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 9th September 2024: 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/batch540

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.

ENTIRE INBOX: Batch 540

Our moderators listened to every track we were sent this week and have picked their favourites for your listening pleasure this weekend:

Listening Post: Batch 540

Thanks to everyone who came by Fresh On The Net at the weekend to check out Listening Post 540 and tell us which tracks they liked best. Here, in alphabetical order, are our readers' top favourites. Our reviews are written by Fresh On The Net's THOM HARRISON - and you can read them at http://freshonthenet.co.uk/faves540

Fresh Faves: Batch 540

The First Train Home

Dancing On Dynamite

Band Spectra Feat. Olivesque - Bizarre & Temporary World (Radio Edit) 48k 24

Side of the Moon

Hoping to spread a feeling of positivity and inspiration June Holland and friend/fellow artists Jack Ronan release their first collaboration "Happy Now".

Ready to boost your mood and bring a smile to your face? “Happy Now” is the perfect feel-good pop song you’ve been searching for. With vibrant melodies and a touch of jazzy flair, this song is about appreciating the present whilst staying hopeful for the future. The heartfelt lyrics urge us not to give up during tough times, encouraging us to look forward to the good things in life that may be just around the corner...

Happy Now

Happy Now (feat. Jack Ronan)

Placid

Onyx

NX Panther drops summer heat on this new release "Man in the Moon" with Uganda’s freshest emerging African dancehall and reggae artist Neitan Lion of the 3 Badman crew. An internationally renowned artist, polymath and Director of Tava Records, straight out of the Ugandan diaspora herself, and well known to Music in Africa Net for her amapiano banger “Jashu”, NX Panther is among the UK’s hottest artists on the scene right now often compared to some of the music heroines in the game (Lisa Maffia, Shystie and Nolay) for her sharp lyrics, notable versatility as a rapper and all-round vocalist. Her confident and self-assured style on this record with Neitan Lion's alluring vocals are reminiscent of Ms Banks, J Hus, Asake and Harmonise.

Man In The Moon

Max Bianco’s latest release ‘Sometimes’ superbly showcases his songwriting abilities in his own storytelling manner all set against a background of a haunting yet beautiful melody. The brilliance of the track is allowed to shine, through its sheer simplicity really allowing the vocals to take centre stage. Max’s voice is clear yet emotive and thought provoking and the strumming acoustic guitar is literally like the plucking of your heart strings.    


Max has said of the track:
“‘Sometimes’ is about life really and when the cards dealt don’t match up to anything, but how it's maybe worth taking that risk of going all in again and hoping for a better hand to be dealt next time.” 


‘Sometimes’ was written by Max Bianco and was recorded at The Albion Rooms in Margate with renowned, award winning, music engineer and technician Jason Stafford. Produced by Mark Pickering, head of ARU music department in Cambridge, the arrangements were worked on with musicians Fabian Bonner (double bass) and Sean O’Hanrahan (piano). Mark mixed ‘to the track’ and you can sense this with the space in the final master which allows the vulnerability of the lyrics to truly resonate with the listener.

Max Bianco  - Sometimes

Any Trip

British rapper and musician NX Panther continues to establish herself as a relentless dynamic force in the UK music scene, renowned for her lyrical and rhythmic agility, captivating live performances and all round fearless approach to hip hop, rap and electronic genres.  

With a sound that draws from Black British music and her Indo-African roots, her artistry reflects the unique blend of her upbringing in Southampton and established South-east London foundations - New Cross, Lewisham that gives the NX from her name.

NX Panther has earned widespread recognition, with praise from Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing, 6 Music, and airplay on Exile FM and IS Black Music. A “Fresh on the Net” favorite, her tracks have landed on key Spotify playlists like Sakata and Bongo Piano.

“She’s clearly a rising star, and one to keep your eye on." 
Steve Harris (Fresh on the Net)

nxpanther.com
@nxpanther