Mil's Trills On Childrens' Challenges Channeling Emotions

"How are you feeling?" seems like the simplest question that a person can ask, especially to a child.

Coming on the heels of a nearly two-year global pandemic, social distancing, remote learning, and the recent 20th anniversary of 9/11, the answer is not quite as rudimentary as one might expect – especially from children, who may not have the verbal toolset to adequately express their emotions. The year 2020 delivered a master class in collective emoting, from Black Lives Matter to LGBTQ rights to Defund the Police (as the monarch in The King and I says, "etcetera, etcetera").

Brooklyn-based children's recording artist Amelia “Mil” Robinson addresses parental concerns about kids bottling up their feelings with her latest collection, LET IT OUT! Amelia and a host of artists, including Uncle Jumbo, Divinity Roxx, Kymberly Stewart, and Pierce Freelon, contribute to songs that encompass the full spectrum, from anger ("Punch a Pillow" with Jumbo) to seeing things from other people's perspectives ("I Wanna Know" also with Jumbo) to frustration ("Let My Have My Feelings" with Freelon) and much more.

Under the direction of kids' über producer Dean Jones, Robinson and company present a unified, upbeat front to the most divisive topics. The Trumpian "good people on both sides" gets parsed as "Agree To Disagree," a tune about coming to terms with never seeing eye-to-eye on certain topics. Offering comfort when that's the only option (for kids demanding answers to the unknown, such as "when will this pandemic end") gets a gentle lullaby in "How Could I Possibly Know." When the ponderous becomes too much, Robinson and Jumbo explain how it's still okay to dance on the first single, "Disco Rain."

Robinson used her previous three CDs to develop a teaching curriculum called Messy Music, which builds social emotional skills through judgment- and criticism-free creativity. The songs on LET IT OUT! will become a primary source of teachable tools later this fall. Everyone has emotions and they need to be expressed. LET IT OUT! offers a font of straightforward, genial suggestions for young listeners. Parents can also unearth a few truths about their own feelings. Good mental hygiene shouldn't need to be coerced – let it out, organically.

LET IT OUT! is available from Mil's Trills' website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for the song, "Disco Rain," featuring Uncle Jumbo:

Spend 28 Days With Little Miss Ann

The pandemic is still in full force, although a semblance of normality is beginning to emerge, including socially distanced concerts. Little Miss Ann (Ann Torralba) knows that youngsters have a short attention span, so she's boiled down more than a year of tumult, turmoil, and tenacity into her sixth children's music collection, titled 28 DAYS. All of the songs were written, recorded, and produced under quarantine, guided by the experienced hand of über-producer Dean Jones. Toddlers and preschoolers alike will enjoy the 11 progressive, infectious songs delivered by one of Chicago's favorite children's performers.

If there's one thing that people needed the most during COVID, it was friends. Miss Ann used the pandemic as an opportunity to load up 28 DAYS with special guests such as Frances England (on "Bright Winter Day"), Tommy Soulati Shepherd of the Alphabet Rockers (the title track), Amelia Robinson of Mil's Trills ("Stars On the Island"),  and Elana Moon Park and Suzi Shelton ("Good Luck"). Shelton returns on "Marshmallow Man," the first video from 28 DAYS. Chicago-based violinist Anna Jacobson guests on "Goin' Down the Road," a countrified number about learning from nature:

You never know who you'll meet
On your journey down the road
So be open to the froggies and the foxes and the toads.
They might be big or they might be small
Use your heart, not your eyes, don't put up a wall

The constant thread throughout 28 DAYS is "we will be just fine, one day at a time," as Miss Ann sings on "Safe At Home." It's been a tough year-plus for everyone and a little introspection goes a long way. But as Miss Ann gently emphasizes, it's also time to look forward, move upward, and plan ahead for the next 28 days. 

The Grammy Museum Experience is hosting Little Miss Ann as one of the stars of its "Spring & Sing! Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration," on Saturday, May 22 at 11 AM ET.  Click through to hear music and stories about performers' Asian heritage, including Elana Moon Park, Mista Cookie Jar, and Falu.

28 DAYS is available from Little Miss Ann's website, Bandcamp, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is a video for the new song "We Go Together Very Well," animated by Pirata y Luna:

Jazzy Ash Puts Her Good Foot Forward

Making a strong first impression is super important. With a a new generation of listeners coming fast and furious every few years in the field of children's music, Jazzy Ash (Ashli St. Armant) used her pandemic time to build GOOD FOOT, a six-song EP that introduces audiences to her influences – the Black American music sound of the 1950s and 1960s. 

