This week’s free downloadable BBC Introducing Mixtape features handpicked tunes from the BBC Introducing Uploader by SYD ARTHUR, STRANGER STRANGER, SNIPPET, MOM TUDIE, CAZIMI, JULIE BEECH, PINK TIGER, GINGER SNAPS, TOM TOWNSEND, SEAWITCHES, BUD SUGAR, MOONDUDE, DUNCAN ALEX, RIGHTEOUS REPROBATES, THE BIG SUN, DOMINIC JOHNSON and MAZOULEW.

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, 1st August at 2am.

SYD ARTHUR – Sun Rays [starts 00:17]
http://sydarthur.co.uk
Wikipedia tells us “Syd Arthur are an English psychedelic jazz band, formed in Canterbury in 2003 by brothers frontman Liam and bassist Joel Magill, drummer Fred Rother and violinst Raven Bush. Rother was officially replaced by the Magills’ younger brother Josh in 2016. On 10 June, the band announced their fourth studio album Apricity would be released on 21 October 2016 and also released the title track as the lead single. This is the first album to feature Josh Magill on drums, and confirms the departure of Fred Rother.”

STRANGER STRANGER – Sometimes [starts 04:14]
https://strangerstranger.com
Stranger Stranger are Philip Solari and Marinda Lavut. The duo have played together continuously since meeting eight years ago, learning their craft and hitting success while busking outside the Montreal Jazz Festival, where the director of the festival heard them playing and promptly invited them in to play the festival, following year. Shortly afterwards, Laura Mvula’s producer Steve Brown heard their music, and paid for a trip to his West London studio to record. Thus, Stranger Stranger’s debut EP was formed. There is palpable enthusiasm for the new project and this excitement has already transcended into the live world, with ATC Live snapping the pair up. Stranger Stranger will also be performing live on Robert Elms BBC session on August 19th..”

SNIPPET – Falling Down [starts 07:15]
http://snippetcuts.co.uk
“Falling Down comes out as a selfreleased single on August 1st ahead of the fifth Snippet album Future Melancholy Pop Music – currently being recorded with producer Wim Oudijk for release later in 2016. Falling Down was inspired by an online exchange with Tom Robinson and by Johnno’s experiences of frequenting seminal nightclubs on the London music scene of the 80’s and 90’s. These ranged from the jazz-funk-pop of The Wag – launching the careers of Sade and Blue Rondo a La Turk to the gamechanging Shoom – which introduced acid house to the world and ignited the careers of Andrew Weatherall and Paul Oakenfold among others. It was, says Johnno “about having the best of times and cherishing every moment you possibly could. They taught me that falling down was but a byproduct of standing up and grabbing life by the throat and living it to the full. From those times I daily practise the principle that you are never too old to be young.”

MOM TUDIE – Otherside [starts 10:11]
http://momtudie.co.uk
“Mom Tudie (aka Tom Mudie since you ask) is a 21 year-old producer and songwriter from South East London. Already working with a wide range of vocalists and collaborators, Tudie has started making waves in the past three years with widespread support from influential blogs and tastemakers, while Waiting On You – his 2014 collaboration with Tom Misch – found further acclaim across the Atlantic along with ranging comparisons to acts including Bonobo, Thom Yorke, and Kwes. On this track Mom worked with old school friend and frequent collaborator Giorgia Lo to create something between dance and chilled summer vibes. With a little Greek thrown in for good measure, Otherside is the first step into the next chapter for this hugely promising London producer.”

CAZIMI – Light Entertainment [starts 13:46]
http://cazimi.co.uk
Based in Sunderland, Cazimi is the brainchild of Ian Hedley who has been writing and crafting guitar based songs for many years. The band has been described as “the sound of precision controlled force directed by intellect and urbane style. Not so much the bastard sons but the genetically engineered progeny of luminaries such as Devoto, McCulloch and Coleman”. Cazimi have recently been played on Radio 6 by Tom Robinson and on Radio Newcastle by Nicky Roberts. Light Entertainment is the third and final track from their three song EP called My Sign, released in May 2016. Their next gig is at The Tynemouth Surf Café on 4th September 2016

JULIE BEECH – Smart Arse [starts 16:58]
https://soundcloud.com/user-49900462
“I am a divorced mother of 2 living in the Bournemouth area” says Julie Beech “having moved here from Milton Keynes. I work as a psychotherapist in the local area and have done so for the last 16 years. I play a variety of musical instruments including the guitar and violin and compose my own songs.”

