singer and songwriter Zoe Berman shares her perceptions of the world in the "Age of the Sherbet Man" with heartfelt intent. The warmth and easy manner of Berman's voice and delicate guitar melody make it a tune worth settling into. Berman says of the song: "It's about resilience and unity — about overcoming what divides us, focusing on our shared humanity and recognizing that we can and will persist to make it through another day." —Emma Bowers

Hiroya Tsukamoto, "Another Great Day To Be Alive"

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Hometown: New York, N.Y.

Pairs well with: Your favorite blanket; a pleasant daydream

There are showier ways to play a guitar than what Hiroya Tsukamoto does in his song "Another Great Day To Be Alive," but few ways more beautiful. Tsukamoto transforms the instrument into an orchestra,playing both melody and accompaniment to create a soothing, soaring and contemplative song. —Jon Lewis

Sierra Sellers, "Ophelia"

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Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Pairs well with: Dimming the lights; sipping wine while slow dancing barefoot

Starting off soft and slow, surrounded by the warm glow of copious candles, Sierra Sellers and her band present a necessary calm in "Ophelia." Together, the ensemble produces an ebb and flow with every note that will have you bouncing and grooving as you listen along. While this is the Pittsburgh-based musician's first time entering the Contest, she's been making a name for herself in her local music community and was recently named one of Slingshot's 2020 Artists to Watch. —Tolu Igun

Daniel Meron & Kéren-Or, "I Am Now"

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Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Pairs well with: Lazy Sunday morning coffee; floating among the