This week’s free downloadable BBC Introducing Mixtape features handpicked tunes from the BBC Introducing Uploader by CHERRYADE, ARTBREAK, EEVILTWYNNE, PLAYING HOUSE, NEVAMIS, PORTRAITS, THISISDA, ROBERTO Y AMIGOS, LUCY CLAIRE, TRAMPOLENE, JOE HOLTAWAY, LEESUN, SAMI SWITCH, CIARA O’NEILL, DENNIS, SALWA AZAR and TEMPLES OF YOUTH.
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 downloadable in podcast form at the BBC 6 Music downloads page for the next 30 days. Full tracklists and track start times are published here at Fresh On The Net – together with info about the music provided by the artists.
All tracks are sourced from the BBC Introducing Uploader – some recommended to me by BBC colleagues while the rest are chosen from submissions to our Fresh On The Net inbox. Click here for more info – artists please also see the request at the bottom of this page. These are the listings for the episode broadcast in the early morning of Monday, 11th July at 2am.
CHERRYADE – Fractured Fairytales [starts 00:17]
https://facebook.com/cherryademusic
“Cherryade are bursting onto the scene with Fractured Fairytales, the first release from their upcoming debut EP, due later this year. The refreshingly slick, unapologetic debut was written by the duo and produced by Shaun Canning (Atom Tree). They’ve also been working with Dimitri Tikovoi (Charli XCX, MNEK), Lewis Gardiner (Prides, Kloe) and Ian Watt (Girli) on their debut EP, which is to be announced soon.”
ARTBREAK – Rosebud [starts 03:26]
https://facebook.com/artbreakofficial
“Artbreak write, record and produce all their music from their South London studio. They are Cole, Josh, his little brother Benjy, Tom and Kayleigh. They believe in giving out an abundance of music for free via their Soundcloud and playing in your living room. Artbreak will be putting out a minimum of one song a month and a video (which they shoot themselves) in 2016. The band put out their first song Rosebud at the beginning of July. Shows coming up: July 6th Brixton Windmill; July 30th Amersham Arms for This Feeling; 3rd August Brixton Windmill; 24th September Amersham Arms for This Feeling”
EEVILTWYNNE – FTR [starts 06:40]
https://facebook.com/EevilTwynne
Hailing from the Steel City of Sheffield, EevilTwynne produces dark, beat driven electronic music with a loose, organic feel. Having played guitar for a number of years, and picked up bass and keys along the way, live instrumentation is a vital part of his sound and gives hints at his many influences from Howling Wolf to Thom Yorke. EevilTwynne has had 3 tracks played in the last year by Christian Carlisle at BBC Introducing Sheffield, and hopes to get enough cohesive material together to put an EP out in 2016.
PLAYING HOUSE – Grapefruit [starts 10:19]
http://playinghouse.co.uk
London three-piece Playing House released their debut EP New Haircut in April. They formed just over 10 months ago – aiming create ‘unashamedly rich pop songs, exploring the anxieties of life with a frank, and at times, painfully honest intensity’. Playing House admit they are “obsessed with pop music in all forms” and the “science of creating pure pop music” . This song Grapefruit is the EP’s closing track and embodies, they tell us “a Phoenix-like optimism, a youthful refusal to accept despair as an option even in the fiery face of things”. Catch them live on London on August 11th supporting BlackWaters and False Heads (25 Hour Convenience Store) at The Black Heart.”
NEVAMIS – You Kill Me [starts 13:52]
https://soundcloud.com/nevamis1
Nevamis is a Singer/Songwriter/Producer based in London. Using a blend of alternative, folk & electronic sounds Nevamis aims to take his listeners on “a spiritual journey through the mind and soul with his melancholy chords, warm basslines, haunting vocals and a hypnotic stage presence. Captivating audiences and silencing the room until you can hear a pin drop, Nevamis shares something from htis soul that will get underneath your skin and make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.”
PORTRAITS – Nobody Can Ever Murder Love [starts 16:53]
http://theportraitsmusic.com
“2016 has seen Anglo-Irish husband and wife Alt-folk duo Jeremy and Lorraine Millington, aka The Portraits, playing at Glastonbury Festival and completing work on their seventh studio album, due out in October accompanied by a UK tour. The as-yet-untitled album is a call to the world to unite against hatred and heal its divisions, and much of the material was influenced by the sounds, stories and people of Burma, which Lorraine and Jeremy visited in 2015. This first single Nobody Can Ever Murder Love was a late addition to the 11-song album, and was the duo’s instant reaction to Jo Cox’s murder in June 2016. The DIY video of the song on The Portraits’ Facebook has so far received 20k views. At a time when the UK needs above all to heal, Lorraine and Jeremy hope their song will play a small part in the continuing fight against hatred – as espoused so beautifully by Jo Cox.”
