191 - But First...Music: Netlabel Day 2025

 

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**SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL TRACK LIST**

Monday, July 14, 2025 marked my second time around hosting a takeover of the Netlabel Day Radio stream.  For two hours, I got to share a bunch of Creative Commons licensed tracks live from my living room.  I'm always thankful for opportunities like this and I gotta give a shoutout to my big brother and Netlabel Day facilitator Omar Willey for entrusting me with another 120 minutes to go live on the NLD Radio stream.  Honestly, I'm grateful to share music with any and all that are willing to take the time to listen.  I'm always amazed at what I'm able to find within the CC music virtual bins.

Among the featured netlabels are active imprints like blocSonic, Business Casual, Jumpsuit, Flowerpot, Dusted Wax Kingdom, and Monster Jinx.  Thanks to the Internet Archive, I was also able to include works from netlabels that ended their run over 5, 10, or even 15 years ago like Melodica and Subwise.  And whenever I can represent for labels that are indie staples like Stones Throw or Atjazz Record Co., I consider that a bonus.  Other cuts were discovered on Bandcamp, Free Music Archive, and Jamendo.  A little digging goes a long way, resulting in a freeform mix of hip-hop, soul, jazz, rock, and various forms of electronic music.

Some brief corrections:  "Not Myself" by Lovespirals was listed as Creative Commons (some rights reserved) at the time of the broadcast, but now is under full copyright (all rights reserved).  And I announced that "Drifting Dawn" by Abigail Press was released on Trippin' The Rift, which is incorrect.  It was actually released on Melodica, a netlabel from years past that I stumbled upon on the Internet Archive.  And about halfway through the episode, I mentioned Willam Maggos and his podcast Culture War Radio.  Unfortunately, his show is no longer producing new episodes, but I shared part of his CC music manifesto from the podcast website during the livestream as it was a sentiment that I wholeheartedly agree with.  His last post on the Democracy Of Reach website continues that line of thought and is well worth reading.

As this episode unfolds, keep your ears on the alert for verses from Chuck D of Public Enemy and Kool Keith of Ultramagnetic MCs and Dr. Octagon fame.  There's a live cut by APB recorded at the WFMU studios and even a Latin jazz joint that dates back to 1968.  A little something for many, and hopefully served up in a way that makes sonic sense.  If you need an extended session for your next road trip or just some tunes to get you through your work day, I certainly hope that this episode provides what you're looking for.

This episode's track list (title / artist / source / license):

1.  Manual Retro by Night Owl Committee [Free Music Archive] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2013)

2.  Snakes by Rephazer [Kahvi Collective] (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2024) 

3.  Thrive, Despite by A. Billi Free & The Lasso [Mello Music Group] (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2022) 

4.  Not Myself by Lovespirals [Bandcamp] (2024)

5.  One Of These Days by Alinah Sipps [Subwise] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2009) 

6.  Answers by mary sue [bie Records] (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2023)

7.  Three More Hours (Featuring Ketsa) by Donnie Ozone [blocSonic] (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) (2024) 

8.  Alright Anyway Ft. Taelor Gray by Shon Tha Phenom [Jamendo]  (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2022) 

9.  Don't Call Me by Gwen Rose [Bandcamp] (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2025)

10. Scenic Route by Jerry Paper [Stones Throw] (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) (2024) 

11. Mamaye by Sampology [Jus Like Music] (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2010)

12. Xamar by Dexter Story [Soundway] (CC-BY-ND 4.0) (2015)

13. How Not to Die (Featuring Chuck D) by Headsnack [blocSonic] (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) (2023) 

14. Electric Mind ft. Kool Keith by The Polish Ambassador [Jumpsuit] (CC-BY-NC 4.0) (2022)  

15. Greenery by DarkSunn [Monster Jinx] (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) (2024)

16. Untitled by Ras G [dublab] (CC-BY 4.0) (2021)  

17. The Mind Is Not Inside The Head by The Oddvisers [Discordian] (2024)

18. Remains Of The Day by Wizard Of Loneliness [Business Casual] (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) (2024)  

19. I Am Not What I Buy by Mr. Princess [Flowerpot] (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) (2024)

20. Swarm Of Bees by Dug [Flowerpot] (CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0) (2024)

21. Budding ornithologists are weary of tired analogies by milo [Bandcamp] (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) (2011)

22. Faces by Basement Skylights [Dusted Wax Kingdom] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2012)

23. Drifting Dawn by Abigail Press [Melodica] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2012)

24. VIBRAÇÃO by Alexander Flood [Atjazz Record Co.] (CC-BY 4.0) (2024)  

25. Welcome To The Party by Har-You Percussion Group [ESP-Disk] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (1968)

26. One Day (Live at WFMU) by APB [Free Music Archive] (CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0) (2011)

Other key info:
Macedonia on Mixcloud
Show #188 - Netlabel Day Radio Takeover (2024)
BSOTS Guest Mix For The Neighborhood Feast
Netlabel Week 2024 Panels
Four Sundays Ago (thoughts on Banjee Boombox ATL)

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

One Year Ago: my FOCCM debut appearance

The Friends Of Creative Commons Music held their Constitutional Convention online yesterday over a period of ten hours.  There were a lot of topics on the agenda, including but not limited to community building, fundraising, live shows, branded electronic shows, bylaws, tax status, and more.  The sessions have been archived and are available for viewing on their YouTube channel.

I was barely visible for these sessions as I felt like I had little to give and not much of substance to suggest, but I've been feeling uninspired about a lot of things for a while now.  This is in stark contrast to the person that appeared in this FOCCM episode a year ago.  Last January, Doug Whitfield invited me on to talk about netlabels, my podcast, and my time at Bondfire Radio.  (Back in 2023, I had Doug on my show for a two-part episode just before Netlabel Day.)  In revisiting this appearance, I'm surprised at how upbeat and positive I am.  The thing that I have to remember is that it took place before the post-Bondfire depression set in, and I let it have its way with me for a good nine months of 2024.

(One of these days, I might get over my aversion to webcams, but don't ask me when that will be.  Seems like there will always be a part of me that wonders why seeing my face is so important and simply hearing my voice isn't enough.  I didn't even have an external webcam for this appearance, but I made it work with the laptop cam even though it didn't dawn on me to turn on a light as the sun started to set.)

Other topics briefly mentioned include black metal, potential Bandcamp alternatives, and how we really shouldn't beat ourselves up for not experiencing all the music that we want to hear within a year's time.  The fact of the matter is that you'll get to what you're meant to get to...and that's okay.  Stick around for videos by The Warhorse and Sole and DJ Pain 1 shared within this episode.

Sometimes you need to hear your former self share some perspectives that your present self has forgotten about.  For me, this is one of those times.  Gotta keep it moving.

(In thinking about some CC music that I would have been listening to around the time of this livestream, Moki McFly's Tabernacle Sanctuary Alligator Soufflé definitely comes to mind.  If anyone's in the mood for some drum and bass with touches of hip-hop here and there, check the blocSonic website to hear the album in full.)