The Slumberkins Founders on Working With A Great Big World and Album, Together We Shine: Vol 1

You may already be familiar with the early emotional learning brand Slumberkins from their best-selling 50 books and Apple TV+ series, but they're gearing up to branch out and add to their impact with their first-ever album of music.

This album, Together We Shine: Vol. 1, releases later this summer, consisting of seven songs specifically for kids and their families that foster social-emotional growth. Each track is inspired by a different Slumberkins book highlighting a specific aspect of emotional wellness in order to help kids feel supported in their families and to help them grow up kind, confident and resilient. The album's first song, "Heart Family," performed by Grammy winners A Great Big World, was released last month as a special song that helps children and their loved ones build a stronger connection with each other. It will also feature songs by Ingrid Michaelson (who is also an executive producer of the album), Rachel Platten, Trevor Hall, Britnee Kellogg, AHI and MOsley WOtta.

We knew the album was special from the very first listen, and we got the chance to chat with Slumberkins co-founders Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen all Together We Shine: Vol 1 and working with A Great Big World on the album. Read our full interview below.

Sweety High: Can you tell us a little bit about Slumberkins? What's the brand's mission, and what kind of initiatives has it done in the past?

Slumberkins: Slumberkins is a leading children's emotional learning brand promoting healthy emotional development through stories, characters and affirmations. Founded by a therapist and a teacher, the brand is dedicated to helping kids and families build their emotional health, providing a variety of tools and resources to make it as fun and accessible as possible. It all begins with our 50-plus children's books and our cuddly creatures. Slumberkins is continually innovating to make our tools and resources more accessible and meet children, families and caregivers where they are. That's why we launched Hello Feelings a few years ago, to bring our social-emotional learning into the classroom with a full curriculum for educators including books, unit plans, teacher-scripted lessons, activities, video and classroom resources. We also wanted to expand our reach into other mediums. And now families can watch our Slumberkins television series on AppleTV+, use our free affirmation app and listen to our music.

 

SH: What inspired Together We Shine: Vol. 1? Why was it so important to you to create songs specifically for fostering social-emotional growth?

Slumberkins: We have always known the importance and power of music when it comes to expressing and feeling emotions. Music has the power to speak to us on a deeper emotional level than spoken word alone. We are so thrilled to collaborate with talented musicians who are supercharging the Slumberkins affirmations and messages through music. Now parents and kids can enjoy the beneficial messages of each creature collection together in the car, during an especially tough moment or for a spontaneous dance session in the kitchen.

 

SH: What is the story behind "Heart Family"? What inspired its creation?

Slumberkins: "Heart Family" is inspired by the Slumberkins creature, Otter. Otter was originally created with foster care children in mind—empowering children who experience a lot of change in caregivers or lack of access to their biological parents for any reason. The message and story have since been embraced and used for many other situations like military families experiencing deployment, overnight stays with friends or family, grandparents that live far away, divorced parents and adoption.

 

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SH: What does the song mean to you, and what do you hope it will mean to the listeners?

Slumberkins: Otter's song is such an important message for kids to hear early on. When we have a fixed idea about what a family "should" be, we miss out on what the importance of family is about. We all need connection and love, especially in childhood. Otter's song reminds us that family is chosen and love is the tie that binds us together. Wherever we find safety, love and connection, we can find a heart family and when we have a heart family, we always belong.

('Heart Family' via Secret Road Records)

 

SH: How did the track's collaborators get involved with Slumberkins? What did that process look like?

Slumberkins: We are huge fans of A Great Big World here at Slumberkins, and with Ingrid Michaelson's help, we just reached out and asked. Ian [Axel] was already familiar with Slumberkins and had shared some of the books and creatures with his kids, so Ian and Chad [King] instantly became part of the Slumberfam and our expanded "Heart Family" was born.

(Photo credit: Andrew Zaeh)

 

SH: Is there anything else we should know about the album?

Slumberkins: The album is executive produced by Ingrid Michaelson. There are seven tracks in total on Together We Shine. Each song on the album is inspired by a Slumberkins book and promotes an aspect of emotional wellness including self-confidence, individuality, self-worth, love, gratitude and authenticity and brings each Slumberkins character to life. Other tracks are written and sung by Ingrid Michaelson, Trevor Hall, Rachel Platten, Britnee Kellogg, AHI and MOsley WOtta.

 

For even more on the new music that's been inspiring us, click HERE to read our interview with Elevator Boys on their debut single, "Runaway."