This is the sound of...

"Snap," the most recent release from independent music pioneers Love Ghost, is a song that can only be described as a sonic adventure. It paints a moving image of the battle against despair and the change that results, encapsulating the struggle of metamorphosis in a way that is both powerful and tragic. Love Ghost has been an unstoppable force since they emerged from Los Angeles, developing...