Leyla McCalla, courtesy.

This week, we bring you Southern rock by Robert Jon & The Wreck, pop tunes by Jordan Suaste and Courtney Farren, Afro-beats (and more) by Leyla McCalla, folk from Amos Lee, alt-rock by Girl Scout and funky R&B by IAMTHELIVING.

Leyla McCalla, “Open the Road” — The vocals of Leyla McCalla are crystal clear on this tune, over uplifting West African and Brazilian beats.  “Open the road/ Carry me home,” McCalla repeats like it’s a meditation. The funky electric bass injects a sense of urgency throughout. The backing vocals by Maryam Qudus at the end of the song add a sense of uneasiness to this otherwise tropical sound. Overall, it sounds hopeful for a song that begins with the lyrics, “I am trying to be free.”

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Amos Lee, “Beautiful Day” — This is a deeply personal song for singer and songwriter Amos Lee. He’s said it’s an autobiographical tune “sort of about self-acceptance, and then the bridge is accepting other people.” Over a gentle guitar arrangement, Lee conjures up an image of a bear caged inside his brain. The chorus is simple, but Lee infuses it with vulnerability. Stick around for the outro, where the song briefly picks up and then dreamily fades out with a jazzy flourish.

Robert Jon & The Wreck, “Trouble” — Frontman Robert Jon tells us in the chorus everything we need to know about people who bring chaos wherever they go: “She’s trouble.” This rollicking song has some incredible soaring guitar riffs at the 2:30 mark that break up the storytelling. It’s a memorable Southern rock track.

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IAMTHELIVING featuring Braxton Cook, “The Weekend” — This IAMTHELIVING song about anticipating an upcoming weekend is as silly as it is infectious. It has a funkified guitar part and a relatable message. Who hasn’t looked forward to having a couple days off? It’s an opportunity to “dance those troubles away,” a phrase repeated throughout the song. While the lyrics are catchy, the best part by far is Braxton Cook’s mastery on the alto saxophone.

Courtney Farren, “Fear” — Singer-songwriter Courtney Farren faces her shadow on the self-produced “Fear.” Her vocal delivery is quite similar to Phoebe Bridgers at times, down to the subtle shifts in her vocal inflections. Farren sounds not so much inquisitive as resigned when she sings, “How did I get here?/ I act from fear.” The lyrics are reflective and a bit uncomfortable, but the sound is surprisingly cheerful.

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Jordan Suaste, “heaven” — Suaste gives us romance on the short and sweet “heaven.” The percussion nudges the minimalist pop song along after its slow, dramatic intro. The artist sings that he doesn’t want heaven; he wants the affection of a particular man. “I want him,” Suaste insists. He wrote the song about a relationship he was in with someone for whom he cared deeply. He sounds earnest when he momentarily breaks free from the chill pop beats and yells, “pray for my soul!”

Girl Scout, “I Just Need You to Know” — Over erratic guitar riffs, Swedish quartet Girl Scout serves up raw energy. Vocalist and guitarist Emma Jansson has said the refrain, “it is what it is,” is something older generations use often. “To me, it feels like a way to avoid acknowledging hard times or difficult feelings. It’s such a stifling phrase,” she’s said Jansson delivers the soaring vocals aggressively, while the energetic percussion is reminiscent of ’90s garage rock.

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Sery’s pick: Leyla McCalla’s song is joyful and full of interesting rhythms. In mid-June, she’ll collaborate with Marc Ribot on a performance at the New York Guitar Festival, among other dates. I’m eager to see her on tour.