Mt. Joy is WXPN's Contribution to Slingshot Nationwide Emerging Artist Project

NPR Music and program directors from VuHaus' public radio music station network, including WXPN/Philadelphia, today revealed a list of 20 artists being supported by Slingshot, the new collective effort among taste-making stations to elevate the profiles of exceptional emerging artists. The list includes the new Philadelphia band Mt. Joy, selected for inclusion by WXPN.

The Slingshot video, interview and live event series launched in September and featured three artists selected by the collective: Lo Moon, Jamila Woods and Big Thief. As these artists traveled around the country, public radio stations including WXPN produced videos, conducted interviews, and recorded live performances that appeared both on-air and online at NPR.org/Slingshot.

In a larger effort for 2018, each member music station selected one new artist to include, with more to be added to the list throughout the year. Today, World Cafe, the daily two-hour music program produced by WXPN and distributed by NPR to more than 200 US radio stations, will introduce many of the new Slingshot artists. It will air at 2 PM ET on WXPN (check other local listings here). They will also be highlighted on NPR's All Songs Considered podcast.

WXPN's selected artist, Mt. Joy, is from Philadelphia (their name is an ode to Mt. Joy, located in Valley Forge National Park) and currently based in Los Angeles. The band's Matt Quinn (vocals/guitar) and Sam Cooper (guitar) have been making music together since 2005, but it wasn't until 2016 when they began writing songs that would become their streaming hits "Astrovan," "Sheep," and "Silver Lining." The addition of Michael Byrnes (bass), Sotiris Eliopoulos (drums), and Jackie Miclau (keys) expanded the duo to a five-piece band, and their first full-length album, recorded in Los Angeles with Dualtone Records, is due early this year.

"Hearing Mt. Joy for the first time reminded me of the first time I heard August and Everything After, the debut album by Counting Crows," said Bruce Warren, WXPN Assistant General Manager of Programming, who was instrumental in the formation of Slingshot along with WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay. "Like the 'Crows on their debut, Mt. Joy bring together elements of old school classic rock and Americana with well-crafted songs that drip with nostalgia, and lots of well-placed sing-along moments. Quinn is an emotionally powerful singer whose phrasing is filled with yearning and longing, yet offers plenty of redemption."

In an additional sign of support, WXPN has also named Mt. Joy its "Artist to Watch" for January. Since 2003, the 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 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 more fully discover each artist.

"Music discovery is at the heart of what WXPN and World Cafe are about," said Warren. "Through Slingshot, we're excited to be working with our colleagues to help such talented new artists reach even more audiences."