Saturday, 29 March 2025

Artist Spotlight: Cee Bee Teatime


Charlotte Talbot, known professionally as Cee Bee Teatime, is a multilingual artist from the UK who has made New Zealand her home for over thirty years. Charlotte began her songwriting journey back in 2020, when she became inspired to write her own music during the dark days of Covid. This decision came about largely as a result of copyright issues which restricted her online classes. Along with her children, Oscar and Emily, this innovative new project has become something of a family affair, harnessing Charlotte's own particular brand of lyrical dexterity with Oscar's production skills, and Emily's sumptuous vocals.

Cee Bee Teatime's music is fun, engaging and interactive, refusing to pay homage to current musical trends. The artist prefers instead to write music from the heart, creating the intuitive space for her lyrical ingenuity to blossom as the music pours out. This organic approach succeeds in providing a seamless fit to any Early Childhood Programme. Her intention is to educate, entertain and inspire, because, as she so eloquently puts it, 'music feeds our souls and  it's never too early to start enjoying and appreciating it'. 

Since 2020, Cee Bee Teatime has created a substantial catalogue of music. The debut album, Songs to Sing and Talk About, is quite superb, featuring six original songs with additional instrumentals, guaranteed to appeal to parents, children and teachers alike. Here the artist's linguistic gifts and melodic insight have combined to create a compelling sound that is both fun and inspiring. This is fully realised through the potent messages and insights throughout. 

The first track, "I Only Know How to Be Me", emphasises the importance of being yourself and in particular how 'we're perfect just the way that we are'. The music features a lively honky-tonk piano which propels the song forward, providing the necessary foundation for some superb harmonies throughout.

Alternatively, "All Those Funny Feelings" is more of a melancholy ballad which takes a deep dive into an array of emotions which we can surely all relate to. Here the artist encourages the listener to share their feelings with 'someone who cares'. This cathartic approach further engages the listener, enabling even the youngest of minds to fully relate to the song. Such an emotional roller coaster is tackled head on, and yet still manages to end on a positive, where despite everything things will turn out okay.

"Me and My Behaviour" provides a musical narrative as to how a series of unforeseen events may effect our behaviour. The song is lyrically ambitious, as negotiating and regulating behavioural patterns is something of a challenge for every child. Here the song provides opportunities to make sense of a complex world and our role in it. The somewhat whimsical "Hot Air in Your Pants", provides a comic interlude to the more didactic songs on the album, whereas "Grown-Ups Are Funny" observes the world from the mind of a child, and does so with a slight Eartha Kitt vibe. 

My favourite song on the album is without doubt the charming "If You Love Them Let Them Go". The song features a superb melody, delivered alongside an equally impressive vocal. Here the artist presents the idea that at some point in life, we simply have to say goodbye, and move on. The lyrical dexterity is of such ambition that it would surely qualify for a most insightful children's book. I won't give too much away, but you really should check the song out at your earliest opportunity.

With this release, Cee Bee Teatime has crafted a unique collection of songs that are as enjoyable as they are seemingly useful. The subject matter explores a range of compelling themes, beautifully performed, and approached with unmatched freshness. The album also features instrumental versions of each song, providing further opportunities for choirs to singalong with raw abandon. 

Cee Bee Teatime music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and all major streaming platforms. The artist is also on Facebook and Instagram, so feel free to have a listen and let her know your thoughts, I'm sure she would love to hear from you. Also be sure to check out the latest single "Manu Peekaboo" which is definitely worth a listen.

Cee Bee Teatime — a refreshing new approach.

Friday, 28 February 2025

Flash Single Review: Hey! You Are My Person! - JellyBean Queen


Elizabeth Eason aka the JellyBean Queen is a singer-songwriter, music educator and entertainer from Christchurch, New Zealand. An artist of outstanding talent, who combines potent melodies with lyrical dexterity and does so in fine style. Her latest single "You Are My Person" is a joyful song that delivers a message of love, friendship and infectious optimism throughout. With its catchy melody and playful rhythm, it is absolutely guaranteed to have everyone up and moving.

