West Virginia University’s student-run record label is releasing music from one of WVU’s own.

Mon Hills Records will release Marissa Bailey’s EP record - “Songs from an Italian Piazza” - on Wednesday, August 15. The album will be available on all online music retailers and will be available in select regional locations in September.

Bailey is senior double majoring in musical theatre and strategic communications. A Clarksburg native, Bailey enjoys the styles of Broadway, Classical and Italian Opera. With her deep Italian family heritage, Marissa has created an EP that showcases the style of traditional sounding Italian folk music with a modern twist of classical and popular songs.

Bailey was a contestant on WVU’s Mountaineer Idol and was approached by Mon Hills Records to record an EP of songs that best fit her artistic sound. Mon Hills Records is the professional component of the Music Industry Program in WVU’s College of Creative Arts. 

Mon Hills Records General Manager Joshua Swiger suggested to Bailey the idea of envisioning how a modern Italian folk group would look and sound like an Italian piazza. Bailey and Swiger explored the idea and found classical songs on which Bailey could put her signature sound and modern pop songs that they could transform into Italian Folk songs.  “Songs from an Italian Piazza” is designed to take you to a small Italian village where people gather in the evening to eat, drink, socialize and enjoy music from the small band playing in the piazza. 

“I loved the idea from the beginning.” Bailey said. “Josh understood who I was as a singer and gave the project an identity that we could build a really good EP from.  It’s something different but relatable to who I am as a singer and person.”

This is Bailey’s first recording for public release. It includes classic “O Sole Mio” and then turns the page to Bob Dylan’s “Make you Feel My Love.”  The instrumentation used gives the record a distinct feel.

“We limited ourselves to the traditional Italian folk instruments of accordion and mandolin, with the support of classical guitar and bass.” Swiger said. “Those instruments provided the sound that we were looking for to set the mood.” 

“Songs From an Italian Piazza” will be available to purchase on August 15 at iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify and all other streaming and download services. The CD can be ordered online at www.monhillsrecords.com. 

Bailey will perform during the 40th Annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Aug. 31 – Sept. 2 in Clarksburg.