Cool Music News from Our Clients
an irregularly updated newsletter from Sugar Mountain PR
an irregularly updated newsletter from Sugar Mountain PR
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| Cool Music for Kids News: Spring 2012 These Springy Tunes Will Please Your Ears We've been busy all winter, talking to artists as they've been writing and recording new songs. It's amazing to us how many tuneful choices will be available for discerning kids and families this spring and summer. There's so much to say about what's in store for you, that we'll just come out of hibernation and shout about it: April The Pop Ups release their second family music CD, Radio Jungle, on April 3rd. Several reviewers and DJs are already choosing this polished, sonically cohesive and approachable collection of songs as a "best" for 2012. Let us know if you'd like to hear this new pop classic. The Pop Ups have also been busy crafting a brand new stage show, the follow-up to their acclaimed "PASTA" puppet musical. The theatrical version of Radio Jungle will debut at Littlefield art space in Brooklyn on April 22nd. Details to come. (Note: Littlefield is also the site of Kindiefest, the fourth annual family music industry conference, April 27-29.) May This is the time when new children's music explodes like a late-spring garden. Here is just a sampling of what our clients are sprouting in May. The Okee Dokee Brothers ~ Joe and Justin's epic journey down the Mississippi River has resulted in a transcendent music-and-DVD release that'll have their fans shouting Can You Canoe? to all of their friends. (May 15). Review copies are available now! Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band ~ This adorable traveling family band will release a second full-length collection of their bright and catchy original songs (including one in Spanish!). It feels like a joyous, summery neighborhood block party: A Potluck (May 15). Wait, there's more! Secret Agent 23 Skidoo ~ Skidoo’s third studio release, Make Believers, on his own new Underground Playground label, fuses empowering messages with traditional hip hop beats and a dizzying range of musical styles, from punky-garage rock to funky-vintage R&B and even salsa rhythms. (May 22) Putumayo Kids ~ Cowboy Playground will be the next release from the prolific purveyor of international music. This time, little buckaroos can dance to tunes by 12 artists (Johnny Bregar, Victor Johnson, Buck Howdy and Riders in the Sky among them) featured on this rousing kid-friendly Americana collection of tunes from far and wide. (May 29) Dog on Fleas ~ This Woodstock based band, headed up by über kindie music producer Dean Jones, presents loose, energetic and rhythmic music that's hard to resist. Look for more news about their Invisible Friends release soon. Randy Kaplan ~ Two years in the making, Randy will release his kid-friendly exploration of American blues, Mister Diddie Wah Diddie, on the new myKaZoo Music label (Universal, summer). Sugar Free Allstars ~ In between recording fun songs with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and Recess Monkey (one of which was featured on a Grammy winning CD for kids), the funkiest duo in kids' music will release a new CD, All on a Sunday Afternoon, on June 5th. The Secret Mountain ~ With a growing catalog of gorgeously illustrated storybooks packaged with lovingly produced music CDs, this Montreal based publisher recently adapted some of their titles into iPad apps. In June, The Secret Mountain will present the next book- CD in their lullaby and nursery rhyme series: Songs in the Key of the Flamboyant Tree, this time featuring soothing Caribbean-Creole sounds and images. It's magical and unique, to say the least. Also coming in early summer are exciting, multilingual musical releases from Mister G and Aaron Nigel Smith. Stay tunes for more news soon. Recent Release Updates It's nearly Earth Day, and Nature Jams by Farmer Jason is the perfect gift for young ecologists. The good farmer is raking in kudos from parents and critics alike. Dadnabbit posted an interview with Jason, and the growing list of reviews are on the website. Jason will soon be featured on legendary critic Dave Marsh's Sirius-XM "Kick Out the Jams" radio show. Next week, he will be interviewed on NBC TV, Nashville's legendary WSM radio and Great American Country television. Have you heard his songs, or seen his music videos on myKaZootv? Is the election getting you down? Ellis Paul spotlights some true American heroes with The Hero in You. Ellis' smart lyrics and engaging melodies were featured on a recent Kids Rock Nashville show, and you may read what a Chicago Sun-Times writer has to say about these songs, which inspire the right kind of patriotism. Happy Spring! Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR beth@sugarmountainpr.com Tweets! at BethBC PS: Have you noticed our “2 Tunes 2 Ways” blog posts at BunchFamily? |