The renaissance of kids' jazz continues unabated, from the 2019 Grammy win of Lucy Kalantari to present day. Ashli has chosen to revisit the classic jump rope song, "Teddy Bear" and uses a soul/funk beat on the mask-friendly "Be Outside" (see the video below). Who knew that walking your dog during coronavirus could inspire such an upbeat number? In fact, the song reached Number 1 on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live's "13 Under 13" over the summer. Ashli delves into the early rock roots of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley on the title track and executes a James Brown rave on "The Sauce." Guest performer Amelia Robinson (Mil's Trills) complement Ashli's vocals on "Seize the Day" and life partner Pam Rocker duets on the '60s harmony echo "Honey."

After spending much of her youth in New Orleans, Ashli decamped in Los Angeles, where she founded Leaping Lizards Music, a music and theater education program for TK-12 students. Her touring band, Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards, produced five albums and looks forward to returning to the road in 2021. The band is joined on GOOD FOOT by esteemed musicians Phil Glenn (Show Ponies, Psychic Temple), Danny Frankel (Fiona Apple, Lou Reed, Brian Eno), and Davin Givhan (Lauryn Hill, Psychic Temple). An authentic sound was almost guaranteed, as the EP was recorded at LA's EastWest Studios, which has produced more Grammy Award-winning albums than any other studio in the world, including Frank Sinatra and Marvin Gaye.

The playing field will be leveled for all performers in 2021 once vaccines and science coax us into the open from our sheltering pods. With GOOD FOOT, Jazzy Ash accomplished her task – a shiny first impression, clearing herself a prime landing space in our funky new world.

GOOD FOOT is available from Jazzy Ash's website, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.

Here is the video for "Be Outside":

Suzi Shelton Celebrating Motherhood & Responders

In the time of lockdown, you simply can't avoid moms. Whether it's mom on Zoom, or forwarding you funny stories you already saw online, moms rule Days of COVID. Just in time for Mother's Day, Suzi Shelton and Park Slope Parents are gathering a cast of acclaimed family music artists for a "Celebrate Moms" concert to honor not just moms, but all the people who take care of us, including first responders.

The event streams live on Saturday, May 9 from 11 AM to 2 PM ET at Suzi's Facebook page. Admission is free and donations are appreciated. All funds raised will go to the First Responders Children's Foundation, which provides support to first responders and their families who are enduring financial hardship due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The virtual family concert will feature (in order of appearance): Suzi Shelton, Liz Joyce and A Couple of Puppets, Kira Willey, Vered, Katie HaHaHa, Jon Samson, Red Yarn, Mils Trills, Joanie Leeds, Sonia De Los Santos, Brady Rymer, 123 Andrés, Josh Lovelace, Tim Kubart, Randy Kaplan, and Little Miss Ann.

A community of more than 7,000 families in Brooklyn, Park Slope Parents shares advice on everything from choosing childcare to camps, hairdressers to healthcare, and coping with teething, terrible twos, and tweens.

You Gotta Hand It to Suzi Shelton

Suzi Shelton wants to be your mom's cool friend. You know, the one who plans the sleepovers and makes up games and brings her guitar to the cookout so everyone can sing together. On her new CD, HAND IN HAND, Suzi delivers her final thesis and presents the remaining evidence so listeners can agree – all hail cool mom.

In addition to recording and live performances, Suzi maintains a busy interactive schedule with "Sing With Suzi," her YouTube channel (15,000 subscribers). And for an even more personal experience, her website lists "Skype With Suzi," which is a good reason the kids shouldn't have access to credit cards (or your Venmo account).

