QTheMusic.com

Today on Qthemusic.com singer up and coming singer/songwriter Lail Arad accepted a Q challenge of sorts, to making a mixtape especially for Q readers!

Throughout the day she scoured the web to find legally downloadable tracks that she thought Q readers would, before sequencing some of them into an audibly pleasing and fully downloadable mixtape with custom designed artwork for you to enjoy.

Having grown up on a musical diet of Joni Mitchell, The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel and the like, and citing her own influences as including Woody Guthrie the Incredible String Band, we were quite intrigued to see what she'd come up with...

Here's what happened:

10am: The hunt begins! Lail is scouring the web for tracks that she thinks you will like. Keep an eye on Q's Twitter and twitter hash tag #Lailsmixtape for updates...

12pm: Update from Lail:

So you know when you think you might be pregnant (I do not..) and suddenly you start seeing pregnant women everywhere? Well turns out that when you know you're going to be doing a free download mixtape challenge for Q the Music you start seeing free downloads everywhere.... they are everywhere! At the end of the reviews, at the top of websites, on the side of blogs.

I started by looking for tracks by artists I know and love, but I'm already finding music I want to include which I'd never heard before.. Ok enough chatter, I need to concentrate! But I'll leave you with news that i just hit gold... brilliant unreleased track of one of my modern day heros... this is fun!

Lail's 3pm Update:

OK. I think I have my songs. Now I just have normal (yet crucial) mixtape-maker decisions about order - flow Vs surprise - lets see what I can do... What was really interesting for me in all this, after the initial shock of realising just how much free music is out there, was that I was limited (by the nature of the challenge) to relatively new music.. I couldn't fall back on my 70s safety net, couldn't hide the new releases in between Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, couldn't call upon my usual mixtape winners like Iko Iko or Proud Mary... and i think the result is that different edges of my music taste show up. Which is cool! I love everything I found. You will see.... not long now!

6pm: {Drum roll...}

Presenting Lail Arad's Q Mixtape choices (with explanation...):

THE MIXTAPE:

And I'm done..! Here is the low-down on where why and what...

Download the cover here (Right click/Alt > Save target as...)

1. Love Lust - King Charles
Website: http://nuravebrainwave.com/

This was the first track I ever heard by King Charles a while back and I thought it was so special - and a strong opener for any mixtape! Then this week I noticed it was being given away on Nu Rave Brain Wave and made a mental note in thick silver pen.. And strangely I then ran into the man himself at a gig a couple nights ago, recognised him by his rather distinctive dreaded hairdo and told him he's gonna make my Q shortlist! I have to be honest I can't for the life of me understand what he's trying to say with these lyrics.. but I don't care. I love the song!

2. No One's Better Sake - Little Joy
Website: http://rcrdlbl.com/

Little Joy were the soundtrack of last summer for me. They were also the first band me and my little sister absolutely bonded over. There is something so light and comforting about their sound and you find yourself being drawn back to them over and over again. This is a really great rickety number and I got to see Rodrigo Amarante sing it live at Devendra's last show, real highlight! Get the album if you haven't already its so feel-good without being cheesy... thanks to RCRD LBL for coming up with the goods.

3. Horchata - Vampire Weekend
Website: http://www.vampireweekend.com/

I discovered this little band recently.. and then discovered that the rest of the world was one step ahead... But I've caught up! I think the new album is an incredible thing. I started listening to it soon after mastering my first album (coming soon!) and it made me want to start the next one immediately.. This was the first song I heard and I fell in love. Its so sharp and so colourful.. the words, the music, the structure, it all works for me. And I think it's so cool that they gave away a free download on their website even though they're planet hollywood size stars now.

4. 1958 - La Shark
Website: http://www.myspace.com/lasharkband

This is one of the best new bands around without a doubt. They are the definition of Fresh. Go and see them live. Its the closest you can get to being in a Talking Heads gig around the time we were born.. (sorry to anyone reading this who was actually at a Talking Heads gig circa 1984.. actually not so sorry because I'm very jealous!) Anyway they are fantastic performers, songwriters, musicians - playful, energetic and so damn tight. They were giving this track away on their myspace..

5. Shotgun Wedding - Caitlin Rose
Website: http://www.forfolkssake.com/

I saw this lady live at The Allotment a while ago and fell for her big time. She was so natural, her stage banter was enviable, and you can hear her voice for yourself... I don't know if pure or raw is the best word to describe it. Both. I really like her lyrics too, they give a twist to the country style - she owns it. They were flagging up this mp3 on For Folk's Sake where they seem to have their own continuous mixtape challenge going! Amazing list of current legal downloads which I took multiple inspiration from..

6. Sticky Situation - Ortolan
Website: http://rcrdlbl.com/

I'd never heard of this band before today! I was done with looking for free downloads of specific bands I know and love and started scrolling through the downloads available on RCRD LBL to find new things (thank you again for existing). I was so happy when I heard this song! Lovely production, voices and great lyrics too.. with a theme I think everyone can identify with! Turns out they're a new band from New Jersey and I think they're all sisters too... See what you think.

7. Apple Pie Bed - Lawrence Arabia
http://www.bellaunion.com/index.php/site/news/apple_pie_bed

I've been hearing a lot about this guy recently. It was nice doing this challenge today cause I had time to really listen through to new things.. And I mean really listen, not just 20 seconds before moving on.. because if its going on my mix it needs to be top beginning to end! This song is great.. I love the backing vocals and harmonies, its really catchy! (not only because I've been listening to it about 100 times to decide on my order!) And the break-down at the end makes it for me...