| Cool Music for Kids News: New Songs for Moms and Dads May 2012 Get to know three dads who rock Three new CDs this month feature the coolest dads who create some of the best songs for kids.Their insights into the joys and stresses of childhood are so astute. To discover their music, visit the links below. Dog on Fleas - Invisible Friends. This somewhat slanted, brassy, vintage and groovy dance music just became available digitally. In June, it will be available from retailers and at schools and libraries, via national distributors including Big Kids, AV Cafe, Midwest Tape and BWI/Follett. We're so pleased that more of the world may discover band leader Dean Jones' brilliant songwriting and production. Check out the new music videos for "Band in My Head" and "Just Another Finger," which Dean created with his kids' help. Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - A Potluck. Released on May 8th, this new CD from Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis (plus a host of friends) offers a feast of sweet, fun and bright pop songs, all mixed up like a family block party. This new collection of sweet and happy songs ranges from indie pop to vintage rock and roll, ska and world beats, celebrates the diverse surprises of any neighborhood, including the band's diverse Silverlake district of Los Angeles. See what Lucky and Alisha are reading with daughter Ella in this feature for BunchFamily. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Make Believers. Band leader Cactus (aka Joel Sullivan) and his family plan a gala CD release event in Asheville, NC, on May 20th, complete with the stellar guest artists featured on their latest collection of gutsy, imaginative and positive hip hop songs for elementary aged kids. Cactus remembers what it was like to be the an outsider when he was young, and every one of his lyrics helps kids build their confidence to tackle life head-on. As About.com says, th ese songs "bob heads and open minds." Get ready for summer with these traveling songs The Okee Dokee Brothers - Can You Canoe? Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing's epic journey down the Mississippi River has resulted in a transcendent music-and-DVD release, produced by Dean Jones (see Dog on Fleas, above). The "Adventure Album" features guest artists Garth Hudson, Elizabeth Mitchell and the creative team behind Gustafer Yellowgold. Can You Canoe? embarks on May 15th, and you may catch the duo's live show at their free CD release party in Minneapolis on May 19th, the Kansas City Jiggle Jam on May 26th and at dozens of Minnesota libraries this summer. Putumayo Kids - Cowboy Playground - This is a fun collection of classic cowboy songs for buckaroos of all ages, featuring Riders in the Sky, Kerry Grombacher, plus three kindie artists: Buck Howdy, Victor Johnson and Johnny Bregar. Saddle on up to the listening page now and hit the trails happily! Great tunes for warm weekends The Sugar Free Allstars are known for bringing a funky dance party wherever they go. Their forthcoming (June 12th) release All on a Sunday Afternoon is no exception. These 10 new kid-friendly rhythm-and-blues songs will carry the whole family through a fun-filled weekend day, with the help of guest artists Marty Beller, Keller Williams, Trout Fishing in America, Jack Forman of Recess Monkey and other luminaries. As a bonus, the CD is embedded with a full-length Sugar Free Allstars concert video, the next best thing to being there. Intriguing Creole sounds and rhymes Songs in the Shade of the Flamboyant Tree - You have probably heard the joyful sounds of maracas and steel drums, but have you listened to a children's song punctuated by the ti bwa, kayamb and rouler? In the Creole cultures of Guadaloupe, Haiti,Martinique and Reunion, lullabies and nursery rhymes mingle with work and love songs. Experience another world of music when The Secret Mountain presents their latest picture book-CD in June. |
So, You Like Music? Please check out the always-on music video channel for kids, myKaZootv featuring hundreds of music videos from today's top kindie music stars. |
| August 2012 releases from Sugar Mountain PR clients * Barry G and the Dream Jam Kids—Huh-uh – www.mykazootv.com artist from the Dream Jam Band. This is Barry’s first solo CD on the myKaZoo Music label. Due July 31. Barry is a music educator based in Westchester County, NY (near NYC). The CD was produced by Grammy nominee Rick Chertoff. * The Harmonica Pocket – Apple Apple - a solar-powered Puget Sound based band, will release their third family music CD on August 14th. The 14 songs on Apple Apple reflect the band’s deep connections to the natural world as well as the humor and wonder of childhood. This truly green recording was produced off the grid at The Harmonica Pocket’s solar-powered studios. www.harmonicapocket.com Coming in September! * Aaron Nigel Smith - Welcome to the Village! * The Secret Mountain - W Is for Wapiti * Mister G - Chocolalala * Ozomatli Presents OzoKidz |
| Cool Music for Kids News: October 2012 www.sugarmountainpr.com Smart family music is dropping as colorfully as the leaves this month. The Secret Mountain, purveyor of gorgeously illustrated stories-with-books, releases the latest in their international lullaby and nursery rhyme collection. Out this week is Songs in the Shade of the Olive Tree, with 30 entrancing tracks from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, performed by singers from these lands. Lyrics are printed in Arabic and English, and the hardcover, colorfully illustrated book includes a CD. The Montreal-based label has just won two awards from Parents' Choice plus a NAPPA Award for other releases in their growing collection. Putumayo Kids continues to present engaging and accessible world and American roots tunes for families. In one of the most active seasons since the label’s launch in 1999, the company has announced its first-ever digital release of four of their albums with LeapFrog; a