WXPN Features Of Monsters and Men as the XPN Artist To Watch for January

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Created on Monday, 02 January 2012 14:02

PHILADELPHIA, PA - WXPN, the nationally-recognized leader in Triple A music and non-commercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, names Of Monsters and Men as its January Artist To Watch. WXPN Music Director and Host Dan Reed presented the first of the month's on-air segments today, January 2, in the 4 p.m. hour.

This Icelandic group got its start at a yearly battle of the bands in their native country just last year, and has been winning over hoards of listeners since. Of Monsters and Men is comprised of "an amiable group of daydreamers who craft folkie pop songs," and their sound is not only unique but highly enjoyable and easy to sing along to. They've taken over Iceland, and now have begun to sweep the US with their pretty sound and at times surprisingly somber lyrics; the band often references random stories they've read in their songs, making for an interesting musical experience for listeners. The band's EP, Into the Woods, was released on December 20 to an eagerly, and at times impatiently, awaiting US audience. The single "Little Talks" hit number one in Iceland by the summer of 2011, and now the group is contested to be "easily the most buzzed about band" of the year. And with such a following already, this trend is without a doubt bound to continue in the coming year.

"The first time we heard Of Monsters and Men we were drawn to their incredible songs and the various genres of music like rock and folk that are threaded through them," says Bruce Warren, Assistant General Manager of Programming for WXPN. "We began playing their song 'Little Talks' and we've gotten an excited very positive response from our listeners to the band."

For more on the XPN Artists To Watch series and this month's featured artist click here.

Since 2003, the XPN Artists To Watch series has been a reflection of WXPN's commitment to nurturing 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, 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 NPR, and the Peabody Award winning Kids Corner hosted by Kathy O’Connell. WXPN also produces the alternative rock service, XPN2 as its secondary radio channel in HD. WXPN serves the greater Philadelphia area at 88.5 FM, the Lehigh Valley at 104.9, Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM, Lancaster/York at 88.7 FM, Harrisburg at 99.7 FM and the world via online streaming at XPN.org.