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The 16 Songs Project
February 2026
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Welcome back to The 16 Songs Project.
As I stated last month (read it if you missed it), I did this project behind closed doors for years (64 times) before showing anyone else my monthly playlist. Shedding a tiny bit of daylight had a few effects on my picks this month.
First, I now take this project even more stupidly self-seriously. I will give you 16 Songs every month and they will kick ass. My work this month included several deep dives and had the early version of the playlist containing, not a joke, 50 songs.
I've chiseled that down to the 16 below, thanks to some of the other effects of extra eyeballs. You reading this makes me more motivated to find songs that are new to the world, new to me, or new to you. I wanted 16 unique artists, both within this month and unique from last month (we failed slightly, you'll see).
The result is a playlist that takes trips through several genres, skipping through a mix of upbeat, sleepy, smooth, and funky jams.
Here's your 16 Songs for February 2026.
16 Songs - February 2026 | The Playlist
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And hey, new for February: a link to Apple Music for the same playlist. Thank you to Reader Sharkey for both complaining about this last month and putting in the effort to make this for his fellow Apple-eaters.
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"Live Oak (Live)" - Jason Isbell
Remember when I said I'd strive to bring you artists that are new to me or new to you? Eh, let's hold off on that for a moment to recognize one of my favorites.
There's one simple trick for being a well-known artist and getting into 16 Songs? Get me to a live show.
I'm a father of two young kids who lives in the suburbs. I'm not spending a bunch of money to find parking, stay up late, stand for two hours, and everything else that goes into the live music life these days unless you've got the goods.
My friends, Isbell's got the goods.
He started his career as a lead guitarist, which is incredibly apparent when you see him shred on stage, but quickly grew into one of the most prominent singer-songwriters in the Americana, alt-country, and folk landscape. His ability to write lyrics that are haunting and beautiful without being sappy or cliche is unmatched.
His last album, the post-public-divorce effort Foxes in the Snow, left me wanting. There are some great songs on that album, but all 11 songs take the same dreary outlook and tempo.
On the road, however, Isbell's back with his band, the 400 Unit, playing songs from their prior work, plus his solo stuff. The slow songs from Foxes in the Snow are given a full band injection of juice, like when Springsteen pumps some energy into "Atlantic City." The lead single "Bury Me" on the album is a dark tear-jerker. Live? Isbell and company whip out the mandolin and stand-up bass and turn the song into a jangly bluegrass bop.
This concept makes for a fantastic two hours of music, which included him performing the song he wrote for Bradley Cooper to sing in A Star is Born (my guilty pleasure, "Maybe It's Time") and closing by jamming through a cover of The Rolling Stones song "Can't You Hear Me Knocking."
And yet, the song I bring to you does not have any of this juice. Instead, it's a live version of "Live Oak" from his classic Southeastern (a top 20 album of all time, for me). This was the same way he played the song in Philly this month, starting acapella and slowly building.
Perfect reminder of his talents. We should all be listening to more Isbell.
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"You've Got Every Part of Me" - Way Dynamic
I love this guy's vibe. It's like modern, sleepy yacht rock. It's rowboat rock.
It feels like drinking an Arnold Palmer.
I dove into Way Dynamic after his 2025 album Massive Shoe (great name) came across my desk, but this song from 2022's So Familiar was the standout for me.
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"Walk That Walk" - The Nude Party
The Nude Party is one of those bands that I like that I have no idea if anyone else in the world likes. I have never talked about The Nude Party with anyone. I have never seen them live, seen a video of them performing, or seen them on social media. I've never heard a song by The Nude Party in any context except playing it for myself.
Now, a lot of that is my fault. I could dig in more, but so far, this has been the perfect way for me to interact with The Nude Party, a band that makes fun bouncy rock songs.
Spotify tells me they have 279k monthly listeners, which is a ton for a band that fits the criteria above. Spotify also tells me that users have found The Nude Party because six of their songs have been featured on Netflix teen make-out drama Outer Banks. Good for them. Get that sweet TV money so you can keep pumping out peppy little jams for me.
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"Waiting So Long" -Tyler Ballgame
Awesome name. Awesome debut album. Really had to fight to choose which song of the bunch would make the cut here.
"Matter of Taste" was a tough cut, and likely my favorite on the album, while "I Believe In Love" is the most interesting song Ballgame has to offer.
I have seen his voice described as being Roy Orbison-esque. That's clear, but at other times, his vocals and vibes seem to find their way to being inspired by each of Orbison's mates in the Traveling Wilburys.
The entire LP is downright Wilburian, if that's a word.
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"So Glad You Made It" - Fantastic Cat
Remember when I said I failed to not double up on an artist from last month? Here's that failure, a song which is way too fun to appear in the same sentence as the word "failure."
For those who forget, Fantastic Cat is a supergroup of semi-well known singer-songwriters and band leaders (Anthony D'Amato, Brian Dunne, Don DiLego, and Mike Montali). I was familiar with (and loved) D'Amato and Dunne's music prior to finding Fantastic Cat.
