Simona-Valentina’s new album, “Mirrors & Feathers,” arrived much like an unexpected guest at a tea party – one who’s been through a rather significant ordeal but still manages a fascinating, slightly skewed smile. This London-based songwriter, with roots trailing back to Transylvania, offers a collection that feels less like a polished performance and more like eavesdropping on intensely private, courageous conversations, rendered in dreamy,...

Records feel like opening your notes app at 1:17 a.m., seeing the message you almost sent, then choosing peace instead. Kay Soul's "Anybody Out There," lives in that exact emotional pocket. It is a soulful R&B single about getting yourself back after toxic love has rearranged your confidence, your language, and your idea of home. The hook is the title itself: a question that reaches outward,...