A powerful debut solo album

OUTSIDE CHILD by Allison Russell Recommended by Mervon Mehta, executive director of performing arts at the Royal Conservatory

“Allison Russell is a Montreal-born singer and banjo player who just released her debut album— a testament to surviving trauma with grace and determination. I also like ‘Quasheba, Quasheba,’ a song by Our Native Daughters, whose members include Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla and Rhiannon Giddens.”