new World Playground series on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live radio; a Putumayo Kids Children of the World 2013 calendar; and World Sing-Along CD, due out October 30th. Elizabeth Mitchell's summer release, Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie has won Gold Awards from both Parents' Choice and NAPPA this fall. On October 23, Elizabeth will release a new collection of original and tenderly rendered cover songs from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. About.com hails it as a masterpiece and "one of the best kids' CDs of 2012. David Tobocman just released a new collection of his original tunes. See why Randy Kaplan calls David "a world-class musician and songwriter," and Brady Rymer says these new songs are "melodically rich and endearing as a smile" at www. veryhelpfulsongs.com. David is also offering a FREE Halloween song download. "Spooky Stuff" was co-written by David's daughter Zoe. With a background in children’s literature, plus a GRAMMY® nomination for his kids’ songs, Zak Morgan brings all of his life experiences and a simple delight in words and music to his fourth family music album, The Barber of the Beasts, available on October 30 from the new Universal Music Enterprises label myKaZoo. Zak is the latest artist signed to the label, and he will join fellow artists on the roster for a PBS TV special airing this holiday season. His music videos are in high rotation on myKaZooTV. Next month, we'll share news about Justin Roberts' first-ever Lullaby album, plus some holiday treats and previews of what'll be coming in early 2013. Music Videos that We Love Speaking of myKaZooTV, Aaron Nigel Smith launched his live-action video for "Man Gave Names" on the music video channel for kids. His zippy version of the Bob Dylan classic. Can you guess who the puppets on this video represent? The Portland branch of the One World Chorus chimes in. The Harmonica Pocket's "Diaperman" is heating up on kids' radio shows nationwide. Their wry environmentally conscious story-song is worth a look. It's also posting on myKaZooTV. This band walks the talk: all of The Harmonica Pocket's songs are produced in their solar-powered studio. The amazing Gimbel Family has generated a national following for their hilarious fan videos featuring some of the top acts in kindie music. We've already rocked along to their excellently directed videos for songs by Bill Harley and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. Check out the newly posted one for Ozomatli's OzoKidz song "Moose on the Loose." Mister G continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (through October 15th) and his new CD Chocolalala. We love how the kids react to his onstage energy in this video of the title song. Mister G plans shows soon at Coolidge Corner near Boston and the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA. New apps for your play and learning time Sugar Mountain PR is finally entering the 21st century. Our clients are way ahead of us, releasing brand new apps you'll want to check out. No more couch potatoes! Check the mike, scratch that track, spin the disco ball and dance along! Baby Loves Disco partnered with H&M for their brand new and FREE Disco Boogie app, available from the iTunes store now. Three Putumayo Kids CDs are now available as apps from LeapFrog: European Playground, Jazz Playground and Cowboy Playground. World Sing-Along will debut there on November 6. Grammaropolis will release a new series of apps based on their award-winning interactive website. Check out the iTunes store to try out the Word Sort app with kids ages 7 and up. We want to hear what you think. Please contact us: REVIEW COPIES: Peggy Gansberg, sugarmountainnews@msn.com INFORMATION/INTERVIEW REQUESTS, ARTWORK: Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR, beth@sugarmountainpr.com PS: Have you noticed our “2 Tunes 2 Ways” blog posts at BunchFamily? Head back Home |
| Sugar Mountain PR Cool Music for Kids News: holiday edition 2012 www.sugarmountainpr.com Don't take our word for it. Here are a few guides to the best kids' music of 2012: Some of the best reviewers care deeply about children's music. They've heard a lot and can discern the best. These organizations are a good place to start if you're looking to choose the best music for young people out this year:
New Tunes and Free Stuff for Kids Justin Roberts' first-ever Lullaby album just debuted, and the kudos are already piling up...like softly falling snow. Check out what Entertainment Weekly had to say, and get yourself a FREE download of the song "Polar Bear" from Scholastic. com's post, here. Justin and his Not Ready for Naptime Players continue their never-ending national tour with shows in Miami and San Diego/Legoland in December. Speaking of tours, Baby Loves Disco has a few events left in their multi-city We Are Family Tour 2012. Check out this "Life without Limits" video featuring Baby Loves Disco cofounder Andy Blackman Hurwitz. Grammaropolis, the teacher-author-dad-created, interactive, music-based and snappy learning environment, is available now as a CD, books, a website and new apps. Feel free to explore the FREE Nouns Neighborhood now with kids ages 7 and up. Like everything else in the zany world of Grammaropolis, the apps feature songs by the inimitable Doctor Noize. Super Holiday Tunes from The Jimmies, Renee & Jeremy and The Not-Its! Mama Said Nog You Out! ~ This hilarious