Dylan Forshner's new EP, “Hopeless Optimism,” presents itself not so much as a collection of songs but as a series of candid diary entries set to intricately picked acoustic strings. This five-song journey from the Welland, Canada artist begins in a place of palpable internal wrestling, where the lyrics – and Forshner’s delivery – map out the grim territories of being overwhelmed, using substances...

The Zangwills arrive with their new single, 'Beers With The Beekeeper,' and my first thought, naturally, is whether one should opt for full netting or just a casual veil for such a chat. It's a title that hums with a peculiar sort of promise, much like the song itself. This track from The Zangwills, with Jake Vickers’ distinctive vocals out front, champions the profound, almost...