Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

Breaking through the noise of the current music scene with her innovative approach, Alba's latest release "Oui chérie?" serves as a shimmering testament to her multi-faceted talent. The French singer, songwriter, and composer have been steadily garnering an ever-expanding community of listeners with her intimate compositions that echo with relatability and raw emotional authenticity. Alba's songs are less of compositions and more of musical confessions, each...