folk it all

Music that resonates.

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Learn about the 16Folks fam here.

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Follow along as we build the playlist of the year. 

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Brendan Fletcher, Another Brother Band // The Voice 2016 Art by Rhodelia Azcueta

I’m usually a fan of depressing, slow, acoustic folk songs. As Conor Oberst once said, “The sound of loneliness makes me happier.” However, on this particular list, I tried to liven it up with some up-tempo folk songs. 

This year was a great year for the revival of classic folk sounds.

From Courtney Marie Andrews channeling Joni Mitchell in “Irene” to the Dylan-esque social and political insights of Joe Purdy’s “Cairo Walls.” Sturgill Simpson has been another breakout artist for me this year. He is a Waylon Jennings reincarnate, but he writes songs that are still palatable to the folk/Americana crowd. I had to – shamelessly – include some of my own music in the list, but honestly one of my favorite songs this year is “Queen of the Boardwalk Blues” off of my brother’s album. It sounds like something off Greetings from Asbury Park.  I had to close it out with the legend himself, with another one of his beautiful songs, “Leaving the Table,” off his final album. 

Playlist after the jump.

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Zack Bolotin, Porchlight Coffee & Records  Art by Zack Bolotin

I listened to all of these songs quite a bit throughout the year. They fluctuate quite a bit in tempo and style, and obviously the year did as well. 

It was a weird year. 

Here’s Zack’s playlist, Weird Year:

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Jen Vesp, Music Photographer Art by Jen Vesp (Photo) & Beau Sims (Cover layout)

2016 was a sweepingly tough year, with a bright beacon of hope shining from some glorious releases. 

I was lucky enough to see about half of this list live and I, for sure, would see each one again in a heartbeat. Besides the workhorses that are Juliette Lewis and Gin Wigmore, the one to watch without a doubt on this list is Julie Rhodes, with a voice that will rock you to the core – and a killer live performance to top it off. Juliette Lewis is an inspiration and I can say with certainty that she effortlessly launched herself right into my top ten performances – ever. 

It’s a honor to be able to asked to share some favorites with you at Folk It All with this 2016 sendoff!

Keep reading for Jen’s playlist, Rolk Fock.

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Tyler Lyle, Singer-Songwriter Art by Alison Hale

Ah, 2016. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I find myself in a stranger headspace than this time last year. The books are bigger, the songs are more inward. Lots of re-issues this year. Lots of talent laid to rest. Leonard Cohen. What can you say? And Merle Haggard? And George Martin? And Prince? And Bowie?! Leon Russell?! Guy Clark!?! And we elected Trump? What horse shit is this?! Why won’t customer service pick up? Where do I address my complaint?

Then again, Dylan won the Nobel. Paul Simon came out with a worthy swan song of an album. Springsteen released a career retrospective and a door stop of an autobiography. Robbie Fulks released hands down the best folk album in the last decade – or was that Frank Ocean? 

Asking musicians for their top songs is a tricky task. I’m Prometheus, looking for opportunities to steal fire from the gods and smuggle it to earth. 

My ear is tuned to ignore most music by default. Yes Justin, yes Gaga, yes Beyonce. I know. I know. They just don’t have anything I care to steal. I enjoy it fine. I listen to it. No need to get prissy about taste, but I want to bite into something that bites me back – something laced with amphetamines. The Staves did it for me this year. So did Damien Jurado. Mitski shook me from a stupor. John Paul White deserves honorable mention for finally getting to work. Once he gets over his broken heart, and licks his wounds, he’ll be one of our best songwriters –– provided he finds something else to write about. C.W. Stoneking’s “The Zombie” is my favorite track, and I’m counting it even though it was released in Australia two years ago, but I couldn’t stream it here till this June, so I declare it legal. It’s the perfect song to accompany rush hour at dusk in a Manhattan winter. The first and only show I ever tried to use a fake ID to get into was Iron & Wine in 2004 at The Dame in Lexington, KY (it didn’t work). I’m glad to hear Sam Beam looking back toward his Endless Numbered Days days. That mine is still making gold.

