Here are five songs that have been in heavy rotation to help kickstarted my 2026.
Violet – Hole
Released on the highly praised 1994 album Live Through This, “Violet” features many interpolations. As the first album released after the death of lead singer Courtney Love’s husband, Nirvana legend Kurt Cobain, some lyrics likely reference him. The line about the sky being “just like little fish” and the mention of amethyst could allude to Cobain’s birthday on February 20, making his star sign Pisces and his birthstone an amethyst. However, many believe the song is about Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, with whom Love had a rocky relationship throughout the 1990s. Corgan is also a Pisces, and the lyrics largely centre on violent arguments.
Personally, I’ve always viewed it as a song about taking back power in the face of abuse and sexual assault.
“Violet” drips with grunge, pairing thrashing, chaotic melodies with Love’s gravelly, coarse vocals. I’m a huge fan of Hole in general, and say what you want about Courtney Love, she has an incredibly unique sound that helped define underground music in the 1990s.
The Hand – Annabelle Dinda
Released in November of last year, I’ve been completely obsessed with this stripped back, oaky folk-rock track. The melodies remain relatively bare, allowing the poetic and poignant songwriting to take centre stage. The song confronts the ways men and women have been represented by the media and how those portrayals affect society. The chorus arrives in a quick, breathless wave, demonstrating the exhaustion felt by oppressed groups of women. It is a real credit to Dinda.
For my full lyric analysis, head back to the Reviews page!
Satisfaction Skank – Fatboy Slim
This legendary mash up combines two classic songs from polar opposite genres: The Rolling Stones’ 1965 hit (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction and Fatboy Slim’s own 1998 track The Rockafeller Skank. Fatboy Slim merged the two in late 1999 after growing bored of hearing his global hit repeatedly.
“Satisfaction Skank” was heard exclusively in live sets until 2025, when it was finally released. I had heard the track in videos before but never had the opportunity to listen to it in its full glory until now. It is an absolute stroke of genius. Perfect for cold January morning commutes, it is impossible to stay still while listening.
Starlings – Elbow
The opening track on Elbow’s 2008 album The Seldom Seen Kid, “Starlings” begins with an ear-splitting horn intro before giving way to some of the soppiest yet most heartwarming lyrics I’ve ever heard. These include “You are the only thing in any room you’re ever in.”
It had been a long time since I last heard this song, and it gave me goosebumps. It’s a great track to get you feeling loved up and in the Valentine’s Day spirit.
Chains of Love – Charli XCX
Brat Girl Summer was not my thing, as I have always preferred the colder months. I’m also a huge fan of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, so I felt sceptical when I heard that Charli XCX would be writing the score for the upcoming 2026 adaptation. Despite this, I approached it with an open mind.
Surprisingly, I really enjoy the haunting, suspenseful darkness that the violins bring to “Chains of Love,” and I appreciate the more restrained use of reverb on Charli’s vocals. The lyrics are so-so and feel too on the nose, lacking subtlety. I can understand this choice in the context of supporting the film’s soundscape, although I worry it could end up like the songs from Netflix’s Love Is Blind, if you know, you know.
That aside, I’ve listened to this track almost daily and am looking forward to hearing it in surround sound.
What have you been listening to this month? Be sure to let me know under this post on our Instagram, @under.the.frequency.