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.

Kids Music. Punk Music. NPR. (And Me.)

To those of you finding your way to this website courtesy of my NPR review of punk music for kids, welcome. I cover a wide range of music here -- from punk to classical to indie-pop -- (almost) all of which is appropriate for kids and families. There's plenty of coverage of The Boogers here (just search on that name here); less so of Play Date -- they're much newer -- but there's always this interview with Greg and Shanti.

In any case, thanks for stopping by. You're welcome to also join me on Facebook, Twitter, and via mailing list, among many other options.

Video: "Dance Like a Monster" - Play Date

Halloween is more than a month away, but I guess it's time to start thinking about the holiday. (If, unlike me, you're a big fan of it.)

Play Date certainly are, as they've just released their first video from their forthcoming debut Imagination, the seasonally appropriate "Dance Like a Monster." It's kinda of a combination of public-access TV, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, and the Unfrozen Caveman sketches from Saturday Night Live. (With a small amount of "Danger, Will Robinson!" thrown into the mix.) Pretty sure this'll be a hit with the kids.

Play Date - "Dance Like a Monster" [YouTube]

Interview: Greg Attonito & Shanti Wintergate (Play Date)

It was only last year that one-time Skankin' Pickle member Mike Park released his foray into kids music, the album SMILE.

And now he's got a whole kids music label, Fun Fun Records. One of the two debut releases from the label is Imagination from the band Play Date. The band consists of husband-and-wife team Greg Attonito (of punk band The Bouncing Souls) and Shanti Wintergate. They dipped their toes in creating art for kids with the publication some years back of the book I Went for a Walk. They took some time last month from their summer touring schedule to talk about laying down under pianos, positive energy, and Imagination's inspiration.

Zooglobble: What are your first musical memories?

Greg Attonito: Listening to my Mom playing piano at our house. I would lay down on the floor under the piano keyboard at my Mom's feet and feel the sounds of the piano. I really loved that... and sometimes singing along when my Grandmother would play piano and sing at her house.

Shanti Wintergate: I've been surrounded by music since I was in the womb. My musician parents have always been performing and playing music throughout my life, so it's hard to pinpoint a specific moment...it was just always there. Our whole family was always singing and harmonizing together as long as I can remember. My brother and I used to lay down by the side of our pool and sing the same note into the water. We would watch the water move and listen to the reverberations and echoes of our voices. We would sometimes do this for hours.

When did you decide you wanted to be a professional musician?

I thought it might be possible when I was in high school learning our favorite punk rock songs with friends. We played shows in our hometown and talked about rock 'n' roll dreams. Miraculously we made them come true. It has been an amazing adventure. I have learned so much through the experience of making music with those same high school friends over the course of 23 years. I'm excited to be bringing all I've learned from being in a rock band into making music for kids.

The idea first occurred to me, when I started learning how to play guitar to accompany lyrics and melodies I had always written. There was a freedom in being a self-contained musical creator. I was asked to perform one of my songs in a local summer music festival, which I did and I've been hooked ever since.

When did you first start thinking about recording an album of family music? Was it around the time of publication of I Went For a Walk or was it later than that?

We had talked about it a bit before that. I think the first time might have been when we played for our nephew's 2nd grade class.. That was the initial spark. We continued talking about it during and after the "I Went For A Walk" tours but we were so busy with pre-existing projects there wasn't time for it.

What was your guiding philosophy in writing the songs for the album?

Our main focus was creating music that parents would enjoy as much as the kids and to infuse some positivity and fun into the world. We were also really careful about the energy we put into the entire creative process. We wanted it to feel effortless, and naturally uplifting so we committed to only working on this project when we were in the right frame of mind. We found that usually just working on this music in and of itself put us in a great mood so it wasn't really a problem. I know this might sound silly but, our hope is that anyone listening to the record will feel like they had a blast hanging out with us singing songs and getting silly for forty-five minutes or so..... and maybe even feel a little more loved and cared about through the experience. :)

What has surprised you (positively or negatively) as you wrote/recorded/started to promote and tour the album?

I was surprised at how much fun we had recording the record. I knew it would be fun but it was way more fun than I expected!

I can't think of anything negative, but there have been lots of positives. I also had a feeling we were going to have fun creating this music, but I hadn't expected the fun to be so contagious. It seems everyone who has been around or part of the recording process has been influenced positively by the experience.... it's just too fun to resist! Writing and recording this record, I allowed myself to explore musical boundaries that I didn't even know I had. We also played all the instruments on this record except drums, so there has been a great satisfaction in that.

What's your impression of other music being recorded for kids -- any favorites, or have you tended to stay away? Has that impression changed at all over time or as you've been recording/finishing the album?

I have just recently had my ears open to the world of kids music so I don't know many of the artists. I like They Might Be Giants. Their kids music is really good. Our friend Kepi's new kids record is great, too. It's called Kepi For Kids and it will also be coming out on Fun Fun Records.

In the past I think it was a little more challenging to find music for kids that wasn't too "dumbed down" and obviously "children's music"... but it seems like today it's becoming easier to find good music for kids. MORE musicians are putting MORE effort into making quality music for kids. It's so important!! The music that kids are exposed to early on influence their musical tastes as they grow and there's plenty of evidence of music influencing emotional and mental states. The importance of music in child development is finally gaining some well deserved ground. Kids need a wholesome diet for their EARS as well as their BODIES!

How much touring do you plan to do as Play Date? What have your experiences been playing for kids thus far as compared to playing in the Bouncing Souls or as a duo?

We just did a show last week in Montreal that was a blast! It was the first year the PouzzaFest hosted a kids stage at their big rock festival. They did a great job and a lot of families came out and had a great time.

We may do some dates this fall in Southern California. We intend to submit for more festivals with kids stages for next year and we are exchanging ideas right now about setting up a package tour with all of the artists releasing kids music on Fun Fun Records... so that is what is in the works at the moment.

I have really enjoyed the new experience of playing for the kids in a more family friendly environment. The shows are earlier in the day..HAHA! It's broadening my musical horizons and challenging me to be more free with music in writing and performing.

What's next for you (kid-wise or otherwise)?

The Bouncing Souls released a new record on June 12th so I will be on tour in the U.S. all summer supporting that. Play Date's record is coming out on October 9th. We are really looking forward to getting the new Play Date record out in the world and supporting its release. It's going to be really fun to see how it impacts the world.

Photo credit: Mike McLaughlin