Cross-Pollination: The Mixtape, Vol. 1

The other day I received an email from Wes over at Family Records promoting a compilation that the new label will be making available for free exclusive download. Cross-Pollination: The Mixtape, Vol.1 features songs from a wide array of talent, both local and national, including My Brightest Diamond, Cloud Cult, and The Undisputed Heavyweights. Also contributing songs are Matt Singer and Wakey!Wakey!, two singer-songwriters I recently featured in my “Talkin’ New York” series on local and emerging NY talent. Both of their songs are well-worth checking out. Singer’s “Stacy J.”, as I mentioned in my previous post, is not only absolutely hysterical, it also manages to convey a mostly very believable story. Wakey!Wakey!’s “Falling Apart” is a perfect frame for the man’s incredible voice, and the piano playing is every bit the percussive instrument it’s meant to be.

Mixtape Vol. 1, was compiled to celebrate Cross-Pollination, a weekly NYC concert series that brings together some of the most incredible, and at times, undiscovered, raw talent from across the country. Giving musicians the opportunity to stretch creatively with other like-minds, the premise of Cross-Pollination is simple. Every Tuesday evening at Pianos (158 Ludlow Street, NYC) two artists are invited to play together. Both of them play a solo 40-minute set followed by a 3 song pre-rehearsed collaborative set. Now in its third year, Cross-Pollination has brought together nearly 250 acts via 137 FREE shows. All artists included on the mixtape have played Cross-Pollination.

TRACKLIST

Cross-Pollination: The Mixtape Vol. 1 (Free Digital Download)

01. My Brightest Diamond - Hi, Remember Me? * (MP3)

02. Kevin Devine - You'll Only End Up Joining Them (Acoustic) * (MP3)

03. Wakey!Wakey! - Fallin' Apart (Live) * (MP3)

04. The Undisputed Heavyweights - Roll Your Windows Down (Demo) (MP3)

05. The Bloodsugars - Purpose Was Again * (MP3)

06. Matt Singer - Stacy J * (MP3)

07. Derek James - Love Me, Love Me * (MP3)

08. Cloud Cult - Pretty Eyes (MP3)

09. Casey Shea - Quinzy Howzin * (MP3)

10. Jeffrey Lewis - Tell It To Your Heart (Lou Reed Cover) * (MP3)

11. The Lloyds - Halfway * (MP3)

12. Jay Mankind - Western States (Demo) * (MP3)

13. Ian Thomas - SBB (Demo) * (MP3)

14. Dave Deporis - Be Strong * (MP3)

* exclusive and previously unreleased track

Or you can download the whole complilation as a ZIP file by clicking HERE.

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