These Fresh Faves were picked by our readers over the weekend – and reviewed by Fresh On The Net’s Marina Florance this week. You can hear all these tracks in a single Soundcloud playlist here.

BAGGE – Another One Down

BaggE is a neo-soul singer from north London who made the Fresh Faves in November last year, Del Osei-Owusu (FOTN Reviewer and radio host at Songbird HQ) wrote the following: “Since launching in 2019, BaggE’s contemporary neo-soul sound has been a much-admired voice on the circuit. BaggE grew up surrounded by music, particularly influenced by her Congolese heritage and musical family”

Another One Down is track 3 from the EP – Without Armour which was released 10th February 2023 by Ferocious Label Services, and described by BaggE as “a piece of work about letting your inner child breath and talking about what you really want.”

Undeniably a superb soulful listen, you’re left in no doubt what this song is about, you can clearly hear every single lyric in the excellently delivered vocals. The beat is catchy and carries the track along with a skilfully balanced cacophony of sound that pulsates but never overpowers the vocal.

If you want to hear/see just a little of what BaggE can do live, watch this video.

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

EMMI MAARIA – Why Would We Girls Be Sad

Emmi Maaria is a London-based Finnish singer, violist and composer. She was introduced to music at the age of six when she started violin lessons in Finland, later studying music and singing at University in Germany.

​Emmi brings together classical and contemporary music and hopes to “connect with people who enjoy the alternative sounds and classical elements.”

​Released 3rd March 2023, this track is inspired by two poems from the Kanteletar, a collection of Finnish folk poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot. The lyrics tell us (I hope I have this right) that girls and boys are not so different in their emotions and experiences.

A Finnish friend of my daughter also tells me that Emmi is saying it’s okay for girls to be themselves, that it’s sung in an older dialect and sounds, in parts, like Finnish Traditional singing. Thanks, Irene, for your help.

Based on Emmi’s desired demographic, this certainly hits all of the right notes. From its dramatic start, through soaring, magnificent vocals, Emmi takes us by the hand and leads us on with a pounding, hypnotic beat that has swagger, sweeping your ears off of their lobes with its complex collection of sound.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

FEZ – The Eulogy

London-based FEZ — Rollo Ellison on vocals and rhythm guitar, Mischa Dhar on bass, Zak de la Bedoyere Drums, lead guitarist Lewis Rennie-Campbell, and Ed Wing on keyboards — were formed in January 2019. Well, I don’t believe it, I reviewed them just a few months ago in Batch 469.

FEZ say: “We make a DIY blend of psychedelic and progressive rock that places an equal emphasis on song writing, sonics and improvisation. Every member is at the forefront of the band’s music.”

This is FEZ in their element, their eulogy to the death of art, drilling down into, in their words… “the repetitive nature of motorik krautrock to reflect the everyday repetition we were experiencing during lockdown and also the copy/paste approach so much pop music “.

So, are we all doomed, left goggle eyed with endless mundane entertainment? I’m hopeful that isn’t the case. Why? Because musicians, like FEZ, upload to the FOTN inbox every week, bringing us variety, innovation, inspiration and art. This track, featuring organ sounds captured at St Jude and St Paul’s Church, North London and released March 2023, is a reminder that we have to keep our eye on the prize, get the world to turn down the mundane and power up bands like FEZ.

Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

FRANCES MISTRY – You Don’t See Me

Well blow me down with a feather, I also reviewed Frances Mistry recently in Batch 462 — I do not do that many reviews, so you can see why I’m surprised.

Frances Mistry is a singer-songwriter and producer from Brighton. Who is “making songs for you to scream in your car to.”

This track was released March 2023. Frances is becoming a regular visitor to Fresh Faves and that’s hardly surprising considering the quality of the music. You Don’t See Me is the sad tale of a love that you thought was good, turns out it was not so good, leaving the listener feeling that Frances might feel invisible, unnoticed, well that can only be in the name of art and dramatisation, as there’s no way Frances can go unnoticed or invisible with delightful vocals and adept lyrics such as we all get to enjoy here, the music will go from strength to strength.

You can catch Frances live 11th April at The Hope & Ruin, 11-12 Queens Rd, Brighton.

Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

LAURA T – In My Head

Laura T is Laura Turner a singer-songwriter based in Norfolk, also a vocalist and co-writer for the band RANE. Her Instagram profile tells us that Laura’s day job is a yoga and fitness Instructor. If she’s as good at the day job as she is with this track, get yourself booked in! In My Head was played by Sophie Little on BBC Radio Norfolk’s Upload Show where Laura was also interviewed.

Laura describes her process for making music as therapy. From what I can find this is Laura’s first trip to the Fresh Faves playlist. In My Head was released 3rd March 2023 and the official video is definitely worth a look.

This pulsating track hustles its way straight into your head, the bass beat flits between your ears, throbbing from side to side, eliminates your own brain activity and messes with your heart rate, or maybe that’s just me…

Insightful lyrics! Most will be able to relate to them. Overthinking, we all do it, right?

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

LILI CASELEY – Jonny

Lili Caseley is a singer-songwriter from Camden, London who, in her own words “creates soulful pop about love”. The latest track, Jonny, is from the album Bloodline Rodrigues, which was released March 10th 2023.

With exquisite piano, classy vocals and stylish background vocals there is absolutely everything to love about this track. From what I can find, this too is a first time visit to Fresh Faves for Lili, and its hard to imagine that there will not be many more, as long as music of this quality keeps on coming.

