Radio Playlist: New Music September 2015

This is the busiest time of the year for releases in the kids music world -- I would've held a couple of these back just to make the list a little shorter... but next month's will probably be just as long. If you want to catch my list from August you can see that playlist here.

As always, it's limited in that if an artist hasn't chosen to post a song on Spotify, I can't put it on the list, nor can I feature songs from as-yet-unreleased albums. But I'm always keeping stuff in reserve for the next Spotify playlist.

Check out the list here.

**** New Music September 2015 (September 2015 Kindie Playlist) ****

"Sloop John B. (feat. Jesse Wagner)" - Josh and the Jamtones

"Cardboard Box" - Play Date

"Kitty Wampus" - Duke Otherwise

"Pancakes for Breakfast" - Ginalina

"Olly Ollie Oxen Free" - Pete Sinjin

"20 More Dollars" - Chibi Kodama

"I Like to Potty" - Danimal

"Cakenstein" - Gustafer Yellowgold

"Keely's Song" - Dan Schteingart

"Saying I Love You" - Vivi Melody

"Alligator Noodles" - Rainbow Rock

"Hello, Goodbye, Shalom" - Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights

"George the Duck" - Rap Club

"Everybody Get Movin'" - Mr. Steve & Miss Katie

"Alastair Frump" - Seanster and the Monsters

"You Were Meant To Be" - Renee and Friends (feat. Glen Phillips)

Itty-Bitty Review: We All Shine - Play Date

For whatever reason, kindie pop-punk has tended not to be nearly as boundary-pushing as its adult counterpart. I'm not expecting every song to be about challenging or countercultural notions, but more of this subgenre covers familiar topics than I'd expect.

Play Date, the duo of Greg Attonito and Shanti Wintergate, is no different. On their new album We All Shine, they tackle a song about colors (er, "Colors") and four variations of public service announcements for "Fruits & Vegetables." The musical packaging is novel (it's a PSA as delivered by circus barker), but the notions are common fare. More intriguing to me, then, are the songs that break those familiar molds to varying degrees. "Ninja Pajamas" is about, well, stealthy pajamas, but brings in Minneapolis hip-hop artist P.O.S to rap some of the lyrics. "Cardboard Box" rocks hardest, and follow the "show, don't tell" dictum -- by listing all the different things the box can be, it more effectively demonstrates the power of imagination. And sometimes all you need is a simple story song, like the grunge-pop of "Stevie the Fox," which kicks off the album.

The 41-minute album will have most appeal to kids ages 3 through 7. We All Shine fits the kindie pop-punk mold quite nicely, with an ear for crunchy melody. Come for the songs about fruits and vegetables, stay for the songs about ninja pajamas.

Note: I received a copy of the album for possible review.

How I Got Here: Shanti Wintergate, Play Date

Shanti Wintergate is probably best known in the kids music world as one-half of the pop-punk kindie duo Play Date, but she's also a solo musician, actor, and children's book author (I Went For a Walk). Wintergate and her Play Date partner, husband Greg Attonito, have a new Play Date album, We All Shine, coming out later this month, and in anticipation of that, both she and Attonito have written entries for "How I Got Here," the series where kids musicians write about influential music.

Wintergate's spin on the series is a little different than most in that rather than pinpointing influential albums, she's picked out a couple specific moments -- one in utero (!) -- that indicated a life in music might be for her...

As my mom tells it, the story begins in Hollywood, California where my mother’s family is from, where I was born, and where the beginning of my musical journey began - on stage, from inside my mom’s belly, kicking to the beat of the drums.

I’ve been surrounded by music, since before I was born. My parents are musicians who have performed together throughout the world since the late ‘60s, and up until the mid ‘80s the LA club circuit was their home stomping ground. The owners of one of these LA clubs, known then as Gazzarri’s (located where the Key Club is today) wanted to throw a benefit concert featuring my parents’ band, Lightstorm, and a few other acts in support of Child’s Sunvillage Inc., a non-profit established by my parents to support arts, music and mindfulness programs to children around the world.

Although reluctant at 8 months pregnant (with me), my mom agreed to perform a set for this rock and roll event, “For the sake of the children of the world!” as she so passionately exclaims when telling the story. As they began playing, and to my mother’s surprise and excitement, I began kicking to the beat of the drums, in utero. This is a story that I’ve heard countless times, and as whimsical as this rock and roll fairy tale may sound, this is where it literally began for me.

Shanti's parents on a motorcycle in costume

Throughout my life I’ve been immersed in the creative process of music, which began by singing with my parents, listening and watching them, and eventually learning how to play a few different instruments. I was such a shy kid that my parents never pushed performing on me at all. Creating music was one thing but performing it was a different beast all together. It wasn’t something I was interested in doing at all until later in my teens. It was something my parents did, not me. It was something I watched famous musicians do, not little ole me.

Shanti as child, just barely taller than the guitars

All those silly thoughts shifted in me, the moment I saw a friend of mine pick up my dad’s guitar and perform an impromptu cover of a John Denver song in our living room. In that moment, I was like, whoa… she just did that and it was AWESOME! It didn’t matter how good or bad she sang or played that dang song, “Take me home, country road, to the place I belong…” but she did it! It was so empowering to see someone who was my peer just casually pick up a guitar and accompany herself singing a song. I was hooked! It really took someone outside of my parents to impress this upon me even though my dad had offered to teach me guitar for years! Ha, my damn teenager brain! Looking back on her song choice now I almost giggle out loud because in that moment, I found my home and where I belonged… I can see that now.

