Mon Hills Records, the student-led independent record label and professional component of the Music Industry Program at the College of Creative Arts, proudly announces the signing of Jeffrey Wayne, Katie Simms and Ryan Cain.
With a sound and style inspired by classic country music artists like George Strait, Waylon Jennings and Willing Nelson, Wayne, a self-proclaimed outlaw country artist plans on collaborating with Mon Hills to produce an album true to his identity. “When people think of country music, I want my face to be one that comes to mind,” Wayne said. “My dream is to be somebody’s anthem, for them to look back and think of my songs.”
Simms, a WVU freshman and Mountaineer Idol winner, is a pop-oriented artist who seeks to be a positive role model through her music – raising awareness for depression and teen suicide while encouraging her peers to be more generous and kind towards one another. “My style comes from my strong family ties and small-town roots,” the small-town girl from Summersville said, “a place where everyone is genuine and real – where the small things still mean something.”
Cain, a rockabilly artist from Clarksburg, counts Rock n’ Roll pioneers Elvis Presley and Jean Vincent among the many influences he found listening to his father’s collection of ‘50s and ‘60s records. A music industry veteran, Cain attributes his longevity to the joy of playing music for its own sake. “I never wanted to get famous,” Cain said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities to do things and have passed them up. I mainly just want to play music, do what I love and keep my integrity.”
For more information visit the Mon Hills Records website or contact Rebecca Chiartas at rdchiartas@mix.wvu.edu.
Contact Information:
Rebecca Chiartas
Mon Hills Records
Public Relations
(240) 370-8623
To stay up to date with each artist, follow their social media platforms on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
1. Jeffery Wayne:
2. Katie Simms:
3. Ryan Cain