The melody instantly draws the listener in, assisted by the potent lyrics that focus on the special bond between friends, family and loved ones. The repeated use of the phrase "you are my person" is highly effective, reminding the audience of the importance of relationships, whether this involves close family members or old friends, we are all invited here. The arrangement is simple but highly effective, providing a certain immediacy, where the listener is captivated on the very first listen.

The playful instrumentation throughout, includes light percussion and a sparsity of rhythm providing the necessary space for the vocals to really shine. The sublime vocals are both warm and inviting, merging seamlessly with the melody to provide the perfect soundtrack for a lively singalong, whether at home or in the classroom. The song further benefits from an imaginative, and somewhat comedic video where an array of colourful puppets contribute both sound and vision to this delightful display.

Clearly, this is an artist with a considerable songwriting pedigree, and just a quick browse through her discography further reveals the considerable vitality of her music. Every song is a winner, each covering a variety of topics steeped in positive messages throughout. Her music ensures that the children are not just entertained but informed as well, in a fun and engaging way. There is never a dull moment here.

JellyBean Queen is an artist at the very top of her game. Her new single would be a valuable addition to any child's playlist, where hypnotic rhythm, alluring melodies, and inspiring messages are the order of the day. Perhaps most importantly, the song captures the essence of childhood friendships in a way that is both tender and fun, and guaranteed to make everyone smile. Whether she is singing about beloved animals, the weather or childhood adventures, the artist has a unique way of sparking curiosity and joy in her very own world of wonder and imagination.

JellyBean Queen — The Queen of Hearts.

Saturday, 11 January 2025

Artist Spotlight: Chef Bisous

 


Chef Bisous are a husband and wife duo from Canada, and are relative newcomers to the family music scene.  Their music serves to captivate, educate and inspire young minds through movement and dance. The kitchen is where the main action takes place; temporarily converting into an inclusive educational environment, where simple meal preparations provide copious opportunities for inclusivity and learning. 

Their new album Tasty Tunes Volume 1, is an absolute delight, featuring twelve catchy songs guaranteed to appeal to children and parents alike. The album has considerable strength in depth, with each song providing its own unique appeal. Some of the standouts include the delightfully descriptive "Planets," the quirky "Mix It Up Song," and the somewhat charming "Rainbow Song", where the colours of the rainbow are serenaded by a lively acoustic guitar. 

My absolute favourite song from this eclectic selection is 'Dinosaur Song', which features a wonderful acoustic vibe throughout. Here a variety of dinosaurs are described in some detail, providing further opportunities for interactive movement. The blend of musicality is superb, where bass, acoustic guitar, and accordion, compete for space in this wonderful singalong. Where the children are invited to 'let me hear you roar'. 

Their YouTube channel also deserves a mention, with the band having uploaded a series of compelling videos, and succeeded in creating a visual sound track to accompany the numerous  educational possibilities on display.  With each video providing further learning opportunities, whether through maths, colours, or the planets there's something here for everyone. 

All in all a terrific new act, with tremendous potential, who have already hit the ground running. They have managed to combine their culinary sills and their musical dexterity, to create a brand that is truly unique. A new generation has arrived in town, so watch out Wiggles, Chef Bisous are coming your way.

Chef Bisous — come taste the band.

Sunday, 17 November 2024

Is YouTube Harmful to Children?

 

At the risk of sounding like a dinosaur, today I'm pondering two significant questions. Firstly "is YouTube in any way harmful to children?" and secondly "does Albo have a point?" The mere fact that the Australian government is currently including YouTube in the proposed social media ban, has made many musicians stop and think. As a content creator myself, and having been uploading videos on YouTube since 2008 I, like many other musicians have skin in the game, and stand to lose out if the plan goes ahead. 

Despite this inconvenient truth, I personally feel the need to research what is behind the government's decision based on objective facts. Facts, not from what is currently available in the partisan press; but from well-researched, peer-reviewed academic studies. The type of studies that no doubt a Prime Minister such as Anthony Albanese will have readily available. If there is any credence to YouTube being included in the ban, then I want to see the receipts, and not be swayed by all the emotionally charged rhetoric I've been reading online. 

I read amongst these discussions the use of pejorative terms like "nanny state" and even quotes cited from dubious politicians pursuing their own agenda. Surely one of the major responsibilities of any upstanding government is to protect the vulnerable, and if there is any evidence that YouTube poses harm to children then they are duty bound to act.