family-friendly CD was a Barnes & Noble exclusive when it was released last last year. This year it is available widely. From the first "Nogturne in C Minor" to "I Want a Hippopatomus for Kwanzaa," you'll gather some delightful musical treats here. As always, the Jimmies offer up a super-poppy, ultra-rocking non- denominational holiday album that's guaranteed to put a little more egg in your nog and mistle in your toes. Sunny Christmas by Renee and Jeremy - Renee Stahl and Jeremy Toback are favorites in the L.A. indie music scene. They're known for haunting harmonies and reimagined versions of recognizable songs, made fresh for families. The duo's new holiday EP offers sweet covers of holiday classics and the catchy original title tune. The Not-Its! will release a brand new CD called KidQuake! in February. For now, fans of the parent-run and Seattle-based kindie rock band will have to settle for their zippy rendition of the holiday classic, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Get a free download of the song now, here. Also coming up in early 2013: new discs from Ella Jenkins, Bill Harley and Keith Munslow and a mysterious and simply brilliant collection of original songs by Portland artist Julianna Bright called Cat Doorman Songbook. It's already looking like another great year for family music ahead. We want to hear what you think. Please contact us: Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR, beth@sugarmountainpr.com |
Congratulations to all four of our clients who were nominated for GRAMMY Awards:
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| Cool Music for Kids News ~ Spring 2013 www.sugarmountainpr.com Congratulations to this spring's Parents' Choice Audio award-winners! Here are some hot and cool spring tunes on the way in May. May 3/ Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band / ¡Fantastico! / Rainy Day Dimes Music/ www.luckydiazmusic. com Cómo es impresionante! This is the first, and highly anticipated, Spanish-language album release from the LA-based kindie rock group. Translating their greatest hits like ‘Blue Bear’ and ‘Lines and Dots’ into ‘Oso Azul’ and ‘Líneas y Puntos,’Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band offers hip, fresh beats for not only Spanish speakers, but to families that yearn to immerse their youngest listeners in dual language right from the start. A fun choice for Cinco de Mayo! May 14/ Dean Jones/When the World Was New/No Parking Studio/ Dean Jones, a Grammy award-winning producer who is widely acclaimed as one of the leading lights of the current “kindie” music explosion, will release a new family music album.This is a rare solo project for Jones, who is also known for his work with Dog on Fleas (Invisible Friend) and The Felice Brothers. The first and title track exemplifies the Dean Jones approach to smart songwriting for kids. May 15/Various artists/Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music/ The Secret Mountain/ Throughout history birds have caught the imagination of composers and inspired their creativity. This selection of works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, and others introduces children to classical music through the discovery of the melodious similarities between notes produced by instruments such as the flute, the organ, and the harpsichord and the birds’ songs. In addition to lovely illustrations, the book features a glossary of musical terms, a short biography of each composer, and a brief description of each bird evoked or mentioned in the composition. The accompanying CD offers excerpts of 20 different recordings—ranging from The Goldfinch, Hens and Roosters, and The Dance of the Swans to The Cuckoo and the Nightingale, Piano Concerto N, and Dance of the Firebird—performed by world-class luminaries including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Chamber Orchestra. May 21/ Roger Day/Marsh Mud Madness/Roger Day Productions and Savannah Music Festival/ (music DVD) Produced by the Savannah Music Festival and Roger Day, with support from the Georgia Sea Grant and the Courtney Knight Gaines Foundation, the video features engaging information about the plants and animals that make up the Atlantic coastal ecosystem, interspersed with Day performing 12 original songs about goopy mud, fascinating coastal animals and the waters and plants of the marsh itself, in front of a live audience of thousands of kids. The DVD debuted when Roger performed at the LA Times Festival of Books in April. May 21/Key Wilde and Mr Clarke/Pleased To Meet You/ Wormhole Records www.keywilde.com A highly anticipated release ! Smart and snappy story-songs from a hilarious duo based in NYC/ NJ. Whether you were "Raised by Trolls" or you'd like to meet the "Lazy Raisins" or "Eggplant Man," you will travel on a fantastical adventure with this rockin' duo. Grammy winning producer Dean Jones produced the new collection of 15 original songs. June 18 / Various artists/American Playground/Putumayo Kids - A celebration of Americana music, with fun new renditions of classic songs for summer family parties. This is the 20th anniversary year of Putumayo World Music! July 9 / Justin Roberts/Recess/Carpet Square Records www.justinrobertsmusic.com - Justin Roberts will release his most energetic collection of kid-pop tunes yet, in time for summer fun. More cool music for family fun is coming later in the summer, too, from Heidi Swedberg and Trout Fishing in America. |
