COUNTRY/ FOLK

“Stretch My Plum” by Blackfoot Daisy is foot-tapping, driven by a catchy rhythm and upbeat groove. The band brings a playful feeling to this sound that is charming and catchy. The harmonies of the guitar and violin together with its playful lyrics are infectious, creating a joyful instrumentation making a…

Emerging alternative project 23 Fields lean all the way into the feeling of drifting through modern life on The Vacant Stars of Wandering Souls, an evocative album that treats isolation and memory like constellations you can trace in the dark. Built from Step’s reflections on his own life and the…

Born in New Jersey and now rooted in Ocala, Florida, Emma Forgette has been steadily carving her place in contemporary country, earning industry nods and delivering powerhouse live performances from CMA Fest stages to MLB stadiums. But with “The Text I Never Sent,” she strips away the spotlight polish and…

Rye, NY’s Peningo Riders sound like they were built for backroads and open windows, and “Duck That Jeep” turns that whole energy into a three-minute grin. It’s indie Americana with a garage-rock kick, but it’s also tuned right into a real-world ritual, with Jeep ducking, the feel-good habit where strangers…

Nashville singer-songwriter Kate Kristine has a talent for saying the quiet part out loud, and “stranger i can’t tell” (released Jan 9, 2026) is one of those songs that feels like it was pulled straight from a late-night notes app entry. It’s raw, specific, and a little too relatable. She’s…

Simonne Draper has the rare combo of conservatory-trained classical guitar chops and a genuine curiosity for modern texture, so it makes total sense that she’d link up with British downtempo wizard Jon Kennedy for “Finesca II” (released Dec 19, 2025). Draper isn’t new to getting her music out into the…

Philadelphia’s own Neo Brightwell has never been one to color inside the lines, and on “We Didn’t Survive to Be Quiet,” he doesn’t just step over them — he sets them on fire. Billing his sound as Moonshine Disco, Brightwell fuses outlaw gospel, queer liberation energy, Americana grit, and dance-floor…

Out of San Francisco’s ever-creative haze, Michellar returns with “Love Peace War (Acoustic Version).” This stripped-back remix, released on February 13, 2026, and produced by Bay Area collaborator Robi Bean at his El Cerrito studio, the track serves as the first glimpse into her upcoming acoustic EP Homegrown, due later…

George Collins is kicking the door wide open into 2026. The Prague-based singer-songwriter, who famously swapped a high-powered finance career for a second act in music, returns with “What Living Is For,” a fist-in-the-air Americana rocker. Known for his classic rock grit with soulful hooks, Collins has always written about…

Leeds-based composer Lostbird steps into the spotlight with “Drift,” an evocative piano piece that feels less like a song and more like a memory gently resurfacing. Released on January 25, 2026, this atmospheric instrumental leans into nostalgia without romanticising it too hard, instead letting small, sensory details do the talking.…