This week’s free downloadable BBC Introducing Mixtape features tunes from RUE ROYALE, BENBRICK, LITTLE SPARROW, TONY PENULTIMATE, LUXO JR, SUSIE WILKINS, ELEPHANTS & CASTLES, WE ARE AERIALS, THE MATINEE IDLES, SAM AIREY, NAVE, KELLY MCKRIETH, STEVE SWINDELLS, WIRED TO FOLLOW, FRANÇOIS and HILLIAT FIELDS.
The BBC Introducing Mixtape is a 60 minute radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music from 2-3am every Sunday night/Monday morning. Each programme is then downloadable in podcast form at the BBC 6 Music downloads page for the next 30 days. Full tracklists and start times for each track are published here at Fresh On The Net together with biog information supplied by the artists. Previous tracklists can be found via the MIXTAPE tab above or on the BBC website.
All tracks are sourced from the BBC Introducing Uploader. Some are recommended by BBC friends and colleagues while the rest are tunes I’ve discovered here via our Fresh On The Net inbox. For more about how the process works see this post. These are the listings for the episode broadcast overnight on Sunday 8th June (technically 2am on Monday, 9th June 2014…)
RUE ROYALE – Set Out to Discover [starts 00:17]
http://rueroyalemusic.com
“This recently remastered radio edit of Set Out To Discover is the upcoming single from the transatlantic and homegrown duo Rue Royale. It’s being released by the band’s label Sinnbus, to celebrate the pair’s main support status on Bon Iver drummer S.Carey’s forthcoming European tour and available on Monday 30th June. Ruth was raised on brit-pop and northern soul, while Brookln coming from a folk and southern gospel background. Influenced by dark chocolate, lavender and the universe, the couple are now three albums into a six year recording career with their latest album Remedies Ahead having been produced by Paul Pilot (Duke Special, Beth Rowley, Athlete). Imagine if Mark Kozelek was suddenly invited to join Fleetwood Mac and you can start to see the outline of the Rue Royale picture.”
BENBRICK – And So She Runs [starts 03:41]
http://benbrick.co.uk
“Benbrick is the artist project of London based producer Paul Carter. His debut EP Closer | Closure is a heartbreakingly honest and modern take on the break up record; mixed by the guy behind Faithless, and mastered by the guy behind James Blake.”
LITTLE SPARROW – Wishing Tree [starts 06:31]
http://www.littlesparrow.org
“My musical career goes back several years, having played with various bands and musicians during the nineties in and around the South of England before moving to Manchester when invited to help create the band Headway from the remnants of Britpop band Marion. Following this I spent a time performing under my own name (Katie Ware) before taking a short break to focus on my writing and the direction in which I wanted to take my music. In 2010 I returned as Little Sparrow with my current flexible line up of wonderful musicians that provide the harmonies, strings, guitars and percussion that is a huge part of the sound that I feel I have truly made my own. I am excited to have recently released my debut album Wishing Tree.”
TONYPENULTIMATE – Why Did Elvis Cry [starts 09:30]
http://www.tonypenultimate.co.uk/
“My name is Peter Brooke Turner and I play and sing with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. I have played all over the world. Under the pseudonym Tony Penultimate I write and record my own music. My third album Adventures in Gibberish was written, arranged and sung entirely in hotel rooms around the globe while touring – with additional parts emailed in by musicians.
I like writing different song styles, I’d love to write a musical one day: Why Did Elvis Cry is my attempt at a hallucinogenic drugs song – even though I don’t take drugs (any more). I love alliteration and always bear in mind the four P’s when I’m writing: Passionate, Pretentious, Pompous and Preposterous. While this music is unlikely to be heard live or outside the internet, its great that there is an outlet for it – thank you Fresh on the Net!”
LUXO JR – Nightclubbing [starts 12:32]
https://www.facebook.com/luxojrmusic
“Luxo Jr. were set up in May 2014 by Tom Ford and Laurence Morgan (aka Laure). The band hail from the University of York, and combine electro-pop with folk and blues to make something a bit different. Ford takes his place as lead guitarist and producer, and Morgan takes lead vocals and keys, with Nick Upton’s drumming completing Luxo Jr. as they are today. Nightclubbing is the band’s first song.”
SUSIE WILKINS – This Is Me [starts 15:31]
http://www.susiewilkins.com
“Susie Wilkins is a London based singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who started her career singing in jazz & blues clubs in Hong Kong. Since then she has toured and recorded extensively, performing everywhere from The Rockwood Music Hall in New York to Shepherds Bush Empire in London. Her songs have received considerable airplay in the US, UK & South-East Asia. This Is Me is taken from Wilkins’ EP Bliss – her first foray into self-production and the precursor to her current release Anywhere But Here. The carefully crafted, introspective Aimee Mann/Jeff Buckley inspired songs reflect upon the grieving process and coming out the other side of it. Wilkins is currently working on material for her next album, which she plans to record in Los Angeles later this year with Grammy Award winning Ryan Freeland.”
