MID (2025 living mixtape)

ECLECTIC PICKS - 2025

Any artist is welcome to send us a track via freshonthenet.co.uk anytime between Monday lunchtime and Wednesday evening (or when we receive 200 submissions, whichever is sooner) - and all our moderators, including Tom Robinson, will listen to every track. This is our full inbox from the week beginning Mon 17th March 2025: from Friday afternoon you'll be able to hear our shortlist and pick your favourites on this week's Listening Post which will appear at freshonthenet.co.uk/batch563

If a track you submitted does not appear in this list, it’s probably because another of your tracks appeared in our Fresh Faves or on the BBC Music Introducing Mixtape during the last three months — we ask that artists featured on either wait three months before resubmitting to give others a chance. 

We also don’t accept short previews or SoundCloud Go tracks that can only be heard as 30 second previews, and tracks made private after submission, which cannot be included in playlists. You will be able to resubmit the track in future. Tracks (and remixes of tracks) that have been previously submitted, and tracks from banned artists will also be removed.

Full Inbox: Batch 563

I listened to every track in the Fresh On The Net inbox this week. Here are my favourites. NB I didn't like enough of the tunes last week to make a playlist, but this week, we're back! 
You can find the full inbox here:
https://on.soundcloud.com/DmWCxsvJ8ZxsVvAh6

FOTN 563 - Back on track!!

https://freshonthenet.co.uk/2025/03/eclectic-563/

Fresh on the Net - Eclectic Picks 563

Lyrics:
How can I carry on 
As if there’s nothing wrong 
The Earth is shaking
Fires burning
Fathers are fighting
Mothers with children
Searching for shelter 
And solid ground
Fighting to survive

How do I carry on 
Living in my own world 
Brother kills his brother
I feel their pain 
He hurts and I bleed
Give me your sorrow 
I’ll help you carry on 
and on and on 
Be strong 

We're sharing this Earth together
Humankind is suffering 
And from the ashes 
We will rise
And rebuild our lives

Springtime will come again
And cherry trees bloom
Love is the water I drink
So come and quench my thirst 

Let the strength, love and light
Grow inside of us all
We become beams so bright
 Permeate the night 
Don’t underestimate yourself 
And your light

"Cherry Trees" is an ambient alt-pop song that weaves heartfelt melodies with powerful messages of compassion, hope and peace, aimed at the heart of the listener.

Kat Kikta utilises her music as a platform to advocate for peace, echoing the sentiments of a new generation yearning for harmony and understanding.

The lush soundscape of "Cherry Trees" invites listeners to immerse themselves in a serene, dreamlike world, with sound healing frequencies and instruments, evocative harp and violins and gentle rhythms that reflect the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms — a symbol of renewal and peace. It encapsulates the spirit of resilience and the belief that music can bridge gaps, heal wounds, and inspire change.

A cinematic, emotional potent music video filmed on location in Slovakia is also part of this release.

Kat Kikta, who merges electronic sounds with lyrical depth, is quickly becoming a voice to watch in the ambient pop genre.

With "Cherry Trees," she invites listeners to take the first step on what will be a transformative journey of an album, encouraging them to reflect on the power of peace, love, harmony and the beauty of coming together as one.

Moldavite

Cherry Trees

Buy song

Nina Simone meets The Black Keys in a jam with Portishead?
...maybe you can do a better job defining our sound 💕

Resolution

it's a twisty love song ❤️

"HE" features heavily my little Casio pt-82 and its hypnotic samba beats. Written, recorded and produced between London & Glasgow, this is the first of three tracks I'll be releasing this year.

Thanks for listening & hope you enjoy,

Rochelle x

Lyrics:

He is like hair
Soft, smooth & everywhere 
He is a tree
Rooted, tall & climbable on 

He holds me 
In a trance, while I dance
He eclipses all I see
He builds a bridge
Then runs from me ...

He wrote down my favourite quote
On a little yellow posit note
And placed it underneath my pillow
… low, low, low, low, low, low …

He wrote down my favourite quote
On a little yellow posit note
And placed it underneath me 

He’s beating on my heart like a 
Timp, timp, timp, timp, timp, ti
Timpani

He’s like sweetpea potpourri 
Living in my mind with a master key
Beating on my heart like a timpani
Yipee! Yipee!

He’s beating on my heart like a 
Timp, timp, timp, timp, timp, ti
Timpani

Oh, 
He’s beating on my heart like a 
Timp, timp, timp, timp, timp, ti
Timpani

WISH I NEVER STAYED

"Wha-Gwaan" - designed to be a wake up call response to the seemingly increasing presence of social injustice in the world today.  The hypnotic dub-funk groove is brought to the boiing point by the legendary Frank Benbini ,(Fun Loving Criminals/UB40/Uncle Frank), who makes a guest appearance on drums & hype vocals.

