Mixtape | January 2026

January wasn’t about a theme. It wasn’t about one sound. It was about how these songs felt next to each other. I kept rearranging it until it felt like a set.

It opens with Cory Wong and Cody Fry’s “Better Than This” because that song just sounds right at the top. It’s tight, it’s intentional, it feels good immediately. That first groove kind of tells you what you’re in for. We care about craft around here.

From there it stays up for a bit. Black Pistol Fire, Viagra Boys, a little chaos, a little edge. I wanted the first handful to move. No easing in. Just press play and you’re in it.

Then we take it down on purpose.

The Format into Ratboys into Iron & Wine and Father John Misty. That stretch is one of my favorites. It feels like the room shifts. The writing comes forward. The tempo relaxes. It’s not sleepy, it’s focused.

There’s a run in the middle that leans rootsy and patient. Pokey LaFarge, Rural Alberta Advantage, Tyler Lyle. Songs that don’t rush to prove anything. In the middle of winter, that felt right.

And then the rebuild. Durand Jones brings the warmth back. MT Jones keeps it grounded. Tom Misch just sounds like Tom Misch, which is always welcome. The energy comes back but it doesn’t feel forced.

By the time we get to the back third, I’m just having fun with texture. Chet Faker bends the mood. King Tuff adds some fuzz. Tabitha Meeks lifts it again. It stretches out a bit before landing.

And it lands with “The Sheriff,” which feels like a curtain call. Clean. Controlled. Musicians playing because they love it.

This one really is meant to be heard from the top. Not because there’s a grand concept, but because the flow matters. The peaks and valleys are the point.

Anyway. I’m excited about this one. Let me know where you get stuck replaying.