THISISDA – Over [starts 20:07]
http://itsthisisda.com
“ThisisDA is a London-born, Bristol-based hiphop musician, rapper and producer. At 21 years of age he has released two well-received EPs: Based off Black and 21 & Done. Clash Magazine describe him as ‘a brave young artist, one who isn’t afraid to take risks’. With support from BBC 6Music, BBC Introducing, Tate, the MOBO Awards Group and Roundhouse, ThisisDA is seen as a forerunner within the burgeoning New Rap scene in Britain. His captivating lyricism has also caught the attention of listeners, critics and musicians further afield. This has notably manifested in the form of collaborations with artists such as Blu and former XL Records artist, Eyedress – and on his impressive live show, opening for the likes of Angel Haze and Hip-hop pioneer, Grandmaster Flash.”
ROBERTO Y AMIGOS – Home In Your Heart [starts 22:45]
https://facebook.com/robertoyamigos
“We’re a not-so-Spanish-sounding band from Oxford” say Roberto Y Amigos “who want to get people grooving and singing along to our bass lines and folky-soul melodies. We draw our influences from John Martyn and Nile Rodgers to bands like Portishead and at present, the three of us are collaborating with a range of other musicians and vocalists to make a full length album ready for the autumn. We play the O2 academy Oxford on September 16th.”
LUCY CLAIRE – Every Single Child [starts 27:02]
http://lucy-claire.com
“Her Bir Cocuk (Every Single Child) is the second track Lucy Claire and Alev Lenz have created together and is a development on the unique blend of modern classical strings and piano with contemporary vocals that the pair set out with back in 2014 when they released Stille. The lyrics for Her Bir Çocuk were written in response to the refugee crisis and inspired by a Turkish poem called Harbe Giden by Orhan Veli. They say that every single child born into this world deserves to see beauty and humanity. It was released back in March 2016 on Lucy Claire’s Collaborations No.2 EP and is avaliable on CD and digital download here.Lucy Claire is playing a show on the 16th July at St. Johns Church in Hackney and her performance will feature special appearances from Alev, Yuri Kono and Marie Schreer. Tickets are availiable here.”
TRAMPOLENE – The Gangway [starts 30:32]
http://trampolene.co.uk
“Swansea dreamers Trampolene consist of Jack Jones (vocals/guitar/dyslexic poet), Wayne Thomas (bass/vocals/painter – not decorator) and Rob Steele (drums/vocals/ ex DVLA) and release their new five track mini album Pocket Album Four through Mi7 Records on Friday August 12th. It was recorded live at Konk Studios and includes this rock’n’roll coming of age vignette The Gangway (mixed by Cenzo Townshend). Pocket Album Four also includes the poem To Be A Libertine, written by Jack Jones with spoken word contributions from Carl Barat and Peter Doherty among others.” Upcoming shows: Jul 17 Latitude (at Keith Allen’s Establishment Club), Jul 23 or 24 Sheffield Tramlines (Jack solo at The Rocking Chair), Jul 30 Y Not Festival in Matlock, Jul 31 Kendall Calling, Aug 6 Party in the Pines Festival, Aug 12 Dundee: Buskers, Aug 13 Leeds: Belgrave Hall & Canteen, Aug 19 Plymouth: The Hub, Aug 20 Redruth: Charlie’s Bar, Sep 30 Swansea: The Scene, Oct 28 Leeds: Verve Bar, Oct 29 Manchester: Gullivers.
JOE HOLTAWAY – We Go Sailing [starts 33:54]
https://peacesounds.org
“Growing up in Cornwall in a community of family friends: blues, folk and country musicians, Joe Holtaway‘s songwriting has long been something that was there. ‘I can’t imagine not writing or playing… We moved a little bit as a family from our farmhouse to a log cabin and on from there but there was always guitars and musicians wherever we were – evenings together playing. If it wasn’t a guitar or a banjo it was singing or percussion of some sort – whatever you felt… My parents ran an acoustic music club plus the music festivals we all went to – it has just always been that way.’ After moving to London to study English and poetry, Joe became involved with peace activist movement, and began the Peace Sounds label, a home for music and audio, singing and speaking for and about peace. Joe is currently recording own songs and bringing together Peace Sounds 2 which comes out in July. Peace Sounds 1 is available via the website.”
LEESUN – Oh My Love [starts 36:33]
http://leesunmusic.com
“I studied classical piano at UBC in Vancouver” says LeeSun “and started songwriting after hearing The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel in the Student Union building and feeling stunned that non-classical music could be so beautiful. I now live in Leeds which is is richly populated with talented, creative people, and though I often dream of relocating to somewhere less rainy, I haven’t been able to tear myself away from its wonderful creative community. It is such a joy to create music here: I’ve been working hard in the studio for 20 months. Most of the work is still unreleased although I shall likely release at least one album before the end of this year. This September I’ll be a guest performer in Jane Siberry’s UK tour. I have loved Jane’s music for a long time, and feel very honoured to be supporting her. For info on my upcoming performances, sign up to the mailing list on my website.”
