Listening to Arnold J.’s new single, "Muddy Waters," isn't quite like anything else swirling around right now. It arrives with the gentle insistence of incoming tide, pulling you into its specific gravity. Arnold J., Ghanaian-born and now Canada-based, weaves a sound tagged as alt-country and folk, but those labels feel thin, like trying to contain smoke. There’s earthiness, sure, but his soulful vocal lines...

Chicago native Luke Frees plays guitar, piano, and bass, among other instruments, and writes original songs. Beginning as a solo artist in Chicago, Luke eventually enrolled in Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music to study composition. After graduating from Berklee, Luke moved back to Chicago and teamed up with fellow musician Gary to make music that would leave an indelible mark on listeners. Luke was a part...