You are left hoping, wanting, no wait… yearning for Jonny to do the right thing. A wonderful listen, immersive, gentle, mellow with captivating harmonies. I only wish I could find a little more to tell you about the track, like who is doing those gorgeous BVs… We need more Lili, we need more, even if Jonny doesn’t.

Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

MAYA YENN – Sour Grapes

Maya Yenn is an alt-pop artist, producer and composer based in the Midlands who studied Drama and Theatre Arts at Uni. Maya, already on the radar of Tom Robinson with her release Better Luck Next Time, which Tom picked out of the melee for one of his famous BBC Introducing Mixtapes.

Sour Grapes, released 3rd March 2023, is written and co-produced by Maya, co-produced and mixed by Michelangelo Dousis, mastered by Alex Gordon (Abbey Road Studios) with trumpets and flugelhorn performed by Gary Alesbrook.

Maya describes the track as “refreshing as a tall, ice-cold glass of lemonade and just as bitter, Sour Grapes is a characterful take on the frustrations and disappointments of adulthood; video game bleeps and bloops and R&B-tinged beats, it’s the perfect cocktail of freshly-squeezed pop for when adulthood just isn’t sweet enough.”

Who knew that yearning for the next thing to happen would be so disappointing, if this song tells us anything then it’s to enjoy the moment, wishing for the freedom of what’s to come doesn’t always turn out how we hoped. Well, I know it, but then I’ve been around awhile.

Great songwriting, innovative production. Listen and learn, Maya is telling you how it is.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

SCOTT LAVENE – Waitrose Has Run Out Of Lobsters

I’m amazed, I’ve only bloomin’ reviewed Scott before as well, in Batch 469, this is a weird coincidence!

Scott Lavene is based in England and tells us he does Odd Pop and Twisted Ballads. I listen to all the songs a number of times before reviewing them, and which line do I keep singing when I go to the kitchen to replenish my cuppa? Yep, you’ve got it, Waitrose Has Run Out Of Lobsters.

Released by Nothing Fancy 7th March 2023, it’s a lobster earworm with prawn cocktail dressing, and for someone who has never eaten lobster, never touched a lobster, never even been to dinner party — let alone one that served lobster — I find myself appalled that Janet, at No 32, with the chest freezer has stashed all the lobster.

This is storytelling at its best, hanging on to every wonderfully crafted description. I’m left longing for the sequel where Janet, of chest freezer infamy, could be reported missing… and all I was worried about before all this “posh angry mob” malarkey is who would want to buy three cucumbers anyway?

Scott, your ability to paint a picture musically is superb. Go and see Scott live.

Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

THE SILVER LINES – Blow Dry

This is not the first trip to FOTN Fresh Faves for this scratchy hand knitted sweater wearing band, playing flat out rock’n’roll music. I’m not surprised!

Formed by the brothers Ravenscroft, who were uninspired by the current landscape of guitar music, and since meeting Kindo (drums) and Joe Cartwright (bass), The Silver Lines have consistently sold out their hometown (Birmingham) gigs, had plays on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 Music, Radio X and played festivals from England to America. Currently on a tour in the US and back in the UK for a number of dates towards the end of March, visit their website ASAP for details, so you don’t miss out.

Blow Dry was released 2nd March 2023 via ADR Records, with its driving solid beats and riffs you would be hard pressed not to be jumping around the living room dancing yourself into oblivion, the only sounds you can utter being aaahh aaahh ah ah ah aaah ah! Oh, my bloomin’ gawd Blow Dry is excellent, I think I have one of those scratchy knitted sweaters somewhere — soon as I’m done here, I’ll find it, put it on and immerse myself right up to my ears in Blow Dry, turn up the volume in the studio and annoy the neighbours.

Official | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Bandcamp

ZO LIEF – Familiar Strangers

Laura Chen and James Attwood are Zo Lief who are based in North London. They met at Music College 7 years ago, James is a multi-instrumentalist, Laura provides the beautifully emotive vocals and plays the guitar. Laura, originally from the Netherlands, may have, I do not know for sure, come up with the name of the band as Zo Lief is Dutch for “so sweet”, and this track is oh so sweet!

Having already caught the attention of Trust The Doc, FOTN’s very own Neil March, who played the track on Radio Exile FM, where it proved to be such a hit with the listeners it won the shows New Trax Poll by a country mile.

I know I’m not supposed to show favour but this is my fave of Batch 480, before everyone else feels disappointed (as if my opinion actually counts) I have to say I’ve been blessed this week with an epic Fresh Faves playlist.

Familiar Strangers is Zo Lief’s second single, and is produced and mixed by James Edward Bagshaw, mastered by J P Braddock. Take a few moments to view the official video, it’s enchanting.

The lyrics are simply superb, simplicity at its best, sung with honesty and innocence you can’t help but love it. There’s no doubt this duo will be here again, with music like this it’s inevitable.

Linktree | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

PS from TR: If you’ve submitted a track that hasn’t been picked for the Listening Post, our team has definitely listened to it and there’s no need to send it again: feel free to send us an even stronger track another week. The same goes if you were picked for the Listening Post but didn’t feature in our Fresh Faves.

But if we’ve recently featured you in our Fresh Faves – or on my BBC Introducing Mixtape – please wait three months before sending us another track, so we have space to help other deserving artists… For more info see Robinson Has A Good Old Moan.

Emmi Maaria photo by Maija Vaara