I say to the content creators who are concerned about loss of income, perhaps it's time that Google/YouTube started paying us directly for our content, instead of dishing out advertising revenue ad infinitum. In my opinion, encouraging content creators to focus on numbers to make a living has created a platform that is rapidly declining in both quality and originality. 

There is an awful lot of repetition of so-called trending content which has too often got nothing to do with art and very little to do with education. Although production qualities have significantly improved over the years, in my experience quality control over what is deemed as educational appears to be sadly lacking.

Perhaps the musicians who create music videos for educational purposes would be better served going outside YouTube (like a certain Australian duo featuring a tiger have done) to provide their educational content independent of the constraints of the almighty YouTube algorithm. Or better still, maybe consider a career in the teaching profession. There are schools the world over crying out for educators. Trust me, and I speak with some authority on this, having been a state school teacher for over twenty years, you will find it to be the most rewarding career you could ever choose. 

So I'm off to do my own research, and for those playing along, I'll let you know what I discover in due course. If my research definitively proves that YouTube is in no way harmful to children, then I can assure you, I will be as relieved as everyone else. 

Thursday, 31 October 2024

Artist Spotlight: Robin Nathan aka fleaBITE


New Zealand may be small but it certainly is mighty when it comes to children's music and entertainment. At the centre of the wonderful world of children's music emanating from this island nation is Robin Nathan or fleaBITE as she is more commonly known. An award-winning artist who has managed in her illustrious career to walk away with four, yes that's right four, Best Children's Album awards, three with fleaBITE and one as a producer for the wonderful Fatcat & Fishface. Her formative years include heaps of experience in both theatre and radio, where she mastered the art of surreal comedy.

Interestingly, there is no particular message in her work as such, she is very much an organic creator, blowing in the wind with whatever takes her fancy from one day to the next. Which is why she explores a host of different musical styles, and achieves such eclectic diversity on her new album. Impossible to pin down or even categorise, fleaBITE is something of a law unto itself. Constantly searching, exploring new sounds, new ideas and new techniques in order to create a truly compelling product.

Her music is unique, captivating and entertaining and succeeds through achieving that fine balance between musical dexterity, humour and technical prowess. She is very much in the school of child-centred entertainment, where the music is from a child's perspective and not aimed at the parents. Off-beat and original; fleaBITE offers a different approach, providing the listener with music that breaks down traditional barriers. 

The new album Piggy Oink Oink (yes that's right), features ten original songs which draw from a variety of influences including rock, techno and reggae to name just a few. With sound effects galore and some inspired musicality throughout, fleaBITE take no prisoners here with themes as diverse as animals, swimming, the weather, colours and even shampoo. A real standout track for me is "Colour Me" with its ambient vibe and magnificent choral infusion. The melody is quite superb, and the song works because of its minimalist arrangement and crystal clear vocals that captivate and delight in turn. Marvellous!

All in all an extraordinary artist whose growing reputation I am sure will lead her from strength to strength.

fleaBITE — a creative powerhouse.

Monday, 30 September 2024

What's in a Name?

The Swedish composer Bjorn Ulvaeus once admitted in an interview that he never cared much for ABBA as a name. When pressed further, he suggested that Roxy Music, The Rolling Stones or Depeche Mode were more serious contenders. Whether you agree with him or not regarding his name preferences, I'm sure we'd all agree that having a great band name can do wonders for your music career. For me, names such as the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Ramones or the Smiths immediately come to mind. 

A name defines an artist or band, whether it's the Edge, Sting or the Clash, your name acts as a point of reference, grabs the attention, and if it's captivating enough can propel your music to astonishing heights, particularly if you have the music to back it up. Clearly in the long term it is the music that really counts, just ask Elton John, but in the short term, the band's name and the image they project ultimately provide the keys to the citadel.

I have no doubt that the early and rapid success of the Jesus and Mary Chain was largely because of their name. It was their name that got them the initial attention, and landed them the London shows providing the perfect platform for their musical talent to shine through. I know this because I was around back then, and although they only had one single out at that particular time, everybody was talking about this Scottish band with the unique name. It sometimes makes me wonder how many great bands we may have missed out on over the years perhaps because they didn't get the name or the image quite right, because clearly the image of any given band is equally important.

