Dylan Forshner's new EP, “Hopeless Optimism,” presents itself not so much as a collection of songs but as a series of candid diary entries set to intricately picked acoustic strings. This five-song journey from the Welland, Canada artist begins in a place of palpable internal wrestling, where the lyrics – and Forshner’s delivery – map out the grim territories of being overwhelmed, using substances...

Irie Keef, a vibrant new voice in the Afro-Caribbean music scene, has made an electrifying debut, fusing the energy of major music festivals from Miami to Jamaica into a unique auditory experience. Working closely with Dominican artist Nelly Stharre, Keef’s music ebbs and flows with the rhythm of the three languages she seamlessly blends French, Creole, and English. Drawing inspiration from the inimitable Staniski, Keef presents...