The very next morning I asked my dad to start teaching me how to compose songs and play guitar and I haven’t looked back.

In one way or another, the girl singing in my living room and the story that my mom tells me about kicking to the beat of the drum before I was born have shaped who I am today. They’ve helped me remember how important it is to find that rhythm of life and to tune into that ever present symphony of the universe. I believe we’re all born with this innate sense, even if we’re not the greatest dancers and even if our rhythm is so unique that it isn’t like anyone else’s on the planet. We all just get where we are, in our own way, one step at a time.

How I Got Here: Greg Attonito, Play Date (The Who's "I Can't Explain")

Greg Attonito wears many hats -- founding member and musician in the much-loved New Jersey-based punk band The Bouncing Souls, painter, and, with his wife Shanti Wintergate, part of the pop-punk kindie duo Play Date. Play Date have a new Play Date album, We All Shine, coming out later this month, and in anticipation of that, both he and Wintergate have written entries for "How I Got Here," the series where kids musicians write about influential music.

Like Wintergate, Attonito writes below about a specific moment and song that played a big part in setting him down the path to becoming a musician.

“I canʼt explain” how I REALLY got here but I think if I have to choose a musical moment that played a big part in getting me to this moment... Iʼd have to go with the first time I really sang a song live with a rock band. The song was “I Canʼt Explain” by the Who.

I was in high school hanging out at my friend Bryanʼs house watching him, Pete, and Sean practicing in their cover band, The Switch. They asked me if I wanted to try singing a song. I had heard them play “I Canʼt Explain” a few times before and I had the cassette so I knew enough of the words to have a go at it. I nervously grabbed the microphone as I heard those guitars and drums chopping out that intro riff... "Da DaDa Da DADA... I gotta feeling inside, I CANT EXPLAIN! Itʼs a certain kind, I CANʼT EXPLAIN! I feel hot and cold, I CANʼT EXPLAIN! Yeah, down in my soul but I Canʼt Explain!”

WOW! What a feeling. I couldnʼt have put it into words at that moment but I had found a new form of expression that turned me upside down and inside out in the best way. Rock and Roll, baby! Not just LISTENING to rock and roll but becoming a part of the live beast that is rock and roll music. It was SO AWESOME! That was my first moment discovering an amazing language which gave me a deeper way of expressing myself. What a gift and what an opportunity! Performing and eventually writing music allowed me to access and share parts of myself that were totally incredible and I never knew existed. What a revelation!

When that first attempt at singing “I Canʼt Explain” ended, everybody was smiling. That moment was twenty-six years ago and I havenʼt stopped making music with those guys since. The feeling and positive experience we shared making music together eventually took us around the world and changed peopleʼs lives... Saved peopleʼs lives!! Including our own.

Itʼs not always easy to remember how important that “I Canʼt Explain” moment was for me. Its also not easy to remember it's really something special to have lots of opportunities to create that kind of moment for others. Playing music for children and their families gives me those opportunities in a new and unexpected way all the time. I may lose sight of the potential magic, power and life changing possibilities of music but the sound and the feeling of hearing and performing good songs are constant reminders, and Iʼm so grateful.

Greg Attonito performing at Riot Fest.  Photo credit: DT Kindler — Greg Attonito performing at Riot Fest. Photo credit: DT Kindler

Photo credit: DT Kindler (Attonito at Riot Fest)

Listen To This: "Ninja Pajamas" - Play Date (featuring P.O.S)

I gave Play Date's forthcoming follow-up to their debut Imagination -- the album We All Shine -- a spin today, and one of my favorite tracks on the album wass "Ninja Pajamas." It's a bit of a left turn for the poppy punk husband-and-wife duo of Greg Attonito and Shanti Wintergate as it's a mellow hip-hop track. But the mellow nature helps it stand out, as does the appearance of Minneapolis rapper-producer P.O.S. It just makes me happy to hear him on such a light track about, well, ninja pajamas.

We All Shine is out on Fun Fun Records July 24.

Play Date - "Ninja Pajamas" (feat. P.O.S)

<a href="http://iloveplaydate.bandcamp.com/album/we-all-shine-2">We All Shine by Play Date</a>

Weekly Summary (11/24/14 - 12/7/14)

I'd intended to post more here over the past couple weeks, but Thanksgiving + flu = not much posting.

And while I don't have something on the site (yet), congratulations to Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, The Pop Ups, and The Okee Dokee Brothers for their Grammy nominations for Best Children's Album. They, along with the audiobook recording of "I Am Malala," will be competing for the Grammy on February 8.

Blog: Video: "Hair" - fleaBITE

Videos: "The Number Song" - Play Date

Listen to Music: None this week

Free Music: "Favorite Cousin" - The Pop Ups

Kids Music Reviews: None this week

iOS Apps: None this week

Upcoming Releases: Constantly updating...

Podcasts

Kindie Week in Review: None this week

My Other Other Gig: None this week

Bake Sale: None this week