HAND IN HAND continues the Shelton mix of easy-to-understand lyrics and toe-taping arrangements. It's also the rare exception where there is no direct title track. HAND IN HAND serves more as an overall theme to the nine songs, from "Put Your Hands in the Air" to CD-closer "We Shall Walk," written by her daughter, Emma. Instead of simple parental declarations of adoration, HAND IN HAND urges kids to learn, grow, develop individual personalities, and embrace what makes them truly special. "Can You Feel the Power" is a preteen-Parkland motivational song:

Live your life with passion and fire
If you don't feel it now then go get inspired
Don't wait and don't hesitate
Hate we can devour, that's your superpower

Special guests on HAND IN HAND include Grammy winner Tim Kubart, Vered Ronson (whose own CD is coming next week), and Amelia Robinson (Mil's Trills). But HAND IN HAND is more about kid power than star power. A few of the songs, such as "The Grass Is Always Greener" (Tim's song) skew notably towards toddlers. But current Kids Place Live single "Raindrop" is a definite age-defying earwig. The power of positivity grows in every child and Suzi encourages you to embrace and meet that challenge, hand in hand.

HAND IN HAND is available on May 11 from Suzi's website, Soundcloud, Spotify, Amazon, and iTunes.  In the meantime, you can attend the free Facebook Live debut of the CD on Thursday, May 10. Here's the link.

Here is the video for the song, "Raindrop":

It's All Ridiculous Nonsense to Mil's Trills

Amelia Robinson is ridiculous. She also sings about nonsense. Now, in addition to all that, she is giving herself one hell of a Google search combination with the release of her third children's music CD as Mil's Trills with RIDICULOUS NONSENSE.

Amelia knows that too much curiosity killed the cat. But the coolest cats and kittens must retain a little curiosity about the silly world around them. To that end, RIDICULOUS NONSENSE delivers "Stale Bread," "Lost Sock," and "Swallowed A Bug."

Kids über-producer Dean Jones helms RIDICULOUS NONSENSE and provides serious fun and delightful unpredictability with noises and instrumentation. The funky "Globals" starts with a list of different "balls" before getting to its stated purpose. Then back to the balls. The CD finishes with the mellow punch of "You Are A Star" and "Love the Music," with sweet harmonies on the chorus:

I love the music
Right now we all could use it

It's tough being a kid and Mil's Trills tackles the hard topics on "Put Your Pants On" and "Make Some Noise," which begs for some czarist Russian dancers in its video. There's also the power of positivity with "This Is My Body," which bristles against the mantra of "eat healthy and exercise." You can't really body shame these days, but Amelia was part of Michelle Obama's "Partnership for a Healthier America" and really, if it's your body you can be proud of it, but do whatever you can to stay in shape. Rant over.

Based on what's going on in Washington, there's room for RIDICULOUS NONSENSE for all of us, down to the smallest tot. Amelia Robinson and Mil's Trills have signed on. Register your vote by clicking through and deliberating on how wonderful it is to be ludicrous and laughable and love your kids.

RIDICULOUS NONSENSE is available on January 21 from Mil's Trills website, Amazon, Bandcamp, and iTunes.

Here is the video for the song, "Say Hey!"

Ben's Playlist - Friday, November 27, 2015

Mayim – Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Another Good Year – Lori Henriques
Hey Jude – Caspar Babypants
Stay Up Late – Dean Jones
This Little Light Of Mine – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
My Favorite Sneakers – In The Nick Of Time
Say Hey!  – Mil's Trills
Stuff – The Pop Ups
Flannel Jammies – The Not-Its!

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Let's Be Friends – Mil's Trills
New – Paul McCartney
Sponges – Ratboy Jr.
The Bullfrog – Red Yarn
DJ All Day – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo T
Thank You for the Box – Andrew & Polly
Better (Featuring Laurie Berkner) – Tim Kubart

My 2015 Fids and Kamily Ballot

The 2015 Fids and Kamily Awards were recently announced. I culled my choices from more than 50 CDs reviewed over the past year. I can't believe I reviewed almost one CD per week, but it was a glut to celebrate, for sure.

A few CDs were either constantly being tracked by Ben (14) for his morning playlists or selected for rotation in our car. Those factored higher in the standings. His younger brother Matt (turning 5 in November) and their mother also had some comments on my "second round" choices of 22 recording artists.

My points were distributed among CDs that we either purchased or reviewed. For the first time, I did review all ten CDs listed in the "judges' final" tally. However several of those CDs did not make my personal ballot.

That being said, it's always an honor to be asked to participate in balloting of this kind. When I think back 9-10 years and our entry into the kindie music scene, I never anticipated I'd have to struggle to "rank" such talented individuals and ensembles. Congratulations to everyone who produced children's music in 2014!