Gary Numan always cited Ultravox as a major inspiration, and when he was asked why he felt the original line up featuring John Foxx never got the recognition they deserved, he suggested it may have been because 'they didn't get the look right'. Gary Numan had both a number one album and single at the ripe old age of 21, and clearly understood the power of imagery. Changing his name from Gary Webb to Gary Numan was as inspired as his icy stage presence and exotic outfits. He clearly knew his stuff, as did a certain Midge Ure who took over from John Foxx on lead vocals, and transformed Ultravox's image with tremendous success in the eighties. Clearly sound and vision work together in harmony.

Many other great band names have fascinating origins and mythologies underpinning them, and none more so than the Rolling Stones. The story of their name, as once reiterated by Mick and Keith, was that when Brian Jones was on the phone and landed their first gig in London, they also landed a major problem, they didn't have a name for their band to perform under. In something of a panic, Jones apparently looked around the room for inspiration only to spot a Muddy Waters album with the song 'Rolling Stone' featured on the track listing, and the rest of course is musical history.

The reggae band UB40 provide another interesting story as they were all unemployed and living off benefits when they came up with their name. For all those of you not from the UK, the name UB40 refers to the identity card each member had to present to the unemployment office in order to claim their social security benefits. Talk about rags to riches, from miserable dreamers to multimillionaires courtesy of an unemployment card and a handful of decent tunes.

Nigel Morton, original manager of the rock band New Model Army, told me that he landed their first major break through gig because the highly influential promoter John Curd loved the name. He booked them to play without listening to a tape because he thought it was such a 'superb name'. This was clearly significant, and proved to be a game changer for the band from Bradford. I remember seeing their early posters around the city centre and thinking to myself what a brilliant name for a band. I can't imagine they would have managed to garner their army of loyal followers over the years under any other name despite their compelling music. The same could perhaps be said of many other artists and bands.

You could perhaps start with Simon and Garfunkel who were originally known as Tom and Jerry, or maybe 'On a Friday' who changed their name to Radiohead. Other contenders include Queen, who changed their name from Smile, the Obelisk who became the Cure, the Pendeltons who became the Beach Boys, or alternatively, Mr Crowe's Garden who became the Black Crowes. Then there's the Young Aborigines who became the Beastie Boys.  Does anyone remember Wicked Lester who became Kiss, or perhaps the Screaming Abdabs who became Pink Floyd. 

Would Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem have succeeded without the name Red Hot Chilli Peppers? Or the Pulka Tulk Blues Band who became Black Sabbath? Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I heard somewhere that Credence Clearwater Revival were originally known as the Golliwogs. Alternatively, when it comes to solo performers how does David Jones measure up against David Bowie, or James Newell Osterberg compare with Iggy Pop? Sometimes artists get lucky and they have a great birth name like Elvis Presley or Taylor Swift, but then again if you consider the likes of Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Snoop Dog, Lorde or Pink, surely they all benefitted from a bold new aesthetic approach.

There are so many fascinating stories I have come across over the years, far too numerous to mention here, and no doubt many like-minded musicians, will have spent many an hour pondering over what their newly formed band name should be. Not an easy task, so perhaps there is an element of luck involved, or maybe you have to just dig deep and look within. 

The appeal of Nirvana for me is quite a compelling one. Where Curt Cobain one of the most brilliant and tragically tortured artists of all time, a man who struggled with drugs and mental issues throughout his life opted for the name Nirvana. The irony of this name was not lost on too many people. Nirvana to this day remains one of my favourite band names, and a great band to boot. They still have an astonishingly high stream count, despite not having released any music for three decades. What a tragic loss to music his short life was.

Now you may argue, and you may be right, that clearly there are many bands who hit the top without particularly inspiring names and deservedly so. I love the 1975 but never cared much for their name, the same goes perhaps for U2, the Killers and Coldplay, all who have enjoyed enormous success without the assistance of a clearly identifiable name or image. I also used to be a fan of UK prog rockers Supertramp who had huge success in the seventies, but I disliked both their name and their image. It's nice to know that sometimes music really does conquer all. But if you want to get noticed in this game, a good name can go a long way to achieving this. It doesn't matter how good your band is, if no one gets to hear it or see it. Which reminds me of the old Chinese proverb. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Good question.

