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...

Eri Rhema, a UK-based gospel artist, has yet again touched the hearts of her audience with her latest single, "Wait." The song marries spiritual quotations, such as "Be still and know that I am God" and "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths," with great artistry. Everyone knows her voice, which is emotional and spontaneous at the same time. To...