#16folks

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Half of the 16Folks playlist covers in one place.

Updated daily, December 24–31. See the first 8 covers (December 16–23) here.

[sixteenfolks-blog]

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.

1. “Melin Wynt” by King Creosote This album was my introduction to King Creosote. Whatever sadness exists in you, this song summons it to the surface almost immediately. The vocals are so beautifully recorded. The line "You're all set to die" comes on, then a brief pause, and then, bagpipes flush onto the recording and tears your face off. It's so beautiful. 2. “Soothing” by Laura Marling I don't even know what to say about this song. I played it 3 times in a row at work after listening to it once. It's sparse, with predominantly percussion, upright bass, and Laura's commanding – yet vulnerable – voice. There's so much control and exploration in her vocals. Her line, "I banish you with love...". She also had her directorial debut with the music video for this song, which is pretty rad. She's a talent to be reckoned with. 3. “Daydreaming” by Radiohead I'm not worthy to speak about any of these artists. But I will most certainly refrain from commenting on Radiohead. Listen to this song. Listen to the album. (Paul Thomas Anderson directed this music video, and it is, of course, phenomenal...) 4. “Love like This” by Margaret Glaspy The toms building tension, her voice erupts into a mean, throaty roar before she quickly switches to a heavenly falsetto. Watch her do it in a live solo as well. I was able to see her live at The Echo in L.A. over the summer. She's a tremendous performer. After the show, I very nervously thanked her. She was super sweet and kind. 5. “Somebody to Anybody” by Margaret Glaspy This was my introduction to Glaspy. I heard this song on YouTube as a live, acoustic performance, and I fell in love. I think she may have the most distinctive female voice of anyone I've heard in recent years. Like, it's trademarked now. That's her sound. 6. “Your Best American Girl” by Mitski Every song on this album is exhilarating, but this song is just emotionally massive. Mitski is a force of nature. She's a monster talent of intuition. 7. “Easier Said than Done” by Sunflower Bean Oh shiiitttt!!! Simple, three piece band from Brooklyn. This song harkens back "Dreams" by the Cranberries, perhaps. Julia Cumming's vocals are ghostly. The song glimmers. 8. “You Just Want” by King Creosote This fucking guy. I mean, this album is just wonderful. The strings on this, the girls voice saying "ha, ha, ha, ha", the Celtic roots –– this song feels like a passage through some essential, spiritual threshold. Like, this would be the song that would start playing the moment some ancient Buddhist monk starts to dissolve into nirvana as he dies. 9. “My Sweet Midwest” by Fruit Bats Just such a great jam. Simple, mundane and badass. The hi-hat on this is sick. 10. “In My Own Way” by Ray LaMontagne This album is speckled with hues of King Crimson and Pink Floyd; garnished with distorted, dirty-sexy, guttural guitar riffs. Real sultry shit. Seeing it live in the stone colosseum (the Greek Theatre) in L.A. was a blast. He also had 4 out of 5 members of My Morning Jacket backing him on tour. Great show. 11. “The Changing Man/While it Still Beats” by Ray LaMontagne Around 2:40 seconds in, the song takes a brief pause – the drums kick ass, the chord progression descends and guitars moan like madness leaving one’s brain as someone undergoes some major spiritual growth; but that evil shit is going to make a badass exit as it is banished! When the song transitions to "While it Still Beats" Ray uncages his vocals to wreak beautiful, sonic havoc on everything in its fucking way; all that whiskey-smokey gravely-ness hurdling towards you with a sledgehammer, juxtaposed with celestial, choral harmonies. 12. “Wake up the Sun” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros This song caught me off guard. I'm glad to hear they're going in some new directions. I thought they were stagnant for awhile and then I heard this tune on the radio. I don't think Alex Ebert has sounded better. His voice has so much character. I find that his lyrics have such a delightful, haphazard poetry to them. Here they're more to the point, less abstract. “All that you wanted was all that you find in your heart. All that you wanted was all that they took from ya." 13. “It's For You” by Beccs (Paul McCartney cover) What a phenomenal cover on her debut album. It's just badass. Beccs’s vocals are so enveloping. The recording is done analog and has that warm feeling. Beccs provided vocals and cello back for me when I made A Little Yellow. We've been friends since we were 18, and she's been a valuable mentor for me musically. This is a great album. We'll probably be hearing a lot from her in the next couple of years. 14. “You Want it Darker” by Leonard Cohen This the Cohen of 1992's The Future. It recalls "Democracy," one of my favorite pieces of Cohen's poetry. "You Want it Darker" has some obvious bones to pick with Christianity, imperialism, and modernity, hammering those themes with heavy steel but with such surgical, lyrical precision. The line "a million candles burning for the love that never came." ...Doesn't that make you wanna cry, die, roll over and then light a candle and look up at the sky – knowing there most probably isn't anything, and life is often more bad than not? 15. “Girl Loves Me” by David Bowie Borrowing from Nadsat, the language developed for the Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange, and some Polari as well, Bowie dives into the madness of dying and treatment (I would presume). Listening to this song, you feel like you're losing you're mind. We've all had those moments – that feeling – and this song apprehends it like no other. The lyrics, irrational and untethered, the music frenetic and jagged. It feels like a brain sizzling in a pan of oil. "Where the fuck did Monday go?" 16. “WOW” by Beck I have to conclude this list with Beck's single, "WOW" because after a shit-storm tsunami of pain and global existential crisis, I think we can all indulge, if we allow ourselves to "giddy up!" and dance off our madness for but a moment. I leave you with a verse from "WOW": 

