Casey McQuillen’s single “Better” arrives not with a bang, but with the quiet, decisive click of a well-made lock securing a door. It’s pop music, certainly, groomed and gleaming, yet beneath the surface bubbles a fierce kind of self-possession that’s less about demanding attention and more about curating who gets past the velvet rope of your own contentment. Coming from someone known for empowerment...

Following the successful release of her single “1OAK”, Congolese singer/songwriter Kami Leonne continues to build upon momentum. Her latest offering is an enticing Afrobeats 2-pack titled “BODY/CHAUD”. The first track, BODY, is produced by Morocco’s Ramoon. His signature percussion provides the perfect canvas for Leonne to dynamically flow over and create a unique vibe that sounds like a club anthem. The second record, CHAUD,...