PINK TIGER – Do The Right Thing [starts 19:06]
http://pinktigermusic.com
Pink Tiger aka East London producer Dermot Solon makes “house-infused feel-good pop music – think Scissor Sisters meets Hot Chip. Combining catchy vocal hooks with uptempo dance beats and infused with some synthy sparkles, Pink Tiger’s music will get you moving, and will linger in your ear long after you’ve finished listening.”

GINGER SNAPS – Phat Kids [starts 22:27]
https://facebook.com/gingersnapspop
“Ginger Snaps (aka Jay Brook) is a multi-instrumental singer and producer from Northampton. Whilst also being a main writer for the Radio X playlisted track OhBoy!, Ginger Snaps is now creating a brand new sound, coupling his trademark slacker vocal delivery over breakbeat drums. Reminiscent of the hazy sounds of De La Soul, Beck and Eels, Phat Kids blends this smoky style with Jay’s obviously self-critical and anxiety-ridden lyrics, all poking fun at the post-modern male condition. Ginger Snaps is currently putting together a band to perform a string of shows in September.”

TOM TOWNSEND – Leave It Up To Me [starts 25:37]
http://tomtownsend.co.uk
“Tom Townsend is a Scarborough born Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with roots in Blues, Jazz, Folk, Country and Soul. With 20 years’ experience in music (from session work to band-leading), Tom’s earthy and honest songs are a testament to a life lived for music.
Tom’s self-penned album “Chasing the Birds” has attracted the attention of London-based producer Bill Gautier (Eric Clapton, Dire Straits), as well as various record labels nationally.”

SEAWITCHES – Skylight [starts 29:16]
http://seawitches.co.uk
“SeaWitches are intense and hypnotic. Their sound is a collision of sublime melodies with primal rhythms alongside otherworldly vocals and spiralling guitars. In 2015 they received plaudits from the NME, Louder Than War and BBC introducing amongst others; appeared at festivals and venues across the UK, including shows with Mike Watt of the Stooges, Sam Dook of The Go! Team and Hooton Tennis Club. This newly-released single Skylight was produced by Bill Ryder Jones, ex-Coral guitarist and producer of Hooton Tennis Club. The tracks are released on Emerald Eye Recordings. Forthcoming gig 20th August at Buyers Club Liverpool.”

BUD SUGAR – Get Familiar [starts 33:17]
http://www.budsugar.co.uk
“Since the start of their journey, Bud Sugar have managed to pack out venues, cause a ruckus at festivals and gain national media coverage due to both their infectious musical compositions and their role in human rights activism. These five forward thinkers are fresh back from a road trip in California were they spent weeks busking, playing gigs & heading down to recording studios to catch the vibe. Bud Sugar is a band where some talk of an Afro, up-beat skank. Others claim, ska but not quite ska. Certainly the high speed and manic ukulele is a key component, along with the acoustic vibrations, set at top the electronic drum and sample section. But most agree that the vibe that becomes a sound itself will be called Bud Sugar.”

MOONDUDE – Something [starts 37:02]
https://facebook.com/moondudemusic
“South London newcomers Moondude swirl sheets of sound and flip distortion. They take from the mop swaying shoe-gazers of the early 90s and combine it with melodic dream pop. Comprised of 5 best mates, who grew up together, constantly making music, and have finally decided to form a group. Also they live on the moon.”

