Childrens Music Awards winners 2016 - Itty Bitty Beats Photo: Amanda Ratcliffe
Christchurch due, Itty Bitty Beats, has cleaned up at the 2016 Children's Music Awards. Lucy Hiku and Jenny Payne won both the APRA Best Children's Music Song and the Recorded Music Best Children's Album. The awards were presented at a ceremony held in Auckland last night. Lucy speaks to Jesse Mulligan about their work.
Itty Bitty Beats have been in the business of creating songs for children since 2014, and have released albums of both bathtime songs, and bedtime songs.
What makes a good kids song?
"I think it's a good balance of pleasing the children and engaging them, and also keeping the parents sane. Making sure it's something they don't mind listening to over and over and over again. We try to keep it simple, fun, silly, educational, sleepy - depending on what we're making, and keep it on their level."
It's a family affair in more ways than one - Jenny's husband Rob plays most of the instruments and records and produces the albums for them.
"In the first album we brought in trumpets and trombones and saxophones and all sorts of fun instruments, and pretty much everything you hear on the Lullaby's album is Rob playing every instrument. We're in awe of him!
Are there many people making kids music?
"Susie Catto summed it up incredibly well last night when she said New Zealand children's music is the best kept secret in New Zealand, and that's so true. There are so many artists making music, its just about finding a way to ensure that these little ears get to hear what's going on. There are some lovely radio stations playing our music and its about trying to find a way to connect these amazing artists to kids and parents. There are certainly heaps of people making some really amazing stuff.