ELEPHANTS AND CASTLES –
The World’s Greatest Complainers [starts 18:33]
https://www.facebook.com/ElephantsAndCastles
“Robin Spencer, Chris Anderson and Adam Lucas are Elephants And Castles, and champions of their native South London. Unsurprisingly, they first met and began to write their finger-pointing, homage-paying – and personally frank – songs in and around The Elephant district in the borough of Southwark. A takeaway in Brixton hosted their first gig and in 2013/14 audiences from Streatham to Scunthorpe have witnessed a set list where delicate odes lull you face first into bruising bass lines and vivid guitar riffs. Over these, striking vocal harmonies sing of football suicides (Fashanu), brutalist architecture (Concrete Love), and seaside knee tremblers (Love on the Rocks). These are songs which in a short space of time have received radio airplay across the UK and in the States. They featured in Gary Crowley’s Best of 2013 for BBC Introducing In London – as well as being an Amazing Radio ‘One To Watch’. Elephants And Castles’ first single Fashanu is produced by Animal Farm and will be released on July 21st. Upcoming live shows include: St Albans, The Horn (Jun 11), Soho, The Spice of Life (Jun 28), Lewisham People’s Day Festival (Jul 12), and a single launch party for Fashanu at The Good Ship in Kilburn (Jul 19). The World’s Greatest Complainers is a song for those who give but don’t get much.”
WE ARE AERIALS – There Is A Darkness [starts 21:23]
http://www.conormcateermusic.co.uk
“We Are Aerials is the new project by Derry songwriter Conor McAteer. Following two solo acoustic albums (Pirates in 2007 and 2011’s The Devil in the Ether), and having supported the likes of Billy Bragg, Declan O’Rourke and Bell X1, McAteer has upped the production stakes and expanded his playbook for Voeckler, the first WE ARE AERIALS album. The result is a diverse mix of songs, ranging from the berserker garage rock of Pile ‘em Up and Chewing On My Sleeve to more introspective moments like We Are Chemicals and There Is A Darkness. For We Are Aerials live shows, Conor is backed by some of the finest and beardiest musicians on Derry’s vibrant scene: Rion McCartney (drums), Shane McCaul (vocal harmonies), John Keaveney (guitar) and Gavin McCartney (bass) – and they will be performing at Derry’s Music City event on 21st June. An alternate version of There is a Darkness can be found on the Mental Health Awareness compilation, Six Strings & Stigma (available on iTunes).” More info on Conor’s website.
THE MATINEE IDLES – She Said [starts 25:27]
http://thematineeidles.com
“Kevin Barry formed The Matinée Idles in Dublin after releasing his debut album Looking for Murphy. In April 2014 his second album A Festival Of Colours, was released on his own label 4 Cats, The Bird & The Baby. Kevin spends his time between London and Dublin – and is joined with a full band for live gigs. The name The Matinée Idles came from his love of film and the sound you get has been described as ‘lyrically dark, atmospheric & cinematic’. Following the release Kevin signed a 3 year licensing deal for three of his songs to a US publishing company who have placed songs in numerous Hollywood blockbuster films, including Brokeback Mountain, The Blind Side and A Beautiful Mind; Six Feet Under, Breaking Bad, Damages, and House.”
SAM AIREY – Station Approach [starts 30:12]
http://www.samairey.com
“Sam Airey originates from the Isle of Anglesey, but has long resided in the city of Leeds. Raised in rural North Wales on various types of folk and country music, Sam blends these influences with the sounds and experiences he has encountered along the way. His previous singles have resulted in a Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens on Radio 1, appearing on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 2 show, and featuring as Lauren Laverne’s MPFree on 6 Music. Best of all, his single The Blackout was named Song of the Year by BBC Radio Wales, beating names such as Los Campesinos! and Manic Street Preachers to the title. In the past year Sam has made his debut TV appearance on Channel 4, achieved his first daytime Radio 1 plays and played his largest headline shows to date. His new single Station Approach is about capturing the spirit of youth and holding on to it while you still can. Showing a greater sonic scope than heard previously on Sam’s records, it’s taken from his forthcoming debut album. It’s backed by a new version of the track Stars that originally featured on Sam’s 2010 EP Season’s Change. Both tracks were produced by Whiskas (¡Forward, Russia!) who also plays guitar on Station Approach, and the single was mastered by Tom Woodhead (also of iForward Russia!). The single will be released on limited 7” vinyl and download on June 23rd.”
