Take Jack Horton, a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose path to folk-Americana included stops at Japanese law school, Tokyo piano bars, corporate boardrooms, and government offices. His latest EP, "Imperfections," feels like finding someone's private journal set to music. And that someone happens to write really, really well. The five-song collection opens with "Set Me Free," a piano-driven confession that might surprise anyone expecting typical breakup bitterness. Horton...

The Ghanaian Afrobeat artist Jessy DeGreat starts the year strong with "Manyo", a motivational anthem of rhythm and ambition. Jessy DeGreat, hailing from Accra, Ghana, has earned a strong presence in the African music industry with his innovative Afrobeat sound. Blending traditional African elements with modern musical trends, DeGreat creates a distinctive style rooted in rhythm and percussion. His music often incorporates influences from jazz, funk, and...