Celeste Epiphany Waite. Photo: Siam.

This week, we bring you a soul-stirring tune by Celeste, dreamy pop by Alice Phoebe Lou, folk from Myles Smith, rock by Matt Pond PA, jazzy funk by Butcher Brown and electronica from Rare DM.

Celeste, “This is Who I Am” — This song fits over a “James Bond” opening sequence, as many commenters on the video pointed out. It’s bold, sweeping and rooted in a haunting melancholy that lingers long after the final note.

It’s a song to get you through hardship. Celeste Epiphany Waite’s velvety, soul-stirring vocals convey both love and loss. The lush orchestration of piano and strings build to a moving crescendo, establishing an atmosphere of longing from the opening line: “Some flowers never get to bloom and see the days/ Some flowers are content to wish their lives away.”

Other lines feel like declarations of self-actualization. Celeste’s words carry a sense of introspective, as if she’s looking in the mirror when she sings, “You know me like a river knows how to flow/ My body is a story you are always told.” Celeste’s voice is tender and resolute as she affirms, “Only you can tell them this is who I am.” It reveals an artist who is fully in command of her story. She sings with grace and undeniable grit. Incredible.

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Alice Phoebe Lou, “Better” — This wistful song is a ray of sunshine wrapped in nostalgia. I hope Alice Phoebe Lou will lift your mood as much as she lifted mine. It feels like a warm embrace. Lou’s ethereal voice sings dreamy melodies that capture the untouchable sweetness and illusions of early love. The lyrics call to mind an imagined romance that might never fully blossom. Each line is infused with longing and optimism: “Oh, I had written our story/ Before it had earned its glory/ Without you, things can only get better.”

She’s been touring with Clairo, which makes so much sense. They have a similar vibe. I might need to venture out to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in April, where she will open for Remi Wolf.

Matt Pond PA, “The Ballad of the Natural Line” — The title track from Matt Pond’s upcoming album (out Jan. 7), this song brims with universal emotions. It’s an airy, reflective and sentimental anthem. Pond’s voice is comforting and familiar. He sings with ease and his words are underscored by the delicate instrumentation. The lyrics are poetic meditations. “The grass in the trees/ The only sight we see is the only line we follow,” he sings. “Everyone in here gets a prize/ It’s called being alive.”

The band adds to the song’s warmth, while backing vocals by Anya Marina and Erin Rae create a sense of intimacy, as if everyone involved is sharing in the same moment of reflection.

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Myles Smith, “Nice to Meet You — British singer-songwriter Myles Smith delivers a burst of optimism tailor-made for a feel-good playlist. The foot-tapping track blends pop and folk. It has an upbeat charm and feels like a sunny afternoon. Smith tells the story of someone facing challenges until they meet a person who transforms their entire world. How nice it is to finally meet someone like that.

“Feel that beat/ Forget that broken heart,” Smith sings, with renewal in his voice. Smith performs at Oakland’s Fox Theater on April 4.

Butcher Brown featuring Nicholas Payton, “Montrose Forest” — Butcher Brown’s new one captures a rare energy that pulses with jazzy and funky warmth and spontaneity. Named after a secluded spot outside Richmond, Va. where the quintet recorded, it’s truly dynamic!

It opens with a laidback, funky bass line and percussion groove that invites you in. Come stay a while, the beat extolls. Just as you’re settling in, Nicholas Payton’s regal trumpet blasts sweep in and give it an exhilarating edge. With a blast of brassy, playful horns and head-bopping beats, “Montrose Forest” is effortlessly cool.

As the band tours Europe and prepares for a December homecoming show, “Montrose Forest” is a testament to Butcher Brown’s genre-blending prowess. Their packed touring schedule is bound to win over new fans —and with music this electrifying, it’s easy to see why.

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Rare DM, “Skater Hits Me Harder” — I’ll warn you that this song doesn’t sound remotely similar to any of the ones above. If you’re in the mood for something different, listen to it after the sun’s gone down. Erin Hoagg distills the seductive chill of a darkened club into a song that feels like it’s whispered directly in your ear. The Brooklyn artist spins a carnal tale that captures that pre-dawn headspace where intentions blur and inhibition fades.

Her vocals are hushed yet commanding as she insists, she’s “just trying to have some casual fun.” The thump of bass hums somewhere in the walls. Synths layered with brutalist textures evoke the edgy minimalism of Molchat Doma, while occasional bright flourishes nod to the shimmering drama of Eurythmics.

Sery’s Pick: I immediately got chills when I heard Celeste’s “This Is Who I Am.” I’ve been singing it under my breath while playing it on repeat. It has me spellbound.