NAVE – Irreversible [starts 33:44]
https://www.facebook.com/Navemusic89
“Bournemouth-based songwriter/producer Nave – aka Nathan Evans – is also drummer and vocalist with The Slow Lies. His aim is to tell a story in each of his compositions with the intent to grab the listener in a nostalgic, universal way. Having started as a drummer at age 14, he continued to define his craft across numerous instruments such as piano, guitar, bass and even working on his voice. His first media recognition came in the summer of 2011 when I Saw You Waiting was the first of many plays by BBC Introducing: The South – who later recommended his song Awakenings to the Tom Robinson Show on BBC 6 Music. He’s currently producing a series of six-track Eps, starting with Nave – Part 1 which features his earliest work through to his most recent release Emotions – Part 4. Irreversible will be the opening track on Broken – Part 5 which will be released this summer via his Bandcamp page. Nave is also collaborating with filmmakers at Bournemouth University on visuals, stories, documentaries, short films, commercials and music videos. The debut music video for his track Get Close To Me is the highlight and proudest achievement of his careeer to date and will be released later this summer.”
KELLY MCKRIETH – Your Guide [starts 37:55]
https://www.facebook.com/kellymckrieth78
“I’m a Singer/Songwriter/Musician from Bradford” says Kelly McKrieth. “Just, these last few months, started to experiment and record with different instruments and sounds (hopefully my technical ability gets better with time) Also part of an acoustic duo with Yves Dumont formerly known as Rumours and now called Mean Old Scene – we do our own arrangements of covers, with a jazzy twist! We play locally, both individually and together, but would love to do Restaurant/Wedding gigs! I LOVE to make music and harmony singing… and now feel brave enough to share my own lyrics and music!”
STEVE SWINDELLS – Beyond & Before [starts 43:22]
https://www.facebook.com/SteveSwindellsMusic
“61 year-old Steve Swindells has been a minor pop star (Pilot, 1976), minor rock star (Hawkwind/Hawklords ’78/79) and a minor solo artist (Messages, RCA, 1974, Fresh Blood WEA, 1980 and The Lost Albums, Flicknife 2012). His songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Roger Daltrey, Hawkwind and Lulu. His original version of his song Martyrs And Madmen (covered by Roger Daltrey in 1983) will be featured in the upcoming US movie Holy Galileo. New Crescent Yard is his new, double compilation album of home recordings from the late 80s through to 2013, available to download from his Bandcamp page”
WIRED TO FOLLOW – Unix Epoch [starts 47:24]
http://www.wiredtofollow.co.uk
“Wired To Follow is an experimental soundscape outfit hailing from Merseyside, comprising two main artists Stephen Johnston and Barry Fearns who have worked together on musical projects for a number of years. The outfit – which is more aptly described as a musical project than a band – has also collaborated with a number of other talented musicians. Wired To Follow was launched in 2012 and takes its inspiration from exciting developments in technology. Unix Epoch comes from their well-received first EP Everything In Colour which was released in 2013. It was followed by their second release Instances, while science fiction inspired the third EP, entitled 90Y, which took its name from an episode of The Twilight Zone. Constantly writing, recording music and experimenting with sounds, Wired To Follow recently brought out a short release of three songs, entitled Short Code – named after one of the first ever high level computer programming languages. They are currently working on a their debut album.”
FRANÇOIS – Last Night I Fell [starts 52:02]
https://www.facebook.com/wearefrancois
“Emerging from Portsmouth, Luke Oliver James goes under the name François, producing music with influences such as Olafur Arnalds and RY X. Luke is due to release his first EP in august titled Gold, which shall be self released under White Wolf Records and will feature the single ‘Last Night I Fell. The EP shall be available to download on all major websites, and shall also be released as a limited edition CD. You can catch Luke playing his set live in venues around his hometown and shall be supporting Eloise Keating at The Spinnaker Tower on the 14th August.”
HILLIAT FIELDS – Blackdogblue#1 [starts 56:27]
http://www.hilliatfields.com/
Hilliant Fields describes himself as a “songwriter with a somewhat scatter-gun approach. No two albums are the same. Over twenty albums are available for free download from my website, plus a few things to buy over at iTunes etc.”
ARTISTS: A Word Of Warning…
At least one PR company sends out an identical email to every single artist who appears on The BBC Introducing Mixtape. It says that the company heard your track on our show, they thought it “sounded fantastic”, and are wondering if you’re looking for promotion for your releases.
Before responding, please check out The Pros And Cons Of Pluggers. We strongly urge you to be wary of unsolicited email from anyone who claims to like your music and then suggests that YOU should pay THEM for services of any kind.
