Single Review: The Traffic Jam – Spaghetti Confetti

Spaghetti Confetti are relative newcomers to the children’s music scene, but they have quickly hit the ground running. In a short space of time, they have already released a string of excellent singles and delivered a number of crowd-pleasing, high-energy live performances across Sydney. In 2024, they received a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Australian Children’s Music Awards — no small achievement in such a highly competitive field. A band clearly on a mission, with a very talented line-up, their music has genuine whole-family appeal, and their infectious enthusiasm will surely carry them on to bigger and better things in the future.

Their recent single, 'The Traffic Jam', is quite superb. Featuring a shuffling beat, sparse yet effective guitar work, and a hypnotic trumpet line, the song lures the listener in with irresistible up-tempo charm. What follows is a clever and engaging musical introduction to road safety, delivered with both warmth and wit. The musical scansion is impressive, cramming a multitude of ideas into a richly descriptive verse that manages to inform without ever feeling didactic.

A smart feature of the song is its inclusive approach, teaching children to read traffic lights by position rather than just colour — an important consideration for those with Colour Vision Deficiency. It's a practical safety lesson delivered in a catchy and engaging way.

The track evolves almost like a freeze dance, with its stop-start arrangement encouraging children to halt completely at the red light before springing back into action when the green light appears. It’s a freeze dance in all but name, promoting movement, imagination and pure, unfiltered delight.

The chorus, in turn, acts as a colourful instruction manual to the road rules, with traffic lights described with unexpected eloquence, because, as the song reminds us, 'nothing’s more important than arriving safely'.

Spaghetti Confetti are an exciting new band who, on this form, would no doubt be great live. They have already crafted a sound that feels original and confident, although I suspect there may be a Ramones fan lurking somewhere in the band, and I have absolutely no problem with that! The musicianship is superb throughout, and I would hazard a guess that these are seasoned musicians who are on the very top of their game. They offer a refreshing blend of optimism and awareness, where learning is fun, life is celebrated, and safety is never an afterthought. Their music is upbeat, melodic, easy to dance to and provides a wonderful platform for kids to learn, move and express themselves. 

Spaghetti Confetti – it’s party time!

Music Awards or Groundhog Day?

One of the main reasons I initiated this blog, was to give independent musicians a helping hand in what is widely regarded as a very competitive business.  I've also always been fascinated by how complete unknowns somehow manage to break through the noise and despite overwhelming odds still manage to rise to the top. It's an old-fashioned, somewhat romantic notion, but one that still feels relevant in 2025.

Clearly, there is no single route to break into the music business. It's not like becoming a teacher or a lawyer, where you follow a defined path, put in the work and emerge at the other end as a fully qualified professional. Music doesn't work like that, and perhaps that's part of both its appeal and its cruelty.

Many artists who do succeed have fascinating stories behind them. Chrissie Hynde spotting the Violent Femmes busking on the street and inviting them to support The Pretenders on tour is a perfect example. Those moments feel almost mythical now, yet they still shape how we imagine success happening.

One possible route to increased exposure is through songwriting competitions. On the surface, the idea makes sense. Winning a competition can provide a platform, credibility, and a chance to be heard by industry professionals. 

Given that entry fees are often modest, it can feel like a reasonable gamble. However, music isn't sport. It's subjective. One person's meat is another's poison, as the saying goes, which raises an obvious question: are songwriting competitions really operating on a level playing field, grounded in something approaching objective reality?

Lately, I've noticed that the same artists often rise to the the top year after year. You don't need to be a statistician to wonder whether this consistency reflects an untouchable level of talent, pure coincidence, or something else entirely. When the same names keep appearing, it inevitably prompts questions about how judging works in creative fields.

Some contests seem to celebrate the same creators repeatedly, often at the expense of other artists who don't appear to get much of a look in. As a songwriter myself, I find this situation quite intriguing. Is it simply that certain writers align perfectly with the judges' tastes? Or does it reveal something deeper about how awards shape our perception of what 'good' songwriting actually is?

Awards are supposed to highlight excellence, but they also reflect the preferences and biases of those doing the selecting. When the same voices are recognised time and again, it raises broader questions about how we define success, and whether awards truly capture the diversity of creative expression.

Imagine, for example, a songwriting team winning first place in the same competition several years in a row, despite strong and varied competition. And believe me, this has certainly been happening in Australia. It could be an extraordinary testament to their skill, or it might invite a closer look at how creativity is being evaluated in the first place. 

Although I haven't entered any songwriting competitions for several years now, I still like to keep an eye on who's doing well, particularly in the songs for children category. I genuinely admire any songwriter who can consistently impress a panel of judges. But as someone who cares deeply about the craft, I can't help wondering what repeated wins really says about judging criteria, musical taste and so called expertise.

Frank Zappa once made an interesting point in relation to this. He suggested that much of the great music of the 1960s didn't emerge because young executives had their fingers perfectly on the pulse. Often it was older men, raised on Sinatra and Bing Crosby, who freely admitted they didn't understand the music – but released and promoted it to see what would happen.

