California pop artist, Ashe dropped her poignant ballad, “Moral of the Story” on Valentine’s Day. Ouch. This one is heart-wrenching as can be, detailing the failure of a serious relationship that had promise until it didn’t. Ashe ultimately blames the beginning and the end of the relationship on the couple’s youth. Starry-eyed and hopeful, they decide to take on the world together. Then, things “turn volatile” and it all falls apart. Ashe finds her pop niche with this dramatic sound, as the strings, choir-like back-up arrangements, and heavy beat conspire to form a full and emotional track. Even though she appears pretty skeptical on this track, Ashe maintains a relatable and even humorous edge. She sings, “They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all / But that could be a load of shit.” The song aims to teach those who haven’t gone through a life-altering break-up how hellish and sad it can feel. “Moral of the Story” exposes the necessary reality of moving on.

Henry Jamison is a storyteller at heart. It may be in his blood — his father, a classical composer, and his mother, an English professor — but Jamison is a writer and artist in his own right, evidenced by his debut album The Wilds (released October 27th). Beyond writing, recording and arranging the album all on his own, Jamison has a special ability to bring each track to life. Take his song, “The Wilds”: it’s instrumentally rich without being overbearing, letting Jamison’s narrative whisk you away. “The Wilds” sounds like an old-time American love story - unassuming and familiar, but nevertheless, still surprising.

Los Angeles genre-bending artist Moses Sumney released his gorgeous and ethereal debut album Aromanticism into the world this September. Sumney has made a big impression on artists like Solange and Sufjan Stevens for good reason. His infusion of soul and folk come together on this album in a way that leaves us begging for more. A prime example of this heavenly blend is found on the third song of the album, “Plastic.” A previous version of the song can be heard on the first season of Issa Rae’s HBO series, Insecure. This new version serves as one of the more simplistic songs on the album, featuring just a fingerpicked electric guitar, a synth and Sumney’s captivating voice. The hook of the song repeats the line “my wings are made of plastic,” each time sung in a slightly different way than it was before, continuing to imbue the phrase with new meaning. This song of vulnerability, self-awareness and secret-spilling is the kind that you can leave on repeat and get lost in for hours.