Look on the Bright Side: New Songs by Female Artists

2021 is already shaping up to be a great year for original family music, with new songs and albums by female-fronted groups, including The Bright Siders, Genevieve Goings, and Kelli Welli.

The Bright Siders will release A Mind of Your Own with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings on January 21st. The Bright Siders is a unique musical collaboration between Nashville-based Americana songwriter Kristin Andreassen and Brooklyn-based child psychiatrist Kari Groff, MD. Together, they create music with the purpose of helping children connect to their emotions.

Kelli Welli is an Americana artist based in Portland, who will release Let’s Go, Pistachio! on January 29th. The song is full of whimsy and wordplay, the perfect antidote to stressful times. “Kickin’ It with My Chicken” is already a radio hit!

Genevieve Goings, a noted children’s entertainer and producer, is known for her work with Disney Junior and Choo Choo Soul. This LA based artist will present her catchy EP  “Great Indoors” on February 5th. Her song “Shadow Puppets” is a danceable reggae-style hit! This is a solo release with a new kids’ record label called 8 Pound Gorilla Records.

In February 2021, Erica Rabner releases The Covid Album. These original pop songs, “real talk” vignettes, and music videos support children’s emotional well being during these challenging times by promoting consistency, agency, and positivity and exploring common emotions like longing and frustration. In addition, the album includes unscripted vignettes where kids share reflections from wearing masks to playing on their own. .

Next up for spring 2021 will be more exciting releases by female artists: Sara Watkins and Tracy Bonham (and her new Melodeon Music House educational program). Plus, The Secret Mountain launches a new “Little Stories of Great Composers” series of picture books with music, written by Ana Gerhard.