It's my life, your life. Live it once, can't live it twice. So nice, so nice. Smooth like a tidal wave, take you on a getaway. My friends, your friends. Livin' every day like it's just about to end. Now we're pissin' in the wind cause it's so pine fresh. Right now, yeah, I wanna get it like WOW!

[sixteenfolks-blog]

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.

1. JOSEPH // “SOS (Overboard)” I discovered this band in 2015 when they didn’t have much music online. At first listen, I was jolted by the amazing harmonies these ladies effortlessly layered upon a simple acoustic guitar. A few months later, during a trip to NYC for the CMJ festival, I accidentally (and happily) realized they were performing at the ATO Records showcase. I had the opportunity to chat with them and express how much I loved their music – they were as sweet in person as the music they make. I’ve since had the pleasure of seeing them perform to a sold-out crowd in Nashville. This was the first band I thought of when this project arrived in my inbox, and I am an avid fan of the new album. 2. Freedom Fry // “Shaky Ground” When I think of Los Angeles, I think of a lot of things. I think of the smog, animal style fries, my favorite book store/coffee shop on Sunset Blvd, some stranger stealing my bike at Venice Beach... the one thing I don’t think of when I think of L.A. is the indie pop/folk band, Freedom Fry. This song is placed on my “When You Finally Have A f%$#ing Day Off” playlist because when I have a day off at home, all I want is fun, and fun for me consists of upbeat, danceable music. 3. Yoke Lore // “Hold Me Down” I spend a lot of time online, especially to book shows for my band. I found Yoke Lore via TheDeliNYC website while scouting local bands to fill a bill in Brooklyn. This guy is a charmer. The song I chose layers banjo, electronic beats, and drums. In my book, ANYONE who can layer a banjo with a dashing electronic palette is A+. My dream bill to play would be: AVIS, Yoke Lore and Lady Lamb @ The Basement East in Nashville. 4. Matt Simons // “Catch & Release (Deepend Remix)” Two versions of this song were released this year: the original acoustic version and the awesome remix by Deepend (A Dutch DJ / Producer duo). I would suggest listening to both versions and keeping them on separate playlists for when you’re feeling sad, with a faint sliver of optimism (acoustic version), or the other one for when you’re driving around late at night and are motivated to be productive & creative (remix version). 5. Kate Kelly // “Falling Down Again” Picture yourself on a late summer night, sitting cross-legged in your neighbor’s backyard with Christmas tree lights strung everywhere. About twenty music students are sitting beside you, watching a beautiful, petite girl attentively. She’s singing songs about trips away from home and people she has encountered in her young life. This was my introduction to a friend of a friend, Kate Kelly. Her EP was produced by my old neighbor and dear friend, Patrick Sewalk. Her songs are presented lightly with wispy vocals that curl around your head in a way that not many singer-songwriters can do. It is ear candy and I recommend her music to anyone who is in need of a deep-down warm feeling. 6. Father John Misty // “Real Love Baby” This one requires no explanation other than: Father John, you got me singing this song all the time. Although this is eerily similar to the vibe from “I Love You, Honey Bear,” I’ll let it slide and keep grooving to you, boo. 7. The Growlers // “The Daisy Chain” It’s nearly impossible to really pinpoint where this band lies within the realms of style. Their 2016 release, “City Club” is a fusion of their signature punk vocals with some fashionable guitar rifts reminiscent of the early eighties English rock (e.g., The Smiths). I chose the track “The Daisy Chain” because I am a sucker for lyrical content that insinuates heavy alcohol consumption backed by a electric organ hook. But that’s just me… and now I’m thirsty. 8. Maggie Rogers // “Alaska” If you haven’t heard the buzz surrounding Maggie Rogers then allow me to be the first to introduce you to a new artist that was recently launched into the internet’s “Favorite Musician” category. Her debut track, “Alaska” was reviewed with high acclaim by Pharrell Williams, which prompted the internet to go crazy (or crazier than it is — Reddit is nuts). This track is undoubtedly rooted in folk, which makes sense, considering Ms. Roger’s background in music began with harp, guitar, piano, and banjo. This song makes quite an impression on me in terms of breaking boundaries to create something natural and true to one’s identity.  9. Margaret Glaspy // “Emotions And Math” Another supremely talented member of the ATO roster. While Margaret’s music is definitely more on the alt-rock side of things, there is no denying her beautiful, deep, monotone singing voice. I love this song because of the imagery she lends through her account of loneliness in the absence of a partner. 10. Lucius // “Dusty Trails (Demo)” I saw this band play almost four years ago and knew they were headed toward national fame. Their new album, Good Grief, has a sugary sweet vibe, with more electronics than harmonies compared to Wildewoman, but I am still a fan of the two frontwomen, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laesing. I chose the demo version of “Dusty Trails,” since I prefer stripped-down renditions. These ladies’ voices with minimal instrumentation is a dream in a dream. 11. The Head And The Heart // “Oh My Dear” This group never ceases to amaze me with their pronounced songwriting skills, full band harmonies, and flair for sharing the spotlight as lead singer. I sense these guys are slowly moving away from their heyday of “Rivers And Roads” and on to bigger territory. This song entices me with that new territory, while showcasing all of the reasons I love this band. My favorite part of this track is the background vocals that sound so distant and tunnel-like, that you wouldn’t necessarily hear them. 12. Blind Pilot // “Packed Powder” I will NEVER outgrow Blind Pilot! The soothing lead vocals of Israel Nebeker are a big reason why. “Packed Powder” is a wonderful outline of trying to do the right thing even if it’s not what you came here for. Nebeker’s songs are metaphors for a bigger message, and his soulfulness combined with a consistent formula for each song is what makes him a unique singer/songwriter. 13. Fruit Bats // “None of Us” “You oughta be careful when putting your heart out there, cause some people are bound to be mean.” This is the opening line to “None Of Us” by Fruit Bats. I relate to this sentiment all too well. This year has been a mean one for me in terms of friendship. I’ve had minor misunderstandings turn friendships upside down, but it’s self expression that can help you out of any rut. This song is a reminder to me to keep writing and conveying my feelings in dark times.  14. The Shins // “Dead Alive” The intro to “Dead Alive” sounds like an alien robot trying to make contact for the first time. If you were to make me guess who the artist of this song was based on the first 12 seconds, I would never guess The Shins (I’d probably guess Dr. Dog). But that’s the brilliance behind the instrumental aspect of this new tune. It does not have much familiarity in the structure compared to other songs by The Shins, and you realize who the band is once James Mercers’ electrifying voice kicks off in the first verse. Job well done, folks. 15. The Lumineers // “Ophelia” What would this list be without The Lumineers? I don’t believe I can adequately describe how much I love this band. “Ophelia” is my favorite track off the new album, thanks to the hauntingly beautiful piano hook and reverb heavy vocals. 16. Whitney // “Golden Days” I chose to include this as the final song of my playlist because it makes me feel like I am driving off into the sunset, flipping the bird to this past year, and heading toward my golden days.