8. Sunlight - tUnE-yArDs
Website: http://www.forfolkssake.com/

I think missing the tUnE-yArDs gig in London a couple of weeks ago was my biggest mistake of 2010 so far.. I've never read such consistently raving reviews. And it prompted me to check out the album... and I can totally imagine why the show must have been so special. The sound is just so different.. and the way the songs are build up... it feels like you're on some sort of spaceship trip. This song is so elevating.. found again on the glorious download list of For Folk's Sake.

9. Stumbling Home - Tristram
Website: http://neverenoughnotes.co.uk/wordpress/

I won't embarrass him by saying I knew from the first second that he's gonna go far.. And I think this is the first song I ever heard him play in some funny east london party... I'm not just blinded by his pretty face, promise. These lyrics are stellar. So are the melodies. So is his voice. So is his band. Beautiful, honest, and with a wink. This song is an early demo which I found on the wonderful Never Enough Notes website, but you should also check out his EP which just came out..

10. Hook & Ladder - Vetiver
Website: http://rcrdlbl.com/

I caught on a bit late to Vetiver considering I'm a big fan of many members of their extended family.. now I've tapped into them I think they're wonderful. Its nostalgic and warm and fun. I feel carried along by this song.. you can imagine being there in California and some people whip out some bashed up trumpets and there's a campfire burning.. Maybe I still a big hippy deep inside! This was also on RCRD LBL, my new best friend.

11. Who Am I - Lail Arad
Website: http://wearsthetrousers.com/

Thats me. Lail-not-a-hippy-anymore-(maybe-still-deep-inside)-Arad. And this is the first download from the album 'Someone New'. What can I say without sounding like a soppy advert for the use of free legal downloads to promote the music you're about to release.... This track was featured on Wear The Trousers and that treated me very well!! I would make the whole album a free download if it was up to me! Actually maybe not... but I can't wait for you to hear it!!!

12. War Again - Balkan Beat Box
Website: http://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/

This band is on fire. They're coming back to London in April and you should buy your ticket right now! They make you dance, they make you think.. you come out completely elated. When I like a band so much, and its so far removed from my usual music taste, then I know its good. Its good. And this song was given away by the world music section of the National Geographic - how cool is that?!

13. Alan - Oddyssey
Website: http://www.cougarmicrobes.com/

I've been enjoying Rosie Oddie for a couple of years now, and this latest reincarnation as Oddyssey, the band, is really exciting. I saw her live not long ago and her finger got cut on the guitar strings.. No, she didn't stop. By the end of the show there was blood all over the guitar, her face, her hair... this girl is rock'n'roll. And this song is brilliant! Surprises in the music, humour the words, and all delivered in her super Macy-Gray-esque voice (who I was obsessed with when I was 16 by the way).. love it. You can find out more about Oddyssey on Cougar Microbes, the trustworthily hip blog I found the download on..

14. Fax Of Death - Laurel Collective
Website: http://www.myspace.com/thelaurelcollective

This is another band you should seek out live. Absolutely awesome shows. And actually this great track is an real life example of successful self promotion.. I've been on their mailing list for a while now and i think they did one download a week for a month.. this was my favourite. These guys put on a fantastic festival too called In The Woods. Their energy is contagious.. on stage and off.

15. Mountain Song - Treetop Flyers
Website: http://treetopflyers.co.uk/

Ok I'm getting repetitive, but I can't mean it more when I say: Go and see these guys live you will come out on a high that lasts for days. Completely different style again, the Treetop Flyers experience takes you back to a time you never knew.. The music is so meaty and seductive. I think they'll be a huge hit in SXSW this month. I really want to do a duet with them but they don't know that yet... I'll be the Janis Joplin to their Big Brother and the Holding Company! They're giving away this song on their website.

16. Can't Afford To Lose My Man - Odetta, as covered by Sandy Dillon
Website: http://www.myspace.com/songsofodetta

Wear The Trousers released an amazing tribute not long ago: 16 different female singers covering songs of the late great Odetta. Sandy Dillon's live version of Can't Afford To Lose My Man is my favourite, though it was hard to choose.. its just so good! The way she sings, lets go, play around - how it should be. Enjoy it! And check out the rest, its called Beautiful Star: The Songs of Odetta.

17. Jimmy and the Birds on Fire - Pete Lawrie
Website: http://batteryinyourleg.com/blog/

OK its that time on the mixtape where it's time to wrap things up.. And this may be the perfect come-down song. First of all I love the title! More importantly Pete Lawrie's voice is soft and gritty at the same time (an achievement surely?) and this is great song-writing. Reminds me of early Tom Waits. This exclusive download was courtesy of prolific bloggers Battery In Your Leg - he's a new artist and I hope there are more songs like this on the way..

18. Couldn't Take It Anymore - Jeffrey Lewis
Website: http://www.daytrotter.com/

Always good to end with a surprise? This is a live recording from the Daytrotter Sessions of an UNRELEASED Jeffrey Lewis track. And what a song. It reminds you of the bare stripped down brilliance that is his song-writing. Apart from the beautiful handling of this very ugly subject matter, each lyric and each rhyme is just so inventive and inspired. Its long but its worth it.. give it the undivided attention it deserves. Can you tell that I'm a Jeff Lewis superfan?!

And thats all folks!! I really hope you enjoy listening.. I definitely enjoyed making it! It came out really different than what I expected. Nice surprises. Tell me what you think!

Lail x

Let Lail and us know what you think of the mixtape! Tweet us (hash tag #LailsMixtape) or tell us in the comments below!

Re-live Lail's entire musical progress on Twitter hashtag #LailsMixtape or for the latest goings on follow us and her on @QMagazine or @LailArad

Lail Arad's Myspace
Lail Arad's debut album Someone New will be out Summer 2010 on Notify Music.

Thanks to Lail and Designer/blogger Anika Mottershaw for creating the mixtape cover (under time pressure!).

10:45 AM | 03/03/2010