Joshua Henry, courtesy.

Americana remains alive and well, with new offerings from Oliver Hazard and Brian Dunne. Joshua Henry delivers intense emotion in the form of a power ballad. Meanwhile, Moore Kismet, Riovaz and Grapetooth showcase different sides of electronica, both the old and the new.

Riovaz, “Tantrum (Pace Yourself)” — A resurgence of high-energy dance music is found in New Jersey newcomer Riovaz’s ode to self love, calling to mind popular ’80s hi-NRG dance artists like Stevie B, The Cover Girls and Debbie Deb. The bouncy short-but-sweet track is laden with drum machines and synth, while Riovaz’s vocal delivery is fast-paced and plaintive, urging his seemingly pushy female companion to slow down and give him some space. Riovaz is kicking off his headlining “RIORAVE” tour in Los Angeles on Feb. 2.

Brian Dunne, “Sometime After This” — Americana and country rock is celebrated in Brian Dunne’s latest single, chock full of meaningful lyrics and his smooth tenor delivery. This is the second time Dunne has appeared on Tuesday Tracks and this track starts in with a twangy banjo supported by a solid bass-driven beat. Dunne’s vocals are paired with tons of reverb to create a dreamlike musical tapestry. The New York City singer-songwriter is currently planning more new music for next year, along with an East Coast tour in April.

Grapetooth, “Infinite Source” — Clay Frankel (of indie pop band Twin Peaks) and Chris Bailoni collaborated to form Grapetooth. The Chicago-based duo released “Infinite Source” as a two-track single, along with “Shining.” The shorter of the two is compelling and house-inspired. Starting in slowly with accordion synths, it picks up quickly when the beat drops in an assortment of drum tracks looped in with piano synths and skillfully layered vocals featuring Knox Fortune and Ella Williams (of Squirrel Flower). After the build-up, the song ends by stripping back the drums and bass to focus on the beautiful layered vocals echoing in reverb.

Joshua Henry, “Can’t Nobody Tell Us Nothin'” — Complex song structures seem to be a thing of the past, but Joshua Henry doesn’t disappoint, delivering soulful vocals in a power ballad full of peaks and valleys. Starting off in a muted tone, the song quickly builds up to a crescendo on the chorus before bringing the energy back down on the verse. A muted bridge allows another build-up.

The three-time Tony- and Grammy-nominated Joshua Henry was featured on ABC’s “Beauty and Beast: A 30th Celebration” last week. He played Gaston, alongside H.E.R., Josh Groban, Rita Moreno and others. Henry made his name in Broadway shows like “Hamilton” and “In the Heights.” He performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. this month as well.

Oliver Hazard, “Northern Lights” — Starting in with a soft acoustic guitar, this indie folk trio out of Waterville, Ohio delivers a beautiful dreamy American rock track that could easily fit in the country genre. Warm harmonies blend seamlessly as the song develops slowly, adding in drumming and a percussive piano. But the song ends as softly as it began. It’s the title track from Oliver Hazard’s EP. The trio will play at San Francisco’s Cafe du Nord on Feb. 4.

Moore Kismet, “Forte” — Another dance track is on the menu, featuring 18-year old Moore Kismet, who’s created a sample-laden EDM piece using the Monte Booker Sounds sample pack—which you can buy, too! The producer, songwriter and composer played at Lollapalooza Paris, Coachella and Bonnaroo in 2022. The young artist, Omar Davis, has been a leading voice for the LGBTQIA+ community. Kismet will appear at the Fresh Start New Year’s Eve event in San Francisco on Dec. 31.

Mel’s pick: Joshua Henry’s soulfully skilled vocals and complex layered song was an easy choice for my pick of the week. “Can’t Nobody Tell Us Nothin'” contains all the elements of a classic. Henry’s strong vocals honed through years of performing on Broadway drive the song, with the emotion in his voice tearing at your heartstrings. He can succeed either acting or singing, but there’s no need for him to choose between the two.

Follow Mel Bowman at Twitter.com/melmichel.