Some pop songs are built for escapism. They offer a three-minute vacation from the weight of things. Paul Jenner, the creative force behind the musical project 50mething, seems uninterested in this kind of holiday. His work is consistently grounded in the here and now, tackling the social and political agitations of our time with a composer’s ear and a critical eye. His 2026 single, “You Can’t...

There is a specific, humid type of danger lurking in Eshan Agarwal’s new single, "The Siren", primarily because it sounds so deceptively inviting. Most warning signs are neon red; this one comes wrapped in the sonic equivalent of a warm breeze. https://open.spotify.com/track/7BDTX2cjPkN89bVjxSbcfe?si=CPTE1wRiR6G7rNUGNH-XcA The track begins with a rhythmic plucking pattern, organic and tactile, almost like someone fidgeting with the hem of a shirt while trying to...