On the Joyzine Advent Calendar we’re giving away free downloads of tracks by artists that we love (including plenty of exclusives and a fair few festive favourites) every day until Christmas Eve on what, as far as we’re aware (and we’re always happy to be corrected), is the longest running such calendar on the web.
As always, the tracks are completely free to download and there’s no need to sign up to any mailing lists to access the songs (though if you’d like to you can join ours here), but if you’re enjoying the tunes we’d love you to make a donation to the wonderful charity Child Poverty Action Group, who work on behalf of the more than one in four children currently growing up in poverty in the UK by providing support to families navigating the social security system, taking legal action to challenge unjust decisions and campaigning for change. You can make a donation on this link.
Today’s Advent Calendar track comes from a new album from Ben Fox Smith, Drink The Tears of Sleeping Birds. I’ve been a fan of his music long before Joyzine was even a thought, from Stony Sleep in the mid-nineties who were one of the bands who first put me on the musical path I’ve since followed, through Serafin, First, Young Sawbones and most recently recording under his own name.
‘Human Rights’ is taken from the new LP, which was released in October – we caught up with Ben to find out more.
What have you been up to in 2022?
I completed my 10th solo album, I mixed and mastered this one in my new mini studio in Kingston
What do you have planned for next year?
I plan an experimental E.P to take over the world!
What can you tell us about today’s track?
My wife works for an international charity organisation so I guess their focus on Human Rights has filtered through, especailly considering the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
What makes the perfect Christmas song?
Fairytale in New York makes the perfect Christmas song… I don’t know why but everyone agrees…. I also love Mariah Carey’s one… you need sleigh bells of course… anything by Danny Elfman too… it’s the celesta!
Download ‘Human Rights‘
Follow Ben Fox Smith on Facebook / Twitter
Drink The Tears of Sleeping Birds is available to download via Bandcamp
If you enjoy the track, we’d love you to consider making a donation to Child Poverty Action Group
Check back every day until Christmas Eve for more free music – if you’ve missed a day, you’ll find all of this year’s tracks so far on the links below. Merry Christmas everyone!
Day One: Piney Gir – Do Good For Goodness Sake
Day Two: Lost Map Records present Firestations – Swim Under The Winter
Day Three: LOUD WOMEN present Killdren – Expect a Crimewave
Day Four: Scratchy Records present The Rocks, Jonny Cola & The A-Grades, Bromide + Coach Hop
Day Five: Deux Furieuses – Bring Down The Government Home Demo
Day Six: Extradition Order – Bold
Day Seven: Blang Records present Thomas Truax + Faux Fibbers
Day Eight: Alcopop! Records present Dream Nails + Helen Love
Day Nine: MiKey & The SkEletons – On and On
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