1. Recess Monkey – Hot Air
2. Tim Kubart – Home
3. Billy Kelly and Molly Ledford – Trees
4. Lori Henriques – How Great Can THis Day Be
5. Ratboy Jr – Hamster Pants
6. Renee and Friends – Simpatico
7. Josh and the Jamtones – Rocksteady
8. Alison Faith Levy – The Start of Things
9. Andrew and Polly – Odds and Ends
10. Mil's Trills – Now That We're Friends

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Baldy – Lloyd H. Miller
Best Friend – In The Nick Of Time
Favorite Book – The Bazillions
Great Pretenders Club (feat. HAERTS) – The Pop Ups
The Start of Things – Alison Faith Levy
Turned Out – Paul McCartney
When You're Gone – Mil's Trills

Ben's Playlist - Monday, September 21, 2015

Biggest Brother – Tim Kubart
Caught in the Screen – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Mr. Mustache (feat. Joel Marsh Garland) – The Green Orbs
Paper Airplane – Recess Monkey
Turned Out – Paul McCartney
When You're Gone – Mil's Trills

Kindie Quick Hits: Red Balloon, Mil's Trills, Green Orbs and Ham, and Smiles Ahead

Koko the gorilla was able to learn sign language and communicate with humans. Okay, what has that got to do with children's music. Hang on, I'm making a point. Infants, before they are able to speak, can also be taught to communicate with basic sign language. Bear with me. Children are also able to learn the sounds of languages at a very early age. As they get older, we lose this ability.

Dan Schteingart's RED BALLOON seeks to create a stopgap – a collection of songs intended to expose children to many languages and capitalize on their ability to remember sounds, inflections, and pronunciation. As the CD features Cletus the Cow as its main protagonist, RED BALLOON clearly steers for the under-five set.

Featuring a host of ably-talented musicians, RED BALLOON has a unique goal (and hey, it ain't world music) with a narrowcasted audience. To stress their earnestness, the MP3 version is being sold at the low price of $4.95 (at least, that's the current price). But hey you can always grab a physical CD if that format suits your purposes.

RED BALLOON is available through Dan's website, Amazon, and iTunes.

Speaking of new concepts, Mighty Mo Productions, birthed on the banks of the Missouri River, is delivering children's music to the world. The world of kindie music has seen specialty divisions and corporate attempts (hey Disney) to franchise existing popular artists. Led by Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove, the new label seeks to deliver real music to real families. I will be writing more about the debut release, SMILES AHEAD, in October ahead of its release. Here is a video with samples of the artists, including Caspar Babypants, Brady Rymer, Frances England, and a new song from the Verve Pipe.


Say, while we're talking about new kid's music videos, Amelia Robinson and her ensemble Mil's Trills have released a new video from their recent CD, NOW THAT WE'RE FRIENDS. Take a look and enjoy "All Of the Colors":


Finally, if you want to reach back to the Roaring Twenties (and who doesn't), the Green Orbs are back on the scene with a pair of new songs. "Dear Mr. Mustache" comes complete with a trembly old-fashioned vocal and a period-piece video:


Orbmeisters Heather Hirshfield and her brother Ed Rosenberg go in another direction for "The Hams in the Deep Blue Sea," originally created for the interactive storybook app Mibblio. It's a goofy little tale about silly little pigs. I can just see how that will look in the Google search form. In any case, you can download both songs from the Green Orbs Bandcamp page.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, September 4, 2015

Cheese World – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Everything I Didn't Say – 5 Seconds of Summer
Grizzly Bear – Red Yarn
Right Here Now – Renee & Friends Featuring Freckles
Say Hey! – Mil's Trills
This Land – Rolie Polie Guacamole
This Little Light Of Mine – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
You Are My Sunshine – The Harmonica Pocket

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Animal Kingdom – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Free Ride Everyday – Lori Henriques
Hey Jude – Caspar Babypants
I Am Not Afraid – Renee & Friends Featuring Caspar Babypants
Let's Be Friends – Mil's Trills
Mystery – Dean Jones
Rolie Polie – Rolie Polie Guacamole
This Land Is Your Land – Alastair Moock & Friends

Hot Fresh Rolie Polie Guacamole, Cookie Jar's Poignant "Goodbye" Song

In olden days, musicians would literally sing for their supper. Nowadays, children's musicians are more likely to sing about their supper. In the case of Rolie Polie Guacamole, you're clued in from their name. Now up to their fifth release, CHIPS AND SALSA, the Brooklyn-born ensemble recruited uber-producer Dean Jones to amp up their sound.

