Maverick Smith’s “We Make Fire, They Make Smoke” lands not with a thud, but with the distinct, satisfying crackle of something catching alight. It’s a title that carries the grit of the Ohio Valley in its consonants, a resolute statement from a band – Paige Bosic on commanding vocals and rhythm guitar, Sean Boynes sculpting soundscapes on guitar, Jim Courtney’s intricate drumming, Charlie Kovach’s...

Lexi Berg plunges us willingly "In So Deep," her latest single offering a welcome submersion into the heady waters of shared existence. This London-based, Swedish-American artist wields a voice that carries its own weather system – there’s a satisfying rasp there, less a flaw, more like the unique grain in reclaimed timber, lending strength and character. The song itself claims indie pop territory, nodding...