Four songs, seventeen minutes, and a fortieth birthday. Zora Kirin’s "The Bones Are Beautiful" has a clean premise, but it refuses an easy emotional shortcut. The Berlin artist calls her debut solo EP hopecore, and the label fits because these songs make room for hard feelings before they reach for light. It is a focused indie folk listen that moves from early wonder to adult desire,...

The melodic embrace of relationships and self-discovery in Sophia Sheth's new song serves as ample evidence of the complex web of emotions woven into her voice. The heartfelt lyrics and haunting melody of "I Can't Help You" bring the listener closer to universal humanity. As a young artist, she continues to develop with each new song, which is her fifth. As the track progresses, rhythm and...