When we think of Children’s music we often fall into the assumption of the 2-3 minute jingle-esque music and movement variety. It conjures an image of dancing, shouting, stage shows of colour and fanfare.

However as the world begins to expand it’s understanding and celebration of the complexities of the child, we starting to realise that the musical tastes and needs of children are just as complex, if not more, than that of the average adult.

Entre Eli. Eli first created his music for children through the Kinderling Kids Radio podcast, Bedtime explorers, where he merged his love of field recordings, Soundscapes and electronic music into a beautiful body of work to help children dream, and mo0re importantly, day dream.

In this interview we talk the complexities of relaxation music and just how something so seemingly simple can contain the complexities and vast as the universe it encourages us to explore.

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Benny caves to the pressure and speaks a little more with Chris Lam Sam, about Major Minor Music and a few other personal journeys.

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Today on ‘Benny asking People questions’ I finally cave to the pressure and allow someone else to ask ME the questions.

So grab a cuppa and sit back for todays episode of Chris Lam Sam asking BENNY questions.

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Todays guests are simply chaos. Not to be confused with chaotic. There is a big difference. They are chaos in the true sense that they do what they want or need to do because its important to them, and if you truly engage in that sense of honesty, theres less need, want or desperation for it to work, You simply do what your heart tells you.

Their ‘do it yourself’ abandonment is truly admirable, and I think, at the chore of what makes their music fun.

And thats what this interview is….fun.

I bring you Todd’n’Tina

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Today on Part 1 Benny asking people questions we speak with Aunty Sharron mirii Bell.

Aunty Sharron talks about her life as an educator, her work imbedding First Nations perspectives into the education system and of course, her music.

Aunty Sharron is not an artist who does things by halves and her work is testament to the consideration, the commitment and the overall heart that goes into making every song, every decision and every sound.

Her music is as poignant as it is joyful and we get to hear what makes it all tick.

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Mick McHugh is as about as passionate a musician can get when it comes his offering for children.

For you see, this album, an album of traditional Irish folk songs for kids, is not an attempt to just simply share the songs and his culture, but rather an attempt to let you in on his childhood. A chance for him to take you by the hand and guide you through the sentimentality and nostalgia he feels as he expresses the beauty of childhood as experienced by him.

It is an album free of any unnecessary sentimentality but rather filled with the sentimental feelings all our memories bring. But in this instance, he shares them with the people in our world building their own sentimental memories.

A true treasure for the ears, and a glorious throwback to the lives of those on the Emerald Isle, it is a force of kindness, reflection and true passionate flag waving.

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Robin Nathan (aka Fleabite) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most decorated musicians for children. However as she so freely admits, her music really was for herself, it just so happened to resonate with the minds of children and hence the start of a whole new career.

Her music is so eclectic, genuine, and unique, that all the accolades seemed only a matter of time.

In todays podcast we try to dissect her musical brain and bask in its curiosity, its craziness and its genuine display of originality.

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Today we talk to Lisa Mark and Charlie of the Funtones.

The Funtones are an act that epitomise their name as they strive to  provide a place for children to simply do that… Have fun.

A concept easily understood but sometimes harder to achieve, they are a band who know what it means to learn through play and exactly what that playfulness means.

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