In this episode, I talk with Suzi Shelton, who's using Kickstarter to help fund her third full-length family music album Smile in My Heart. We chat about how she got into kids' music, why this is only her third full-length album (really, I was totally surprised to realize that!), and the myth of the DIY musician.
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Smile in My Heart - A New Family CD by Suzi Shelton
I talk with Joanie Leeds, who's going back to Kickstarter to raise money for her forthcoming sixth family music album, Good Egg. We chat about her path to making music for kids, recording in upstate New York, and what she learned about doing Kickstarter from her last Kickstarter project (for her previous album Bandwagon). I had lots of fun talking with her -- sadly (really!), our discussion of weather highs and lows in our lives did not make the recorded portion of the chat.
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Links
"Good Egg" - Joanie Leeds rocks her 6th Kids CD
Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights on Facebook
Project: My Wooden Horse
Creator: Shalgi Design Studio
Description: I'm sort of out of the market for toddler/preschooler toys, so I'm not the primary target audience for these lovely, movable wooden horses. But they look like an awesome playthings for your favorite 3-year-old.
Pledge quickly, and you can get one of these horses for just $50. The money will be used to convert the convert the current handmade process into an industrial one. Still looks sweet, though.
Project Title: A New Kids Album
Creator: Jon Samson
Description: Jon Samson has created a couple albums of kids music that sounds slightly different from a lot of kids music. It has a bit of an improvisational feel to it, most likely inspired by his music therapy work. He's now trying to raise $10,000 to finish his third album, and it looks like he'll probably make it by the time his brief Kickstarter campaign ends a week from now.
I chatted briefly with Samson via e-mail last about the project.
Bake Sale: What do you like the most about making music for kids and families?
Jon Samson: Unconditional love! Children and families are not looking to judge or compare. They just want to feel good and are a very appreciative audience. There's a certain pressure that comes with being in the music industry that seems to be less prominent in the kids music genre, and for the better I'd say. But most importantly, children's faces don't lie. When I'm singing and they light up, I know I have done my job well, and it's an exquisite feeling!
How are you inspired by the kids you work with in your music therapy work?
Something I think many of us grown ups lack, or more precisely, lose touch with, is an innate ability to express and create without worrying about what others will think. Kids age 1-5 are absolute role models for this. Even before they speak, they vocalize freely and openly. Their breathing is more connected too.
Children in general are endlessly inspiring to me. They have a natural ability to see the world with a fresh perspective- they see the beauty in things and are enchanted with what many of us adults take for granted. The children I work with are as much my teachers as I am theirs. When I hold the space for them to sing and play, and I see how excited and open they get, it gives the courage to do the same. I am very grateful for my "job" :).
Dollar level aside, what reward do you most hope somebody pledges for so you can fulfill that?
I love sharing my music, so the more people request shows/performances/ lectures, the more I get to meet new faces and share my passion. Because of my full time music therapy practice, I don't actively promote my music as much as I'd like. So one of the many perks of Kickstarter has been to make what I do accessible to a wider audience. I'd also like to add, I'm honestly delighted when someone donates a dollar- even through it's "just a buck" they are letting me know that they feel the music and care about the work.
Zooglobble
Zooglobble helps you find kindie music -- news, videos, mp3s, reviews -- for your whole family.
DIY for the kindie world.
