Ava Valianti represents something increasingly rare in contemporary music: genuine precocity without artifice. This Massachusetts artist, who is only fifteen years old, handles general themes with a level of emotional depth that is shocking. She shows that youth can bring out the best in complicated human experiences, rather than hiding them. "Distant," her sixth single, functions as a sonic archaeology of friendship's dissolution. The track excavates layers...

Josh Tepper emerges as a rare talent in the area of American singer-songwriters, and his most recent single, "Guide Me Meron," proves to be a Kabbalistic hymn that crosses boundaries. This mystical hymn takes us on a fascinating trip to the holy mountain of Mount Meron. The beginning of Josh Tepper's career as a musician can be traced back to the bustling metropolis of New York...