SAMI SWITCH – Oh Why [starts 40:50]
https://facebook.com/sami.switch
“Sami Switch is currently on tour with garage band FooR promoting their latest collaboration at a long list of festivals. After his latest E.P Solace was championed by Noisey, Clash and Mass Appeal he is currently working on the follow up record with producer O’D. Solace was a deeply personal account of a two year absence that left him homeless. Sami now gives back to the music that saved him and is working with young refugees, giving spoken wordworkshops and helping them towards the Silver Arts Award Qualifications. After sell out London performances he is back in his hometown on August 5th to headline Sub89.”
CIARA O’NEILL – The Ebony Trail [starts 46:10]
http://www.ciaraoneillmusic.com
“The Ebony Trail is the second single from Ciara O’Neill‘s debut album – and a journey through a landscape full of darkness and hope. Life can be dark but it also has its moments of pure light and by staying on the right path or ‘trail’ you’ll find a way out of the darker times and rebuild what you once lost. In the animated video to accompany the new single the song is complemented by a mythical creature finding its way through a dense magical forest full of intrigue and mystery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASjToMQj8As. In the last year Ciara has been co-writing in Nashville with Grammy award winning songwriters, working with top publishers, and playing shows in venues such as The Bluebird Cafe and Music City Roots. She will feature in a TV programme entitled ‘Music City Roots, Belfast to Nashville’ alongside Iain Archer and Jim Lauderdale. It will be broadcast in the USA in October on the popular PBS network.”
DENNIS – Give Me Soul [starts 48:50]
https://facebook.com/dennis.co.uk
“Hailing from from the pit town of Hetton-Le-Hole, Co Durham, Dennis are an 8-piece folk-rock-and-colliery-brass band whose ethos, songs and lyrics are native to a working class and cultural heritage. The band have played sell-out shows ay Live Theatre Newcastle, Sage Gateshead and Durham Gala Theatre, plus various London venues and festivals. Give Me Soul comes from their debut album Open Your Eyes due to be released Sept 2 on Sapien Records – while their third EP The Caroline is already available in stores now.” Upcoming gigs: Jul 8 Bowburn: Miners Gala Pre-Celebration Show / Jul 16 Durham Brass Festival / Jul 17 Sunderland Summer Streets Festival / Jul 22 Ashington: Woodhorn Festival / Jul 30 Richmond Live Festival / Aug 13 Leeds VW Festival / Aug 19 London: Mau Mau / Aug 26 Blyth Tall Ships Festival / Sep 3 Morpeth: Coquetfest Festival / Nov 18 Washington Arts Centre / Nov 18 Edinburgh: Stramash
SALWA AZAR – Poseidon Sea [starts 52:15]
https://salwasmusic.com
“Salwa Azar‘s new album Black Feather, Wooden Chair” she tells us “will sit on a shelf between Bon Iver and Joni Mitchell and be very happy above Lhasa De Sela or PJ Harvey.”
TEMPLES OF YOUTH – Churches [starts 57:26]
http://templesofyouth.co.uk
Temples of Youth are, they tell us, “a two piece electronic band from Winchester consisting of Paul Gumma and vocalist Jo Carson. They tackle some heavy themes, but they’re buried in subtlety. The band began working on their live set in December 2015, with the desire to bring their music to the stage with a limited number of hands; Jo on percussion and Paul on guitar, utilising samplers and effects to recreate their sound. The pair recorded a live session for BBC Introducing: The South in Brighton in March 2016, while their debut release Enso, was played by Steve Lamacq on 6 Music. Their third track Dunes was recently featured by Huw Stephens on Radio 1 and this latest single Churches premiered on Clash Music.”
ARTISTS: A WORD OF WARNING…
In the music industry, as in life, it’s best to treat unsolicited emails asking for money with extreme caution. You may hear from a PR company who have “worked with some of the most original and exciting artists in the UK” who “found you online and after having a listen would be interested in working with you”. Please be aware you haven’t been sent this because you are special – it’s a form email, regularly received by artists who appear on this blog – and it’s from a company who are trying to sell you their services.
There are literally hundreds of plugging and PR companies in the UK you can choose from – many of whom would be glad to have your business – so you don’t neccessarily have to take the first offer that comes along. You might not even need professional radio promotion at this point: see our advice on Sending CDs to Radio and The Pros And Cons Of Pluggers.
And if you do decide to engage a professional PR company then shop around and get a few personal recommendations. Keep a note of which indie labels regularly get their artists on the radio – then email and ask which PR company they use – before parting with your hard-earned cash.
… AND A REQUEST
If we’ve featured you on the BBC Introducing Mixtape recently, can you do us a favour and wait 12 weeks before sending us another track via Fresh On The Net? That will give us space to help a few other deserving artists in the meantime. We’d love to hear another great new tune from you in three months’ time.
Tom Robinson