Ok. So, covers & reissues – Sett Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield did Elliot Smith proud. It’s a tricky thing to do, but the whole album gets the production and the mood just right. Dylan’s Fallen Angels album of Sinatra covers is equal parts endearing and uncomfortable, but somehow feels like some Lynchian holy relic – something that will become truer the longer I give it. I was glad to see Springsteen’s Chapter and Verse come out this year. “The River” isn’t new, but it is a perfect song, and since there have only been like five perfect songs ever written, it’s worth another listen. Be sure to listen to the collection all the way through. Analog Africa is a label you should be familiar with. They reissue very obscure and out of print records that they find in, say, a basement of a record store in Benin or Bogota. This year saw three releases and they’re all worth your time (and money). Space Echo comes equally from a small volcanic island off the coast of Senegal called Cape Verde and from Mars. Analog Africa is worth a very deep dive. Or not. Oh dear. I’m giving away the good stuff. Oh, and Olafur Arnalds. Reminds me of when I discovered Ryuichi Sakamoto. And Eno’s Music For Airports.  These are deep reservoirs worth exploring. 

There’s a bull and a matador dueling in the sky. In hell, in hell, there’s heaven. 

Happy thieving! 

Playlist after the jump.

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Ken Templeton, Red Line Roots Art by Victor Russo

In a year that has been marked with loss after loss, it is a real comfort to have the opportunity to look back at beautiful new music created in 2016. It’s been a long year, and songs that were shared with the world in April seem almost ancient, ones we’ve had forever and can turn to in tough times. 

This playlist is nothing if not arbitrary, but these songs made me listen more closely, made me laugh, made me forget and remember. 

They represent some of the most thoughtful songcrafters we have today, some of the most compelling and honest vocalists, and and the vital importance of community – it’s no accident that many choices come from two communities (Boston and Durham, N.C.) that artists have formed and nurtured to ensure that there is a wider support system for people making a life in music.

Playlist – and Ken’s word’s on his favorite album of the year – after the jump.

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Trevor Borden, Singer/Songwriter Art by Matt Ellinger

Trevor Borden had a busy year, even beyond his new studio record release and subsequent national tour. On his collection of songs for 16Folks, Trevor had this to say: 

These are the songs that have influenced my 2016.

Playlist after the jump.

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The Ghost of Paul Revere Art by Ashlyn St. Ours & Greg Letellier

Most of these albums are on constant repeat while we tour. We love good music by good musicians, and all of the artists we love did not disappoint with their releases this year. We’d recommend everyone to go out and see these groups live.

The four of us have very different tastes in music so when an album comes on and everyone is humming along, it’s a testament to the song and artist.

Music that Haunts Us after the jump.

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Bodie Johnson, Artist Manager, Music Supervisor Art by Beau Sims

The definition of “folk music” changes depending on which dictionary or artist you consult. 2016 was a year of great business and irreplaceable family adventures, significant losses in artistry, emergences of a new torch-carrying musicians and a November 7th punch to the gut. 

My list of 2016 favorites features several artists that disrupt the old norm; many use electric instruments, write their own music and purposely dismiss any sense of “tradition.” That new balance, laced with amplified political angst with less traditional artistry, to me, is also folk and helps to define how I listened to 2016. 

This list of folk may not be traditional and it may not be acoustic, but maybe good folk music should always originate among the “common man” and will hopefully be passed down through generations. 

Bodie’s playlist, No-eyed Deer, after the jump.

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Sean McMahon, Workman Song Art by Derek Wakeen

A serious disclaimer: My music listening is pretty much limited to the classics, whatever demos I’m working on that week and whatever releases by my friends happen to make their way through the horrific lottery system of my savage Facebook algorithm. That, and the River 93.9 FM in my old/home of Northampton, MA (I followed Moses out of Brooklyn last year, after 5 years, and have resettled where my bones and organs resonate most: my homeland. Best choice). 

