CHARLIE FAYE AND THE FANIMALS

Being from Detroit, I have a fondness for the Motown sound; so Charlie Faye & The Fanimals caught my ear with the ‘60s-tinged soul/pop sounds of their self-titled debut album which is set for release July 21, 2023. Their kindie music provides a nice introduction for children to the tones and musical vibes that classic Motown Records performers like Martha and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and The Supremes made popular. Charlie Faye & The Fanimals provide a modern take by kindie rocking these throwback sounds.

“The thing that’s cool about this project is that it has a throwback sound, but the themes of the songs are very modern,” Charlie Faye remarked to ageekdaddy.com. “You wouldn’t have a Motown song in the ’60s about a little boy who wears a tutu. But on this album, you do.”

The album features nine tracks that are not just entertaining but provide life lessons to the kids listening to thes tunes. “7 Days of Fun” bounces through the days of the week with a classic ‘60s Motown groove. “Me & My Family” feels more like something from the early ‘70s but showcases a modern exploration of how different kinds of families might look from a kid's perspective. “Snack Time” sounds like a classic Stax number – if Stax were to put out a song about snacks. “Milo Wears a Tutu” tells the story of one kid bucking convention and wearing what he wants to, set to a playful backbeat reminiscent of a Temptations record.

Faye is a collaborator by nature, so she brought in many of her musical friends to take part in this kindie album. She co-wrote songs with Sara Hickman, Joe McDermott, Suzanna Choffel, Bill Demain, and others. Pete Thomas (of Elvis Costello fame) not only played drums on the whole record, but also co-wrote “Cookie Tree,” the one song on the album with a distinct reggae influence. Other musicians on the record include Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), Scott Davis, Trevor Nealon, and Jim Brunberg (Wonderly), who took a co-production role on “7 Days of Fun” and a few other tracks. Faye also brought in her former girl group bandmates BettySoo and Akina Adderley to add some classic ‘60s background vocals to the mix.

Charlie Faye & The Fanimals will be available on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Bandcamp. The album has a runtime of 22 minutes and a price tag of $9.99 for its digital edition. Faye though has generously provided me with some download codes so a few lucky people can sample her album for FREE! 

For a chance to be one of the randomly selected winners of this Charlie Faye & The Fanimals giveaway, just complete the Rafflecopter entries below before 11:59 pm ET on July 31, 2023. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate. Faye's publicist is responsible for delivery of the download codes to the selected recipients. Good luck!

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NEW ALBUM FROM JESSA CAMPBELL AND THE SAPLINGS

Bringing a funky flair to dynamic music that celebrates the rich biodiversity of the forest, FOREST FLOW, the second album for families from Parents’ Choice Award-winning Jessa Campbell & the Saplings, was released today. Forest Flow is available on all major music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Bandcamp. This new album from Jessa Campbell and the Saplings incorporates elements of hip-hop, pop, dance, and folk to create a fun, engaging kindie music experience that kids will love.

From her home in Portland, Oregon, Jessa Campbell writes upbeat, danceable, STEM- and ecology-based songs that are inspired by the musical tastes of her own children and informed by the styles of the adult bands with which she regularly performs. Forest Flow is a collaborative album, weaving together contributions from some of Jessa’s favorite artists and friends: GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop musician SaulPaul, LDW (Portland’s Talking Heads tribute and new wave/funk band), TravisT of Eastern Sunz (multi-award-winning hip-hop duo), Palo-Mah (Mexican-American folk songstress), and Native hip-hop artist 2 8 Tha Native.

While its focus is on ecology and STEM-related topics, FOREST FLOW avoids feeling preachy or didactic. Instead, the songs are playful and imaginative, encouraging kids to explore the natural world, discover its wonders for themselves, and get up and move their bodies. Age-appropriate and easy-to-sing-along-with lyrics make Forest Flow wonderful for family car rides or dance parties at home.

The album kicks off with “Rainbow Flow,” which features two-time GRAMMY-nominated Saul Paul and is already receiving airplay on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live. “Movement is Chemistry,” a Talking Heads-inspired synth-pop number that is also receiving airplay on Kids Place Live, was written with and features LDW. On “Vuela, Vuela, Fly,” Palo-Mah and Campbell sing a bilingual story about monarch butterflies who start out as eggs on milkweed plants in the United States and end up traveling all the way to Mexico, where the song’s lyrics change to Spanish.

“For this album with the newer pop/dance/hip-hop sound that I’m bringing to the table, my band is made up of musicians who play with LDW,” Campbell commented to ageekdaddy.com. “These fabulous musicians are top notch players who really take the show to the next level for families. LDW’s lead singer, Lawrence Orleck, and I have been performing together for 8 years in that ensemble! Since we both have 7-year-olds, we decided it was time to write some funky music for our kids, whose musical tastes have expanded since the 2019 release of my previous kids’ album, the folk-oriented Can You Feel It?”

Make learning fun by incorporating STEM into fun things like music has been one of my parenting mantras. So, I'm GEEKED that Jessica Campbell has provided me with some free digital download codes for FOREST FLOW to giveaway. If you have a preschool or elementary school aged child in your life don't miss out on this blog giveaway!