When I heard this song for the first time, I thought, "Goddamn, one of those other dudes sounds so much like Adam Duritz (from the Counting Crows)."
Reader, they do not. This song features background vocals from Adam Duritz.
Counting Crows is a good band. So is Fantastic Cat. This song is a joy.
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"You Don't Live Here Anymore" - Sharp Pins
Sharp Pins was initially the side-project of 21-year old Kai Slater, a member of a band called Lifeguard. Is there a word for a side-project that overtakes the main thing? Like how Family Matters was a spin-off of Perfect Strangers?
My only drawback from really loving Sharp Pins? It can feel derivative at times. There are moments on his records that feel eerily close to something you'd hear from The Beatles, The Kinks, or The Clash.
Oh, well. I like it.
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"I Think I Thought Forever Proof" - Mike Viola
Mike Viola has had a wild career in music. Tons of production for artists like Fall Out Boy, Shania Twain, Panic! At the Disco, Mandy Moore, Semisonic and Ryan Adams. You're actually most likely to have heard his work in a movie. He wrote and produced songs for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (great movie), Get Him to the Greek (fine movie with good music), or That Thing You Do! (incredible movie). He's actually the vocalist on the main track from that film, a song that is so much better than it has any right to be.
Reader Stephen sent me five songs from Mike Viola and I knew pretty quickly that maybe those five weren't the ones for me, but Viola would have what I was looking for if I did some digging. This is the one for me.
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"In the Middle of It" - Hiss Golden Messenger
This one's a great new single from the always great Hiss Golden Messenger.
It was also a suggestion from Reader Stephen. Why does he get two shoutouts and you got none? Because he put a little effort in. Send me your picks for next month!
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"All My Friends Are Depressed" - Joyce Manor
Joyce Manor deserves love and respect for being the most concise band in the world. There's no fat on their steak.
Since 2012, Joyce Manor has released eight albums. All eight feature at least nine songs, but the longest of those eight albums clocks in just under 25 minutes. Most of them don't even get to 20 minutes.
Joyce Manor wants you to have a beer, light a cigarette, and listen to a song that is like, one minute and 56 seconds long. I'll pass on the cig, but sign me up for the cold one and the short one.
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"My Sister in Jesus Christ" - Slaughter Beach, Dog
There's an epidemic of bad band names in this world. It doesn't help that half the band names you read are secretly just one guy.
Anyway, this song is excellent. (deep sigh) Slaughter Beach (deeper sigh) COMMA Dog (phew) is fronted by Jake Ewan, formerly of Modern Baseball (better band name). Ewan formed Modern Baseball during his time as a student at Drexel University.
Go Dragons.
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"Higher Lonesome" - Willi Carlisle
This is where things take a turn. Many of you are here to hear the kind of music you like. Unfortunately, as hard as we may try, you are not me and I am not you. We have different taste and that's OK.
What does that mean?
It means we're about to put on a big brimmed hat and listen to some banjos and shit. Kick your boots up and grab a mint julep. One for me too. If that's not your vibe, that's alright! I'd love you to try these songs, but if not, the door's thattaway.
This one from Willi Carlisle is a twangy bluegrass swinger that has me digging for more of his stuff.
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"Rhododendron" - Bella White
Thank you to Willi for a contribution from the fellas, but the rest of the way, it's Ladies Night at the honky tonk.
Bella White's voice enthralls me. There's a pitch to it that catches my ear like a dog whistle calls to a Doberman.
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"Runaway Train" - Sarah Jarosz
I was going to include a different Sarah Jarosz song, the far less Southern-sounding "Jealous Moon" but after that whole thing about Ladies Night at the honky tonk, I had to keep the giddy-up going.
This one? Also from Reader Steven. And yes, he's my co-worker down the hallway. You should find a co-worker with good music taste. I recommend it.
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"Eulogy for Nobody" - Debbii Dawson
Even I can't really believe we're clearing out the second version of this newsletter to have a twangy angel-voiced folk moment, but goodness that final verse hits like a freight train.
I will add: Debbii Dawson does not typically fit into the corner where I've included her here. Her other music, I was a little shocked to learn, is out and out pop music with 80's vibes like Madonna, Prince, and Queen.
She did join Orville Peck on his 2024 album of country-style duets, but so did other pop artists like Mickey Guyton and Kylie Minogue.
The rest of the five-song EP that includes "Eulogy for Nobody" sounds, forgive me for saying so, like downright Swiftie-bait.
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"Long Game" - Emily Nenni
Honestly, I'm out of adjectives for swingin' Southern lady music. I already said "twangy" twice.
But if you can't find some joy in that chorus, with that slide guitar winding its way down your spine, you might want to go see your primary care physician.
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That's all for this playlist. I hope you found a few songs you like. Let me know if there's an artist or song you think I'd like.
See you next month,
Shane
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