Sam Ostler’s new single, “Lights,” then. It unfolds less like a sudden, intrusive glare and more like the slow, determined burn of a really good stage light finally finding its mark after a prolonged blackout. It’s pop, yes, vibrant and undeniably contemporary as advertised – clean lines, clear intentions. Yet, there’s a certain satisfying heft beneath the melodic uplift, a feeling that these notes...

Love Ghost from Los Angeles and Wiplash from Mexico make the best song about heartbreaks in the digital age. They meet in the neon-lit streets of modern music. "Left on Read," their fiery song, is a pop-punk blast that makes the fear of unread letters audible. This song stands out because of its strong notes and steady drum beats. They make me think of the...