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...

One of the newest names to emerge from the French music scene is Jan Youri, a singer, songwriter, and composer from Grenoble. France has always been known for its incredible music scene, producing some of the most legendary musicians of all time. What sets Jan Youri apart from other up-and-coming musicians is her unique musical chords and voice. Even though she's just beginning her career in...