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...

With a guitar in his hand and a strong will, Paul Bibbins has made his own way as an artist. He has a voice that stands out in the business. A four-track EP called "Disenchantment At A Distance," Bibbins's most recent work, was just released. He is from Dallas, Texas, and he breaks the rules of traditional rock music to create an era of uniqueness...