Incidentally, two of my favourite bands of all time, the Psychedelic Furs and the Only Ones both have great names. Apparently, singer Richard Butler came up with the name Psychedelic Furs because he loved the word 'psychedelic', and combined the adjective with 'furs, lifted from the Velvet Underground song 'Venus in Furs'.  It's also well documented that the Only Ones name came from a dream that singer songwriter Peter Perret had, which seemingly just floated into his head one night, something of a gift from the Gods perhaps. Alternatively, Marc Bolan decided to shorten his bands name Tyrannosaurs Rex because producer Tony Visconti used to abbreviate the name to T Rex when he wrote it in his diary for a forthcoming session. A man who wrote the classic anthem 'Children of the Revolution', a song which I still play to this day.

Which conveniently brings me to on to the subject of children's music. As we all know children's music is a relatively new genre, having only really taken off in the nineties largely as a result of the incredible success of the Wiggles. Their inspired choice of name would clearly never have worked for a rock band, but for a kids' band it's perfect. Clearly, children's bands have a bit more room to be experimental with their names, and don't need to concern themselves with what is regarded as cool or in vogue, by an increasingly fickle and somewhat cynical music press.

My favourite kids' band name of all time has to be the Relative Minors, what an absolutely brilliant name, and one which would no doubt work in many other genres. I also love the Mudcakes, Bounce Patrol and Itty Bitty Beats. All these names are right on the money, and if you are interested in other contenders please check out my earlier blog post from July which features a list of my favourite all time kids' band names. In the meantime, I take my hat off to the truly exceptional, imaginative and resourceful use of names that have come to light over the years. If you have any band names that you like and consider to be worth mentioning then feel free to leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

That's the name of the game.

Saturday, 31 August 2024

Artist Spotlight: Kath Bee

Kath Bee is a New Zealand based artist who has been performing to families across her homeland for over seventeen years. She began writing songs for children back in 2001, and her extraordinary back catalogue now includes over one hundred original songs. She is also increasingly active on YouTube, amassing over a million views to date, no mean feat in such a crowded space.

The artist has released eight albums to date, each featuring the type of critical content that both engages children and informs parents. This includes the album, Children: Our Voices IntertwinedD, where the children took centre stage singing on each track, an idea which originated from the emotional impact of the Covid pandemic.

Her latest album, Simple Action Songs for Babies to 2yrs for Learning & Fun, is aimed squarely at the youngest listeners. It is a short, sweet album covering everything an early childhood educator would require for a music program. Clocking in at just over nine minutes, the album provides a fresh approach to some classic early childhood music themes, and does so in fine style. I have no doubt this album will soon become an absolute must for parents and teachers of infants alike. 

The album features a lively series of interactive, action songs bookended by two catchy greetings songs providing a perfect way to start and finish the day. The vocals are as clear as crystal, and are supported by simple arrangements, providing the kind of pop sensibility that renders them perfect for a very young audience.

You can hear how the artist's expertise as an early childhood performer really shines through each track, leaving the listener confident in the fact that you are in more than capable hands. There is an immediacy to each song,  providing a certain familiarity in the music even on the first listen. The album takes the listener on something of a musical journey, where movement is the key ingredient. This includes all motor movements, such as clapping, walking, tiptoeing, stomping, jumping and spinning.

The album succeeds in providing a complete toddler workout for every young child, whether they are at home with a carer, or with an early childhood educator running a music class. There is also plenty to dance to here for both carers and their little ones. The album is short and sweet, and finally draws to a close with a sit down track, quickly followed by a soothing lullaby to calm things down.

The album really has it all, it is highly interactive, beautifully sung, and engages the audience throughout, with songs that serve as playful commands to action. The album features live instrumentation including some of the finest double bass playing you're ever likely to hear.  Both highly interactive and engaging the album opens up new possibilities, where every song has a purpose that is executed brilliantly throughout. Enough said!

Kath Bee — inspiring young minds.