2007

WXPN Features The Bird and the Bee as the XPN Artist to Watch for February

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Created on Wednesday, 31 January 2007 09:39

PHILADELPHIA, PA – WXPN, the nationally-recognized leader in Triple A music and noncommercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, names The Bird and the Bee as its February Artist To Watch. Host David Dye will present the first of the month’s on-air segments on Thursday, February 1, in the 4 p.m. hour.

The Bird and the Bee are Inara George (daughter of the late great Lowell George) and Greg Kurstin, keyboardist and producer who has worked with Beck and the Flaming Lips, among others. He is also the man behind the band Action Figure Party and one of the two principals in Geggy Tah. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Inara and Greg met several years ago and discovered a common love of jazz standards. Their connection led them to write and record their self-titled album The Bird and the Bee.

"The Bird and the Bee have made a great `jazz-that-isn't-jazz album.’ It's informed by indie-pop, tropicalia, ambient/electronica lounge and futuristic sounds with smart songs and Inara's gorgeous, warm and inviting vocals," said Bruce Warren, assistant general manager of programming for WXPN. "It's hip and exotic - it's the sound of a very cool tomorrow, today. Imagine a musical co-mingling of Bjork, Imogen Heap, The Beach Boys, Burt Bacharach, Stereoloab, Astrud Gilberto and you've got a musical sense of The Bird and the Bee."

Dan Reed, music director for WXPN adds: "The Bird and the Bee music is way more than a mood. There are some incredibly catchy songs on this debut album. The music is not eclectic for the sake of being so, it's eclectic because Inara and Greg's tastes are. An altogether fantastic start."

For more on the XPN Artists To Watch series and this month’s featured artist, visit Artist To Watch.

The XPN Artists To Watch series reflects WXPN’s commitment to nourishing fresh, new talent and exposing listeners to the best new music. Each month, the XPN Artists To Watch series spotlights a different up-and-coming performer who has produced an album or body of work that demonstrates outstanding vision, creativity and songwriting ability. Month-long on-air promotion is combined with online features to help audiences discover each artist.

WXPN 88.5 FM, the nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots, and folk, is the non-commercial, member-supported radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN produces World Cafe®, public radio’s most popular program of popular music hosted by David Dye and syndicated by National Public Radio, and the Peabody Award winning Kids Corner hosted by Kathy O’Connell. WXPN also produces Y-Rock On XPN, an online alternative rock music stream. WXPN serves the greater Philadelphia area at 88.5 FM, the Lehigh Valley at 104.9, Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM, Harrisburg at 88.1 FM, and the world via online streaming at www.xpn.org.