Those 'old guys with big cigars' didn't understand The Doors, the Velvet Underground, or early Pink Floyd. But they took the risk, and decided to 'put it out anyway'. Today, it sometimes feels as though there are too many experts, too much calculation and too little willingness to embrace the unfamiliar. Perhaps the music industry, competitions included, has become overly cautious, overly safe and overly conservative.

Ultimately, competitions are just one lens through which we view music. They can motivate, inspire, and open doors. At the same time, they can also provoke questions about how creativity is measured, and perhaps those questions are just as valuable as the awards themselves.

Ausify Your Algorithm: Shining a Light on Independent Aussie Kids' Musicians This Ausmusic Month

November is Ausmusic Month, and this year Music Australia is encouraging everyone to 'Ausify your algorithm' – to fill your playlists and feeds with Australian music. It's a brilliant initiative that celebrates the incredible talent we have across this country. 

However, as I explored the campaign's artist listings, I couldn't help noticing there's another vibrant corner of Australia's music scene that deserves some love too – the truly independent children's and family artists.

These are the musicians recording songs in home studios, performing in libraries and community halls, and writing heartfelt, funny, thoughtful tunes for kids and families – often without the support of labels or big PR teams. They're creating music that connects deeply with families and communities, often powered purely by passion. 

The Ausify list features some well-known names – national treasures and brilliant ambassadors for Australian music. But there’s also a thriving world of indie creators out there, making the sounds that shape what Aussie kids are hearing today.

So, if you want to 'Ausify your algo' in the spirit of discovery, consider diving into the indie side of the kids' music scene this month. 

Here's how to help keep Australia's music ecosystem diverse and strong:

• Stream and share songs from indpendent Australian kids' artists. 
• Follow and engage with them on social media  – every comment and share helps. 
• Buy their music or merch if you can – it makes a huge difference.
• Spread the word – tell your friends, teachers and community groups about them. 

This Ausmusic Month, let's celebrate not only established Australian music acts, but also the independent voices that make it so rich, playful and full of heart. 

 

So go ahead – 'Ausify your algo' ... and discover the Australian kindie artists making music magic for families everywhere. 

Here are some of my favourites just to get you started (in alphabetical order):

 

Alinta and Waveney

Allioopsy 

Amellie Ecology 

Angie Who

Benny Time

B Minor Music

Brett Campbell

Cheeky Monkey Club

Damo the Music Man

Easy Peasy

Formidable Vegetable

Larrikin Puppets

Little Feet Music

Pevan and Sarah

Spaghetti Confetti

The Cuddly Koalas

The Funtones

The Lex Man 

The Little Wattlebird Band 

The Mini Moshers 

The Mudcakes

The Punk Rock Socks

The Quokkas

The Vegetable Plot

The Wobble Bus 

Tiptoe Giants

Van Sereno

Yeah Nah

Artist Spotlight: Kelli Welli

Kelli Caldwell, more commonly known by her stage name Kelli Welli, is something of a giant in the world of children's music. A songwriter who defies categorisation, and over the years has cultivated an ever-growing reputation for creativity and originality. Her work has earned widespread recognition, including the prestigious Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and a Top 3 place in the International Songwriting Competition. 

The Kelli Welli song that initially caught my attention was "Rainbow Love Song", with its uplifting lyrics, beautiful melody, and mesmerising vocal performance. The song has tremendous vitality, and is guaranteed to brighten up the darkest of days. It also features as the opening track of her 2022 album Robots Don't Tell Jokes, which is superbly put together, featuring additional contributions from Kira Segelken, Ryan Segelken, and Joannie Leeds.

Kelli Welli is also something of a prolific artist having released four full albums in recent years, and written songs actively for the last twenty years. Kelli's latest release "Sweet Dreams" is another one of my personal favourites with shades of Joan Baez subtly woven into its fabric. Here, Kelli captivates the listener with sumptuous vocals that command attention over an alluring melody, delivered beautifully throughout. 

Her music provides an energetic fusion of country, pop and rock, with even a slice of opera thrown into the mix. Her unique musical style has also caught the attention of the press in recent times for both its energy and originality, and deservedly so. Many of her lyrics draw inspiration from her experience as a mother and her copious interactions with children, resulting in songs that are engaging, fun and easy to dance to.

Kelli also had something of a fascinating upbringing having performed as a French clown, started kindergarten from a tent, lived in an octagon shaped house, performed in children's musical theatre, and even owned fifty hamsters when she was younger. Yes, you heard that right! She has also lived all over the world, and it's easy to imagine how such an eventful past has shaped her distinctive musical approach.

Alongside her music, Kelli has also ventured into the world of visual storytelling. Her first stop-motion animated music video was featured in over thirty film festivals worldwide, including the Sonoma Film Festival and San Diego Comic Con. Her love of creative experimentation succeeds in adding a further dimension to her work, engaging children through utilising both 'sound and vision'. I'm sure even the late David Bowie would have been impressed.

Kelli Welli is a truly outstanding artist, and I'm sure you will be hearing a lot more of her in the future. Her music is fun, engaging, even comical, yet always authentic. The way she seamlessly blends diverse musical styles alongside creative visuals is very impressive. Educational, entertaining, and brilliantly executed, Kelli has managed to tick all the boxes in her eventful and illustrious career, and has no doubt created many happy memories along the way.

Kelli Welli - sound and vision.