[sixteenfolks-blog]

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.

[sixteenfolks-blog]

All Half of the 16Folks playlist covers in one place. 

Updated daily, December 16–23.  See covers for December 24–31 here.

[sixteenfolks-blog]

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.

To hear “texting in the bathtub” – Turtlenecked, download the track for free on Bandcamp.

[sixteenfolks-blog]

Beau Sims, Folk It All // Butter on Toast Art by Beau Sims

I got married this year, so 2016 is special to me in many ways. 

But I also stand here on the edge of 2017 and what I see ahead scares me. 

My playlist represents my feelings looking forward. It starts strong and defiant, then mellows into reflective sorrow – finally ending with a lovely, and oddly appropriate, song from Lucius: “Dusty Roads.” 

I hope you enjoy.

Playlist after the jump.

[sixteenfolks-blog]

Ashlyn St. Ours, Folk It All // Sixteen Folks Art by Ashlyn St. Ours

As I counted down to midnight in the last seconds of 2015, I was filled with hope. The year had been overall good, and I thought that momentum would pave the way for a smooth '16.

Then, this year, we were forced to watch as the world burned, and it seemed that the Mayan apocalypse had come four years late. Fear crept into the marrow of my bones and a thick plaque of sadness cauterized the hope in my heart. When, surely, 2016 couldn’t get darker, it did. And then darker still.

But, darkness cannot be measured without the presence of light. And some good things happened in 2016, too. For me, I discovered a kindred spirit in a new friend. I stood beside old friends – three of them this year – on their wedding days. I traveled to cool cities for work, play and music. I had an unforgettable experience at Newport Folk Festival. I found ~*tru luv*~ when I wasn’t looking for it.

And as Pandora’s Box opened upon the world in 2016, art, music and important dialogue also came out amidst the chaos.

Here’s my playlist for 2016: Still a Little Soul. Contrasting darkness with light, naivety and cynicism, loss and gain, this playlist is a reminder to myself – and to all of us – that there’s still a little soul in the world.

Playlist after the jump.