The first encounter with Asta Bria’s new single, “Dragonfly,” is a calculated disorientation. For an artist who once cozied up to funk’s leisurely sway, this is a sharp turn onto a rain-slicked digital highway. The song’s intent for the dance floor is immediately apparent; a commanding, four-to-the-floor beat acts as a gravitational field, pinning you to the present moment. But hovering just above it...

That is the intended emotional response to music. When people relate to you on a deeper level, they are more likely to stick around for the trip. Rapper G4ZZA of the United Kingdom is back with another rap tune titled "On Reflection" that speaks to the universal truths and emotions that many people experience daily but find difficult to articulate. The intensity of this song, which...