WHA-GWAAN! by Tomás Doncker, featuring Frank Benbini

Holding it down in Mexico

Fully remixed album (from March 2024 demos) updated with live drums by Martyn James. Contains midlife reflections on many things, belated bouts of outrage and billions of backing vocals.

Say it now

I'm Glad It's Not Sunny

APPLE MUSIC
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/benny-bellamacina/852582855

THE WONDER OF IT ALL

Mature Themes

“The world is becoming increasingly unstable. We wanted to reflect on this in the context of protest songs from the past and how they’re seen in the 21st century. Modern oligarchs condemn Flower Power, peace and environmental movements, and human rights protesters, for the troubles of the world. But it’s actually these despots’ own lies and greed which are to blame for what’s happening in the world right now.”  - Richard Pierce

"It's a travesty that songs like this still need to be written, if only we could sing about love, peace and happiness whilst living in a world of love , peace and happiness, where everyone treats everyone else as an equal and with kindness, love and compassion, but in Richard's words: this is something yet to be seen..." - Marina Florance

were they really golden years
as we drifted through our joy
what ever happened to our smiles
the peace we took for granted

not because the past was best
or that the grass was greener then
it's because what we really need
Is something yet to be seen

don't blame the flowers,
don't blame the girls,
don't blame the colours
don't blame the universal soldiers
he marched away without goodbyes
don't blame him for your lies

we didn't see the warning signs
as we held our eyes closed
the bombs, the blood,
the loss of meaning,
the hate, the deaths, the grieving

don't blame the flowers
don't blame the girls
don't blame the colours
don't blame the universal soldiers

don't blame the flowers
don't blame the girls
don't blame the colours
don't blame the universal soldiers
they marched away without goodbyes
don't blame them for your lies

we did not see the warning signs
as we held our eyes closed
the bombs, the blood,
the loss of meaning,
the hate, the deaths,
the grieving

don't blame the flowers
don't blame the girls
don't blame the colours
don't blame the universal soldiers
they marched away without goodbyes
don't blame them for your lies

don't blame the flowers
don't blame the girls
don't blame the colours
don't blame the universal soldiers
we marched away without goodbyes
don't blame us for your lies
don't blame us for your lies

not because the past was best
or that the grass was greener then
it's because what we really need
is something yet to be seen

Credits
Words: Richard Pierce
Music: Marina Florance
Spoken word: Richard Pierce and Marina Florance
Vocals: Anna Bass, Ray Taylor, Marina Florance
Guitar: Ray Taylor
Instrumentation: Marina Florance
Recording/Mixing/Production: Marina Florance
Mastered by: Tonalex


without goodbyes

Say it like you mean it (longer version)

This is a bit of a change from my last happy song , it's a tad sobering ! It's not an anti war song by any means , I know they do have to happen from time to time to when tyrants are involved , sometimes we have no choice and have to rid the world of a monster . But it's always a sad state of affairs and this song reflects that , I do hope you like it though ! On a happier note , me and Kim have a cracking song out on the 21st , and after that are two belting songs , one a tongue in cheek rocker with Axel Menningen , and a huge song with Gaz Brownie . Thanking all you guys and gals for the continued support . Remember me and Charlotte have an album out , give it a whirl if you get chance !
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWWNcrIRv08J_eEbL7MJ_1UTdMo0MjJLM
https://open.spotify.com/album/78ewrWZjS41XvHT9mFWd6O?si=yDMcRADSSrOdWlanz6UPMw

The Weight of War

Indie folk with an almost shanty-like feel. Inspired by artists like Vashti Bunyan, Karen Dalton and Lana Del Ray. Also generally inspired by nature and a response to life over the past year or so.

Away

Eleanor

Another dawless track from the old AkaiXR20 with a sequencer, and a korg Monotron.

ZED ZERO

"We don't always see eye to eye, but she always got my back... Love you Mumma"

Mumma

There’s a promise in the day’s early light, the possibility felt in the morning. Excerpts, is about pouring all your thoughts into one place, making sense of the fullness in your mind. It’s the spaciousness we crave and the clarity that comes with writing them down.

Excerpts

ModularRodeo.Com for updates

Flyswatter Maestro is Brandon Petit
Working with mostly 90's pawnshop equipment and cheap toys.
Influencences of boombap, trip-hop and experimental noise.
The first FlyMae album came out in 2012 made with Acid Pro and Fruity Loops with new releases sporadically through the decade utilizing new software and introducing new recording ideas. 2024 was a bit of a comeback year with renewed vitality and a new hardware based sound. 

 When he's not making weirdo beats he plays in the bands "TNMFL" & "Red Quarters" and was a former member of Glitter Pets, A Product of you, Disco Ain't Dead & Entrails of the Virgin.