Marked by charm and introspection, Sea of Bees is the folk-seasoned indie pop project of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Julie Baenziger. She recorded the first Sea of Bees release, 2009's Bee Eee Pee, in a single afternoon. After signing with Crossbill in the U.S., she followed the EP with the 2010 album Songs for the Ravens. Containing covers of Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper" and U2's "With or Without You," the EP Gnomes was issued a year later, and a second full-length album, Orangefarben, arrived in 2012. With a full band, the contemplative but decidedly upbeat Build a Boat to the Sun followed in 2015 via 3 Loop Music. ~ Marcy Donelson