Music with Michal: Interview + New Album 'Summer Days'

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13 Dec

CLAUDIA ROBIN GUNN - 13 DEC 2021

What happens when you try to mesh life as a singer and songwriter with motherhood? Do you try to keep the two worlds divided, never the twain shall meet? Or do you somehow let them both bleed into each other, the stains of songwriting sinking into the nappies in the same way the ink of parenthood seeps into your songwriting? It took me a long, long time to work out the balance, trying to ’escape’ the kids to get music time, even as I wrote songs about them, in much the same way new parents endlessly discuss the kiddos when they finally get a long awaited date night out.

Ōtautahi musician Michal Amy Bush (Music with Michal) shows us a way forward weaving music into her mothering, actually writing and performing with her children and producing songs for kids and for grown ups from her home studio in collaboration with fellow musos The Response (Andrew and Victoria Knopp). Winning APRA’s Children’s Song of the Year for her song “Brave” this year was just one high point of many, and Michal now has released a new album Summer Days with support from NZ On Air’s New Music Kids programme.

I asked Music with Michal a few questions to help enlighten us all into how she does it - listen to the album and read more below.

Find Music with Michal on Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

CLAUDIA: EVERY MUSICIAN WHO IS A MAMA HAS PROBABLY HAD THAT MOMENT WHEN THE TODDLER STARTED PULLING LEADS AND TRYING TO CLIMB UP THEIR AMPLIFIER AND IT WAS LIKE 'HOW ARE THESE VENN DIAGRAMS EVER GOING TO FIT TOGETHER?!’ WHAT’S YOUR SECRET BEEN TO KEEPING THE MUSIC FLOWING THROUGH PARENTHOOD?

Michal: Songwriting for me was never going to be something I could turn off - I’ve been writing songs since I can remember. I’ve always subscribed to the idea ‘Write what you know’ and I think the wonderful thing about motherhood is that rather than make my world smaller - I actually suddenly had access to a new pair of eyes to see the world through. So for me - the chaos, the magic and the stresses of these years with young children has been a never ending source of inspiration.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: SUMMER IS NOT JUST A SEASON, IT’S….

A feeling! Those childhood days in the sun that stretched on forever without a care in the world - the smell of sunblock, the taste of an orange fruju, the getting to play outside AFTER dinner! That’s what summer means to me - pure joy! This album is an attempt to bottle some of that feeling up so we can access it all year round!

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP 3 TIPS FOR FELLOW MUSICIAN PARENTS FOR INCLUDING THEIR KIDS IN THEIR MUSIC PRACTISE?

Let the child lead - ask them what they would like to hear a song about or take their funny observation or sincere question and expand on it. For even smaller children sing with them while you are changing their nappy, or feeding them dinner.

Treat them as your band member - pass them an egg shaker or home made drum and let them play along with you while you rehearse or write. It might sound terrible but it allows you to spend time on your music AND have an engaging parenting moment. Win win!

Seek their feedback. Children are a fantastic audience. No matter your genre you’ll be able to tell if you’ve got a great hook if you hear your children singing it around the house later on!

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