Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

Aubryanna's vivacious personality and high-energy vocals are likely to make her latest single, "CoverGirl," a hit. The message that the tune conveys is one of empowerment; it dares to be honest and confident in the face of the pretense of perfection. The way Aubryanna sings about the human condition—the flaws and hardships we all endure, but also the triumphs of perseverance and acceptance of ourselves—has a...