ECLECTIC PICKS - 2024

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 : 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/batch532

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 532

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 532

love this playlist

Lynzie Dray The Little Songbird

FOTN: ECLECTIC PICKS - 2024

Energy

Out Of Nowhere

Lullaby

High Kingdom Pt. 1

Written, produced and performed by: Lynzie Dray

Guitar and Vocals by: Lynzie Dray

Copyright@Lynziedraymusic

Say Hello (Live via 'MyLounge')

Belterz, the new album project by Conscious Route is a social exploration of his personal experience of a changing society and culture, highlighting the insights of an ageing person living life and being an artist in the music Industry. 

Taking the perspective of an independent artist, the album features a host of top flight artists bringing different styles and perspectives as they share insights from their own journeys within the culture of the Scottish music scene.

The album musically and lyrically navigates a range of sounds and social topics, uniting the introspective with social observation, as we have come to expect from Conscious Route. Most of the production is handled battle rapper/ producer MacKenzie, with just two tracks (‘2 Guys’ produced by Tzusan and ‘Essence’ produced by Vagrant Real Estate) produced by others. Guest musicians, Chris Greive & Scott Bathgate also appear across 5 songs. With Scott Bathgate adding subtlety to ‘Ducks in a Row’ and an eerie edge to ‘Underground’, while Chris Greive brings extra trombone to the subtle style of ‘Late’, nuance to ‘Heart on Sleeves’ and a a mix of Jazz influenced keys and trombone with the track ‘2 Guys’. 

The feature-heavy project boasts guest appearances from some of Scotland's finest, with tunes featuring Empress, YBxgtown, Kryptik, Lynzie Dray, Milles Better, Gluco, Jennifer Anne Todd, One Oz, Mistah Bohze, MacKenzie, JabbaThaKut, Wends, Becci Wallace, Solareye, Queen of Harps and Pro Focus.

Conscious Route draws upon years of experience in the music industry as he casts an eye over the state of hip-hop culture and the trials of getting noticed as an underground artist. His vocals mesh perfectly with those of his guests, bringing an array of vocal styles and accents as the music flips from hip-hop head-nodders to a UK Garage throwback, some soul-tinted melodies, dub, and beyond.  

Continuing to push the culture while keeping an eye on its roots, ‘Belterz’ shows why Conscious Route has long been regarded as one of the foremost names in Scottish hip-hop. Release Date 10.11.2023 


The Skinny Magazine “Belterz” Album 4 Star Review ****
 
“But if anyone’s earned the right to be so bold, it’s Conscious Route. For over two decades, the London- born, Edinburgh-based rapper has been honing his craft, emerging from the underground as one of the finest hip-hop artists in the Scottish scene.” (Chris Sneddon) 






Tracklist:

01. Amorphous Shape ft Empress 
02. Pretentious ft YBxGtown
03. Carry On ft Kryptik 
04. Ducks in a Row ft Lynzie Dray & Milles Better 
05. Sugar Coated ft Gluco
06. Essence ft Jennifer Anne Todd
07. Day Ones ft One OZ,  Mistah Bohze, Mackenzie & JabbaThakut
08. Late ft Wends 
09. Underground ft Becci Wallace 
10. Original ft Solareye
11. Hearts on Sleeves ft Queen of Harps & Lynzie Dray
12. 2 Guys ft Pro Focus 


Music Credits: 
All tracks produced by Mackenzie, except ‘Essence’ produced by Vagrant Real Estate
and ‘2 Guys’ produced by Tzusan 
Scott Bathgate: Guitar on ‘Ducks in a Row’, guitar and keyboard on ‘Underground’
Chris Greive: Keyboards and trombone on ‘2 Guys’ and trombone on ‘Hearts on Sleeves’ 
Tracks mastered by Forest DLG @ KMJ45
Editorial Tom Clover 
Pictures by Ben Glasgow 
Artwork by John Dyer @DigitalDyer

Belterz (Radio Edit Version)

04. Ducks In A Row (Radio Edit) by Conscious Route ft, Lynzie Dray & Miles Better

‘Let Yourself Cry’ is a heartbeat to hold close to yours when you feel alone and desperate. It’s a song for everyone who’s experienced grief, pain, suffering. It’s words offered in solidarity and comfort.

Let Yourself Cry

Exist

Nina

Portamento

Hardball from my debut EP 'An Exorcise in Anger' 

Written by Alexandra Leaving
Produced by Michael Smith at RYP Recording Studios
Mastered by Andy Baldwin at Metropolis Studios


Lyrics:

I guess you always had the vision
While I was cursed by indecision
I play guitar and you play hardball

Then you called me crazy
Well that rhetoric’s just lazy
I’m unhinged at my best
And the rest floats in fragments.

And no more going down to the movies now.

