The term children’s music has the power to draw the hairs on the back of my spine to anxious attention. Annoying tunes piping from minivans is the stereotypical symbol of every parent’s permanent exodus from coolness. Fortunately, if you pick and choose correctly, you can find music that kids, moms, and dads can enjoy. Today I’m sharing a Q & A with my favorite children’s music artist, Nick Deysher of In the Nick of Time. What I love about his music is it is real music, not a cloying, whining, rhyming unrelenting cluster of sounds. In the Nick of Time is musically sophisticated with great lyrics, some of which I think hit adult funny bones and wash over the kids’ heads.
In the Nick of Time has two albums, Coconut Groove and People, Places and Things (gold medal winner from Parent’s Choice), plus a new album coming out this summer, Making Silly Faces. Yeah! Deysher grew up in Westborough, Massachusetts and was fortunate to attend an amazing public school with a Grammy award winning music department. He attended Bates College and graduated with a BA in music, after which he started teaching preschool.
In 2005 he moved to Miami with his wife, Tracey (who sings on his albums) and his dog, Lucy (who barks on his albums), so he could attend graduate school at University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. He received the prestigious Media Writing and Production Program and the Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship, which enabled him to build his studio and release his first album. When he’s not teaching in schools or private lessons, he plays gigs around South Florida. This summer he is planning an East Coast Tour.
When did you start playing music?
I started singing in the church choir when I was 5. My first love was the stage, and I did community theater in elementary school. I started playing saxophone when I was 9. I didn’t learn guitar (and bass) until I was 15. My older brother is an amazing guitarist, and I picked up the bass so we could play as a group. As a CIT at camp that summer, I started playing guitar for campfire sing-alongs and morning meeting. This was sort of my first experience playing for kids.
Why children’s music?
I graduated in 2000 with a B.A. in music. Surprisingly no one was banging down my door to offer me a record deal, so I started work as a support preschool teacher. With my experiences playing music at camp, I already new some great kids’ songs. Soon I was writing my own.
Did you ever or do you want to play adult music too?
I’ve been in bands since high school. Everything from punk to funk, folk to rock. I usually have some sort of “grown-up” project going along with my kids’ music. Sadly, the last time I had a band was in 2009. We parted ways when my drummer moved to Africa. My wife, Tracey, and I play at lots of weddings and do acoustic shows now and then.
You are also a music teacher. What age do you think is ideal to begin musical instruction for a child? How does a parent know what instrument with which to begin?
This is a great question! I actually wrote a very comprehensive blog post about this very thing. I also have written about classes for infant/toddler classes which can be a lot of fun. (mamaguru: Good articles. Nicks suggests looking cautiously at programs to see if there is a connection with the teacher and having realistic expectations. Music should always be fun for kids.)
What inspires your songs?
It depends on the song. At first I wrote about things that I loved growing up, dinosaurs, space, but I also find inspiration from my
classes. Lessons that I teach can inspire a song. Sometimes something as simple as a rhyme otter/water or a trip to the Everglades can get the creative juices flowing.
How do you write a song?
My kids’ songs usually start with an idea, “I’d like to write a song about…” From there, I usual start with the music. I figure out what kind of song it will be (punk, rock, funk, blues, reggae?), and from there I start to write the words. I mostly write on guitar, but sometimes I write on piano.
How old were you the first time you wrote a song?
I can’t recall how old I was (5-6) but I wrote this funny little tune called “Look at The Moon,” that I sang in a Jimmy Durante voice. I have no idea where I came up with that. At 9 or so, I wrote a blues song called “There’s a Whole in The Pocket of My New Blue Jeans,” I toy with the idea of putting this on an album someday.
Wow, that’s great you still have such an early song. Music and dancing are connected, so are you a good dancer?
I like to think so! Tracey and I love to swing dance. Our song is “Cheek to Cheek” and I do find “the happiness I seek, when we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek.”
Who are your musical influences?
I grew up listening to Bill Harley, Barry Louis Polisar and Sesame Street Albums (as far as kids music). I am always amazed at how many of those song I remember from almost 30 years ago. My mom had all the Beatles albums on vinyl, and I sort of felt like they were uncles I never met. I knew each Beatle by voice, but never remember learning how. I try to pay homage to my influences on my albums. Careful listeners will hear hints of Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, The Ramones and many others (even Snoop Dogg).
Yes, I caught the Snoop and Dylan references. OK, we know you’re the best children’s artist around, but you also blog about other children’s artists. Name your 3 favorites.
Bill Harley and Barry Louis Polisar are still playing music for kids, but my top three choices for up and coming artists are: The Flannery Brothers, Recess Monkey and The Jimmies.
You wrote a song, Everything’s an Instrument, about how to make instruments. What is your favorite homemade instrument?
My favorite homemade instrument doesn’t actually play. It’s a tiny cardboard jazz guitar model I made as a teenager. I made lots of creations in cardboard growing up. As for an actual, playable instrument, nothing beats a table and a wooden ruler. Press the ruler against the table and give it a thwack.
My boys will love that. Tell us about your newest album. What’s it like?
Making Silly Faces is the new album. I hope to have it complete this summer. It rocks pretty hard! It has a bit more mature material, but I am sure the real wee ones will still enjoy. The title track is sort of Spearhead for kids’. I think parents of our generation will dig the sounds of the 70’s and 80’s, but I will say that there is some more current material and fans of Lady Gaga won’t be disappointed.
Sounds great! I can’t wait. My favorite song is Punk Rock Vowels. What’s your most requested song?
Punk Rock Vowels almost didn’t make it on to the album. I was worried that music with such a hard edge might turn some listeners off. Boy was I wrong! It is probably one of my most requested tunes. Though, since I wrote it in 2001 and it’s YouTube video is up to 146,000 views, The Dinosaur Song is my most successful song. (Teaser alert: The new album has a song called Punk Rocks about different types of rocks.)
Ah, The Dinosaur Song used to be my favorite, until Punk Rock Vowels came out. Well, you better get to work on that album, because I can’t wait to rock out to basalt and sedimentary rocks with Max and Jack. Good luck and please let us know when you release Making Silly Faces. Until then, here’s the teaser:
To learn more about In the Nick of Time, you can check out his website or on facebook. Follow the links at the top of this page to buy his albums.
Leave a Reply