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...

Nigerian Sensation Tibey Channels Life's Stories Through Captivating Musical Narratives. There are musicians out there with a natural talent for captivating audiences with their stories. One such artist is Precious Akpan, better known by his stage as Tibey, a Nigerian singer and composer. Tibey started his musical career at a very early age, despite being born in the new century in the busy metropolis of Benin,...