DUNCAN ALEX – Hustle [starts 39:45]
http://duncanalex.com
Hustle comes from Before Us, the fourth album by Australian-born, Exeter-based songwriter Duncan Alex. “For me,” he says, “2016 has developed into a year of contemplating a blurry future. But it began vividly, with the release of my fourth album, Before Us. BBC Devon said nice things about the title track. I’ve sprinkled probably six decades of influences into my brand of prog-pop/rock pleasure, I’ve even got 70-80’s style vocoder, and of course wonderful guitar lines rippling off the super-coordinated fingernails of Ian Davey. Ian and I have performed this track Hustle together live on a number of occasions, but it never felt closer to inevitable than on the album version. I would love listeners to spend a part of their 2016 listening to my music, because it ceases to exist when there are no ears intercepting it, and that’s too bad.”

RIGHTEOUS REPROBATES – Violent Dream [starts 43:01]
http://righteousreprobates.com
“Based in London and Kent, Righteous Reprobates consist of songwriter Rob White with Charlie Kenny, Jack Griffiths and Jack Collier and have over an albumsworth of material recorded and mastered at Abbey Road. They have been playing headline shows on the London live circuit where their next show will be at 229 Club on September 3rd. All four of them are, they tell us, “impressive musicians armed with great songs that cry out to be sung in stadiums and festival the world over. Rob’s songwriting features meaningful and memorable lyrics, inspired melodies and harmonies. The band delivers a menacing sonic wall of layered guitars, each song infused with effortlessly slick riffs and grooves: a fitting canvas for the relentless surge of hooks and anthemic choruses that define a fresh sound that truly impresses and cries out to be heard.”

THE BIG SUN – Barbarossa [starts 46:15]
http://balloontwisterrecords.co.uk
“The Big Sun is fronted by Berry – a 19-year-old potty mouthed student (Notts Trent) whose musical ambition has made enough money to get a tattoo. She is also a trainee graphic artist available to do mp3 covers and cinematographs for pifling amounts of cash. The Big Sun are currently band in residence at Hughie’s Hoodle Doodle Store on Walthamstow High Street. Customers purchasing any non- accessory or perfume item will be eligible for a personalised signed band Yashmak and Almond Croissant. (Offer restricted to one per person per day. Item may not be gluten free and may contain nuts.)”

DOMINIC JOHNSON – It Wasn’t The Bombs [starts 50:01]
https://www.facebook.com/domjohnsonmusic
“Dominic Johnson is a songwriter and performer originally from Newcastle and now based in South East London, with hard-hitting songs covering the sombre and political. He jointly pursues folk music as a solo artist, inspired by the likes of Chris Wood, and is also a member of the 7-piece indie band Two Limbed Doll, inspired by Belle and Sebastian amongst others. He will be playing Folkestone’s Lime Bar Cafe (surely the best small independent venue on the South Coast!) on October 14th as well as playing a few gigs around London in the coming weeks.”

MAZOULEW – Overdue [starts 56:12]
https://soundcloud.com/mazoulew
“Mazoulew (aka Matthew Zouhar-Lewis) is an unsigned, London-based music producer who works with a wide range of upcoming artists and media companies. His projects range from cinematic soundscapes through to commercial dance-floor beats. His producer credits include:
Random Impulse, The Remedies, G.R.E.E.D.S, Kal Lavelle, Cara Winter, Daryl Bar(Hot Donkey), Martin Case, Tshaka Campbell, Alice Grace, Aruba Red, Venus Casino, The Howling, Candi Thief, Jack Moore, Char Johnson, Charlie Laffer’s Jazz Quartet, J-Treole and many more…

ARTISTS…
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 – many of whom have equally impressive lists of clients and who would be glad to have your business. You don’t neccessarily have to choose the first company that happens to get in touch with you. See our advice on Sending CDs to Radio and The Pros And Cons Of Pluggers – it’s possible you might not even need professional radio promotion at this point.

And if you do decide to pay for a PR company, don’t take their word for how good they are – get some personal recommendations from their clients. Before parting with your hard-earned cash why not email a few of the indie labels who regularly get their own artists on the radio – and ask which PR companies they use.

… ALSO
If we’ve featured you on the BBC Introducing Mixtape recently, please do us a favour and wait 12 weeks before sending us another track. That will give us space to help a few other deserving artists in the meantime. But I’d love to hear another great new tune from you in three months’ time.

Tom Robinson