The South American-tingled nomenclature aside, Rolie Polie Guacamole is Frank Gallo (former child actor turned versatile musician) and Soviet emigre Andrew Tuzhilin. After meeting in high school in New Jersey, the duo turned their mutual interest into kindie's good fortune in 2008. Their output since then has been prolific and rhythmic.

CHIPS AND SALSA breaks little new ground if you're already familiar with the group. You get your food songs like "Açai," "Apples," and "Bird Bellyful" (a favorite of my older song). Then there are the prerequisite instructional tunes such as "Always Brush Your Teeth" and "Red Light Green Light." In the middleground are activity and locational numbers, represented by "Musuem of Natural History" and "Central Park."

Rolie Polie Guacamole employ steel drums, twanging guitars, and oodles of harmonies. Guest artists include the Chapin Sisters, Jen Chapin, Primus' Mike Dillon, and Mil's Trills' Amelia Robinson. Singer/songwriter Katie Mullins turns up on "Açai" to sing about delightful purple berries. Don't expect music that sets out to change the world and you'll find yourself satisfied with this latest collection. With its mix of easy listening beats and singable lyrics, CHIPS AND SALSA can fill your youngster's afternoon as well as subliminally quench their appetite for music.

CHIPS AND SALSA is available September 25 from Rolie Polie Guacamole's website, Amazon, CDBABY, and iTunes.

Here is the video for the band's cover of "This Land Is Your Land":


Change is an integral part of life, moreso for children than anyone else. Simply growing older and (hopefully) growing up means new classrooms, new settings, new challenges, and new people. Sometimes it even means saying goodbye to your most cherished people and places. Mista Cookie Jar returns with this month's song selection, "BFF Goodbye," to chronicle that experience:

My best friend is leaving today.
And hangin’ ‘round this town
won’t ever be the same.
We say that we’ll be friends forever
so why’s it sad to say
next time we meet it’ll be like
nothing ever changed?
‘Cuz life it changes.

The most frustrating question a child can ask is "Why," especially when the only answer you can give is "because." CJ attempts to defuse this sensitive real-life situation and I personally root for him to succeed. I'm handling these matters with as much grace as possible these days. The more you can protect your children from the realities of the world until they're old enough and grown tough enough defense systems, the better for everyone in your family.

Pay a buck and download the tune here from Mista Cookie Jar.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Bile Them Cabbage  – Red Yarn
Drive My Car  – Caspar Babypants
Every Day's A Holiday  – Alastair Moock & Friends
Great Big Sky  – Mil's Trills
I've Got Friends In New Jersey  – Rocknoceros
Mama Don't Allow  – In The Nick Of Time
Paper Airplane  – Recess Monkey
Sing in the Sun  – The Harmonica Pocket
Starfish and Coffee  – Renee & Friends Featuring Maya Rudolph

Ben's Playlist - Friday, August 21, 2015

Bile Them Cabbage  – Red Yarn
Flannel Jammies – The Not-Its!
I've Had It Up To Here – Weezer
In My Room – Chibi Kodama
Mi Chamocha (Wade In The Water) – Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Stay Up Late – Dean Jones
The Tale Of The Sun And The Moon – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Voodoo Doll – 5 Seconds of Summer
When You're Gone – Mil's Trills

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, August 20, 2015

Alligator – Paul McCartney
Back To The Shack – Weezer
Duck Ellington – Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band
Everything I Didn't Say – 5 Seconds of Summer
Great Big Sky – Mil's Trills
Haircut – The Not-Its!
Hot Air – Recess Monkey
Slow – Trout Fishing In America
Start Of The End – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, August 19, 2015

The Bullfrog – Red Yarn
Caught in the Screen – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Don't Stop – 5 Seconds of Summer
Let's Be Friends – Mil's Trills
Nose In A Book – The Not-Its!
NOW That's What I Call Polka! – Weird Al Yankovic
Right Side of the Bed – Ratboy Jr.
Size Of The Problem – Tom Chapin

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, August 18, 2015

All the Pretty Horses – Cat Doorman
Animal Kingdom – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Animals – Maroon 5
Groove – Lori Henriques
Mama Don't Allow – In The Nick Of Time
Say Hey! – Mil's Trills
Somebody Somewhere – Sunshine Collective
This Little Light Of Mine – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Uh Huh – Dean Jones