If some of the names on my list are familiar, I hope you don’t find them redundant, but celebrate that y'all have excellent taste. If they are unfamiliar, then I’m stoked to be makin yer tastes for you. 

I love you,  Workman

Keep reading for Sean’s playlist and his words on each song selection.

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Mike O’Neil, Tour Manager  Art by Alison Hale

It’d be easy to write off 2016 as a total disaster. We lost Bowie, Prince, Leonard, Lemmy and our Dap Queen, among others. I was in Glastonbury, England when an aging electorate choose to depart from the E.U., forcing the youth to deal with the unknown social and economic consequences for who knows how long. I was in Brooklyn on November 8th when 46% of American voters lead the rest of us down an uncertain path paved with misogyny, racism, deregulation and hate. Many a young black man was gunned down in the streets, and despite a recent victory, oil pipelines constantly threaten our most sacred places. Then most recently, a fire at a DIY safe space in Oakland has threatened the future of all spaces like it and those who seek refuge at them. 

Strangely though, something kept persevering through what so many of my generation have deemed the worst year of their lives; the music.

 Friends and strangers alike remained steadfast and created art that should give us a sliver of hope moving onward. These songs did just that. Somehow these 16 artists were able to look forward and create art while keeping their eye on the prize of surviving this year. They were a life raft on the sinking ship that was 2016.  

Listen to Mike’s playlist, 16 Tracks, after the jump – plus, see his Honorable Mention songs and a musical forecast for 2017.

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Paul Kmiec, Singer/Songwriter Art by Victor Russo

We all may not agree on musical taste and what constitutes a “good song,” but I doubt there is a single soul among us that would disagree that 2016 was a fuckin’ shit year. Fuck this year, fuck the fact that so many wonderful musicians and artists left us and fuck the Doritos-colored nightmare who has saturated our consciousness and national character beyond repair. 

That being said, there is always a little bit of good to glean from any situation:

Here’s the list of my 16 favorite musical examples of the wonder, excitement, redemption and fun that managed to percolate upwards and out from the fever dream that was 2016. 

After the jump, hear Paul’s playlist, Percolate Upwards, and read his words on its collection of songs.

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Taylor Bogner, Avis Art by Faith Burgos

Farewell, 2016! 

I can’t say you will be missed by me. My list consists of a few new artists that I discovered earlier this year (Freedom Fry, Yoke Lore, Fruit Bats) and some old favorites (The Head and The Heart, Blind Pilot, Father John Misty). 

All of these songs feel optimistic to my jaded soul and serve as a reminder that better times lie ahead.

Enjoy!

After the jump, listen to Taylor’s Farewell to 2016 playlist and read her words about each of its 16 songs.

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Jason Zavala, Monkeys of a Bygone Era Art by Jason Zavala

Crawling out of 2016. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this passing year, as I’m sure a lot of people also feel. On one hand, my personal life has continued to improve. YEAH! On the other hand, I’ve been incredibly distracted by all the doom and gloom that has stomped its way throughout the year, leaving a trail of horror and uncertainty. 

Wincing into 2017. 

So here are my top 16 songs of 2016, which have helped to smooth the rough times. Oh – there are only 15 songs on the Spotify playlist?!  Don’t worry, I’m not above shameless self-promotion. I’m also including a link to my own band’s (Monkeys of a Bygone Era) song, It’s Only Lights Out.  It fits nicely into the end of this mix.

Keep reading for the playlist, Crawling out of 2016.

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Chris Chew, Chew Music // Chris Chew Design Art by Chris Chew

2016 has been a mess. 

I mean that mostly in a bad way…but music in 2016 is one of few exceptions. The music world was a beautiful mess: Surprise releases, excitingly unexpected collaborations (sometimes followed by unexpected backlash), and artists reaching across constructed genre lines to craft their message. 

Folk, soul, pop, gospel, and hip-hop could all exist in the same space—in some instances, all in the same song. Here’s hoping 2017 brings more contributions to the chaos…but only in the music world.

Keep reading for Mess, the playlist.

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