Just complete the rafflecopter entries below before 11:59pm ET on June 18, 2023 for a chance to get FOREST FLOW for free. Winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. Must be a United States resident 18 years or older to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

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Jessa Campbell bridges the worlds of music and ecology, enchanting young audiences with the wonders of nature through her songs. With a background that includes performing in the national touring production of the hit television show Dragon Tales, Jessa is no stranger to children’s entertainment. She has traveled the world as lead singer/dancer on Holland America world cruises, sung backup for Wayne Newton, and headlined many festivals with Portland-based LDW (Talking Heads tribute and original funk band) and Taken by the Sky (Fleetwood Mac tribute band, in which Jessa performs as “Stevie Nicks”). Jessa has studied with Lorna Luft, Barry Manilowe, and Doug Hallenbeck, and she has also been privileged to learn from several world-renowned vocal teachers during time spent performing at the Chautauqua Opera House.

She began writing ecology-based songs with her young students in a “Wonders of Nature” class at a local learning center. Together, they explored simple science concepts through music, which ultimately led to the creation of Jessa’s first family album, Can You Feel It? released in 2019. Can You Feel It? landed a Parents’ Choice Silver Award, was featured on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live channel, and enjoyed the "High Five Album of the Week" spotlight on Australia’s Kinderling Kids Radio.

WHAT IS KINDIE ROCK

Musical artists who focus on content meant for children have developed their own niche that has become known as KINDIE ROCK. Many of these performers started off performing to adult audiences and have transitioned their styles to be suitable to youthful listeners. Dan Zanes (lead singer for the Del Fuegos), The Verve Pipe, and They Might Be Giants from performing at bars and stadiums to playing at libraries and community events as they've become leading artists in kindie rock.

Kindie rock artists don't necessarily alter their music style but instead the content so it is family friendly and in addition to being entertaining often incorporate educational aspects into their tunes. Kindie rock, also known as "kindie", is a style of children's music that melds the sensibility of a singer-songwriter with themes aimed at kids. Often times kindie rock is aimed at preschoolers; but some artists fine tune their performances for elementary school or junior high aged kids. Kindie Rock niche though tends to be mainly children aged 2 through 8 years old. 

I found my kids learned a lot while having fun listening to kindie rock songs when they were preschool and elementary school aged. Listening to songs at home and going to see performers provided good times and bonding opportunities. The best kindie rock artists are those whose music not only entertains children, but the moms and dads who are also in the audience. There is a reason kindie rock is referred to as not just children's music but "family music." 

My own kids' current appreciation of music goes back to us enjoying kindie rock as a family. They were exposed to various types of music by different kindie rock artists including the blues, jazz, folk tunes, country, latin music and more. Listening to music became engrained with them as something enjoyable to do. So, I regularly share information about kindie artists on this blog as a way to share the enjoyment my family has had with others. I hope you tune into these posts. Rock on! 

PILLOWLAND

Bestselling children's music star Laurie Berkner, called "The queen of children's music" by People and "the Adele of the preschool crowd" by the New York Times, can also list author as one of her of achievements with Simon & Schuster publishing PILLOWLAND, a picture book based upon the lyrics of her hit song of the same name from the album Laurie Berkner Lullabies.  With art by Camille Garoche, PILLOWLAND is a great bedtime story that compliments Berkner's repertoire of lullabies and other songs for children. Berkner's "Pillowland" lyrics accompanied with Garoche's illustrations create a feather-fluffed dream world where bedtime is always a grand adventure within the pages of this book.



A former preschool music teacher, Berkner has garnered a reputation as an outstanding performer of Kindie Rock, a style of children's music the blends a singer's adult perspectives and sensibilities with themes aimed at children under 10 years old.  She has released twelve award-winning albums, written the lyrics for three Off-Broadway children's musicals, tours the country performing with The Laurie Berkner Band, and was the first recording artist to ever perform in music videos on the Nick Jr cable channel. To highlight her newest accomplishment, the children's picture book PILLOWLAND based upon one of her fan favorite songs, Berkner has kindly provided A Geek Daddy with a prize pack to giveaway.

PILLOWLAND PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY

One lucky randomly selected winner will receive the PILLOWLAND picture book and a CD of the album Laurie Berkner Lullabies that includes the song which inspired the book.  If you have youngster at home this is a contest you are absolutely going to want to throw your name in the hat for a chance to win!  Just complete the rafflecopter entries below by 11:59 pm ET on May 31, 2018 for a chance to win a PILLOWLAND prize pack. 

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Must be a U.S. resident over 18 years old to be eligible for this giveaway promotion.  The selected winner must reply back providing contact information for mailing the prize within 48 hours of being notified of their selection or the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner selected.  A Geek Daddy has not been compensated for its endorsement of the musical artist and hosting the contest. This giveaway is being sponsored by A Geek Daddy as a fan of Laurie Berkner and as a special benefit to my website readers. Berkner's publicist will be responsible for delivery of the prize. By participating in this giveaway, participants waive any liability to the publisher of this website for hosting the contest.

PILLOWLAND is a 32 page book available as a hardcover physical publication or as a fixed layout e-book.  It is recommended for children in the pre-Kindergarten through 3rd Grade age range.  The book is available to purchase from Books-A-Million (BAM) and Barnes & Noble, as well as Amazon.com.

In addition to including "Pillowland", Laurie Berkner Lullabies contains some of artist's most beloved bedtime favorites such as "Moon Moon Moon" and "Goodnight." This is a great album filled with songs that are sure to lull little ones to sleep. Joining Berkner in performing on the album are bandmates Susie Lampert (keyboards), Brady Rymer (bass), and Bob Golden (drums, percussion).  Listen to Laurie Berkner Lullabies on Amazon Music, iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Also check out her YouTube channel which is regularly updated with free music videos to watch.  For more information about the artist and her music, head over to laurieberkner.com.