Ultan’s single, "The Tempest," erupts not so much into the room as it does through the floorboards, dragging with it the scent of wet wool and imminent confrontation. This Dublin solo musician, a cartographer of past agonies, presents an energetic rock piece that feels less like a song about history and more like a fragment of it, throbbing and urgent. The main riff careers...

The headline accurately describes the song: the passion and conviction with which they sing each lyric is riveting. The American rap trio Daclikk has just released a new song called "Motion," which seeks to put a fresh spin on things while staying true to the genre. The trio also picked a deep and groundbreaking track to aid in their ascent, one whose wordplay and smart metaphors...