Erica Rabner's Got This Pandemic

Singer/songwriter Erica Rabner had a unique vantage point from inside the pandemic. Through her "day job" work with children, she could see how youngsters of all ages were suffering – and not just physical ailments brought on by coronavirus. She developed two separate releases for different age brackets on the new 8 Pound Gorilla recording label – THE COVID ALBUM which was released earlier this year for toddlers and younger tots – and the brand-new WE GOT THIS for their older, preteen brethren.

Excited by material she collected from conversations with children (used in seven interstitial messages scattered throughout the CD), Erica finished WE GOT THIS, top to bottom, between December 2020 and January 2021. The title track became the catchphrase between her and producer Brian Blake as they literally willed the music into existence. The year 2020 was a traveling adventure for Rabner, who traded her New York City for a car and moved cross-country. The tracks for THE COVID ALBUM were recorded in a closet in Austin, Texas. 

Erica decided to use a different approach for WE GOT THIS. Your heart breaks listening to children expressing their thoughts on anxiety, loneliness, social media, and looking for ways to remain positive. The 10 songs relate to and amplify the complexity of these emotions, especially when parents – expected to always have the answers – frighteningly are a different breed of superhero, are are the essential workers who kept society moving, thanked in the opener, "Stronger Together."

Fellow 8 Pound artists Genevieve Goings ("Highlights Reel") and SaulPaul ("Be The Light") deliver inspirative vocals on songs about seeking optimistic in the middle of pandemic fatigue and looking for silver linings instead of dwelling on the worst aspects of your current situation. "Slack" gives children permission to just be themselves and "Zoom" addresses the comical, frustrating side effects of remote education:

How can I concentrate in class on Zoom when Jason's sister's always crying?

How can I focus when Maya says her Internet is down again but we all know she's lying?

It bears repeating that children's music is not strictly for children. With songs like "Be the Light" and "Brand New Day," Erica Rabner finds optimism inside the darkest year in your family's lives. There's a warm, fuzzy friendliness that makes "we got this" another three-word slogan worth teaching your children.

WE GOT THIS is available from Erica Rabner's website, Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for the title track, "We Got This":

Video Premieres: Frances England Gets Glued; Brady Rymer Masked

Music is coming fast and furious as the holidays approach, including unexpected pleasures from coast to coast. San Francisco's ethereal Frances England drops HONEY, a seven-song EP, early next month. In the meantime, the first video praises the people that you're "stuck" in quarantine with, appropriately titled "Glue."  The short gets its point across with nary a mask in sight – effectively ignoring coronavirus in favor of the proverbial ties that bind us together, as families, pods, communities, whatever you choose to call your chosen living arrangement. I've heard the entire EP (spoiler alert – it's really good). Frances has a soft, fully-defined persona. Her new collection is very much an "extender" until she compiles a full batch of songs for 2021. Looking forward to the post-pandemic era and return of live performances, and hopefully a return to the East Coast from this West Coast original. Here's the video for "Glue":

On the other end of the spectrum (and country) is Long Island's Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, with their educational and instructional "Good Looking Mask." Brady wrote the song to cast mask wearing in a positive and creative light. "Some kids find masks a little scary and off-putting," he explained. "With the new video, I hope it helps kids feel good about putting on their good looking masks." 

Sway that insistent science denier in your family with simple lyrics:

We’ll protect each other
It’s a selfless, loving act
All just by wearing a mask

Brady reached out to his network of fans and followers to send their most fun, most expressive, creative, and joyful contributions, captured in photographs and video clips. The resulting YouTube short includes examples of humans (as well as animals and accordion players) promoting safety, community health, and fun activities with friends and family. There's a cottage industry in songs about the pandemic. Brady's North Fork enclosure is far from a cottage, but he's mastered the industry of consummate children's music. Here's the video for "Good Looking Mask":

Quick Hit: Okee Dokees Say Don't Touch Your Face!

With the novel Corona virus taking the world by storm (literally), the Okee Dokee Brothers have recorded a quick PSA for kids called "Don't Touch Your Face." You can listen, just don't... okay, you get it.... and dry those hands, too! Click on the pic to get to the video!