RESERVOIR CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH DREXEL UNIVERSITY; NEW CLASS WITH BITTY MCLEAN & GUILLAUME BOUGARD EXPLORES PHILLY GROOVE CATALOG
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Drexel University‘s Westpal College of Media Arts & Design has announced its latest class, partnering with Reservoir once again to explore the Philly Groove Records catalog. The class, will be visited by Westphal’s 2017 Rankin Scholars Bitty McLean and Guillaume Bougard, who will hold a series of lectures while also working on a new album in Drexel’s recording studio. McLean is a reggae artist with three top-10 hits as a performer and a #1 album to his credit as a producer and Guillaume Bougard operates one of the most successful independent reggae record labels in Europe. The pair will be sourcing songs from the Philly Groove catalog for McLean’s upcoming reggae-soul blended album “Bitty In Philly”.
Reservoir and Drexel first collaborated in 2015, in the form of a hands-on mixing course, titled Uncovering The Philly Groove, which included in a listening event at Drexel, where students of the music technology program played their own mixes of unreleased Philly Groove songs for a panel of music experts, including Reservoir SVP of A&R and Catalog Development Faith Newman. The event made clear that long-time Philly soul lovers and newcomers alike are excited to see what this partnership will hold in the future.
“Reservoir is thrilled to continue our partnership with Drexel. It’s exciting to watch new generations and audiences explore the Philly Groove catalog. The Bitty McLean project will breathe new life into these historic songs as it blends the cultures of reggae and soul,” says Newman.
Darren Waters, an associate professor in the Music Industry Program at Drexel says, “An integral part of the [student experience] is learning from and working with industry professionals…this residency allows students…to work side by side on a commercial project while interacting with the principles on the process of recording and marketing a unique album.”