As a matter of fact you can have it back,
All the good, the bad - it’s for you.
And as a matter of fact I don’t even feel bad.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.

We decorate the silence with some light chaotic violence
You’re out on the field, I still wanted to be your home run.
But then I saw your colours and I don’t wanna be another,
Just another thing you step on.

As a matter of fact you can have it back,
All the good, the bad - it’s for you.
And as a matter of fact I don’t even feel bad.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.

I don’t want anything but the way I know,
And I know now this is the end.

As a matter of fact you can have it back,
All the good, all the bad - It was for you
And as a matter of fact I don’t even feel bad.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.
It’s just that sometimes I’m a little blue.

Hardball

Disorder is taken from Keening's second album - James Francis Diaries.
Preorder available here - https://darkliberationrecords.bandcamp.com/album/james-francis-diaries-2
James Francis was the lead singer of the cult band Strange Ones. He disappeared in 1993 from the island of Losse in Scotland where he was recording his debut album.

In 2022, James’ tapes and diaries were given by James’ parents to the band Keening. Keening had discovered and fallen in love with the Strange Ones' records and learned about James’ disappearance. The original demos themselves, even with digital restoration are unlistenable as James distorted the recordings and overdubbed them with found sounds from the island. Instead of replicating the songs, Keening decided to write their own music inspired by James’ diary, the mystery surrounding his disappearance, his lyrics, and the island of Losse. James’ edited diary is included here for interest and with the permission of his family.

releases January 20, 2024

James Francis Diaries

Disorder

Old Friends

DOPAMINE by Bjørn Felle, out now on AnalogueTrash

Dopamine

Bloom by amilost. 

Written by: Sigrid A. Zeiner-Gundersen, Ross Leslie Craib & Mark Elliott
Produced by: Mark Elliott & amilost 
Mastered by: Mastering The Mix
Artwork: Glide Photos

Lyrics:

Why am I frozen
Waiting for the buds to bloom 
Ground is overflowing
I’m running out of room

My body’s aching
I don’t feel the heat 
Subconsciously screaming 
Light me up

I don’t wanna come down
I don’t, I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down
It took me forever to get this high 
High
High
I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down

I watch the air that I’m breathing 
Waiting for myself to thaw
Draw with my fingertips
I don’t need to be in love

My body’s aching
I can feel the heat 
Subconsciously screaming Light me up

I don’t wanna come down
I don’t, I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down
It took me forever to get this high 
High
High
I don’t, I don’t
      
I don’t wanna come down

When I’m up here I want to feel it No limit, no limit 
When I’m up here I want to feel it No limit, no limit 
When I’m up here I want to feel it No limit, no limit 
When I’m up here I just wanna feel

I don’t wanna come down
I don’t, I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down
It took me forever to get this high 
High
High
I don’t, I don’t
I don’t wanna come down

Bloom

Congratulations - Amelle Rose

Sunset Blvd

Gangster Love

I have stage 4 breast cancer and quite often people don't believe me when I tell them that I'm great. We have all have a personal scale of really bad to really great, and having cancer does not change that. Whilst living with cancer I often feel great, so when you ask me and I say that I am great - I actually mean it.


[VERSE 1]
Some days obstacles stand in my way
Casting their mist of pure grey
But I see the light of sun rays
I have to choose my attitude before I get up
Will I face the day ahead of me with cheer
The hope in my soul tells me that I have nothing to fear

[PRECHORUS]
I’m being honest when I say		
How I am feeling today

[CHORUS]
I’m great
I know life’s not perfect, ok
I can’t help feeling this way
Every day 
When I walk in a room with a smile on my face
My heart is singing
Coz I’m great

[VERSE 2]
The warmth of sun on my skin makes me sing
Knowing what this life will bring
Adventures and wonderful things
I get to travel round the world and see its beauty
With all my favourite people next to me
Not asking for much I’m content with how my life will be 

[PRECHORUS]
I’m being honest when I say		
How I am feeling today

[CHORUS]
I’m great
I know life’s not perfect, ok
But I can’t help feeling this way
Every day 
When I walk in a room with a smile on my face
My heart is singing
Coz I’m great
I’m great
I’m great
I’m great
I’m great

I'm Great

Heavenly

I wrote this song for my husband. I wished we met earlier, but our time together is so precious that it's making up for that lost time.

This is Gracie's first single off her upcoming EP 'Dimples'

This song was written in 2021 by GRACiE BEVERLEY. It was produced by Joe Sage and mastered by Stephen Kerrison.

Making Up For Lost Time

A collaboration between Point Blank students Tasha & Harry (vocals) and London producer/DJ duo Atari & Precious, who met through London club night SNEAK at XOYO. Energetic dance pop with a definite alt-festival vibe. 130bpm.

04. Ducks In A Row (Radio Edit) by Conscious Route ft, Lynzie Dray & Miles Better

True Hold Records