We were lucky to catch up with Ann Torralba recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ann, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

It’s amazing that I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from being a kids musician. Before I was a kids musician, I was a full-time Chicago Public School teacher with benefits, a pension, and all that! When I was a Chicago Public School teacher, I felt stressed a lot and grouchy but mostly I felt like it wasn’t the right environment for me to inspire kids. My daughter was just 3 years old and I made the decision to leave my full-time teaching job with no plans in sight. I had been in bands in the past and also regularly brought my guitar to school to play for my kids on the Autism Spectrum but never in my life planned to be a kids musician. Somehow I started teaching parent baby music classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, made my first album, started a kids music band and it’s been busy ever since. That was over 15 years ago. I’ve been lucky enough to play some wonderful stages all across the country including Lollapalooza Kids Stage, SXSW, Nashville’s Pilgrimmage Festival, NYC’s Jewish Museum and more. I am very grateful that even with one income in our house being a musician, my husband and I have been able to buy a house, put our daughter through college, save some money and even travel. More importantly, that I found a way to combine my love of education and music. I feel so lucky to be able to inspire kids with my music and my messages.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I made my first Family Music album when my daughter was around 3yo. I have gone on to make 7 albums total. When I made my 2nd album, I had gotten some nice write-ups and had been included on a “Best of” list for kids music album that year but I still didn’t see myself as a musician but more of an educator. That same year, I was invited to a kids music conference in Brooklyn and I remember looking around the 100+ kids musicians and realizing that I was the only artist of color in that room. That was when I realized how important my voice was especially in Chicago, my city. Chicago is a vibrant city with a diverse population. I knew not just for my daughter but for other Asian American Pacific Islander kids that looking up on the stage and seeing someone who looked like them was powerful for finding their own voices. When I recorded my 5th album “Keep On” w/another Filipina American kids musician, Amy D, I recorded the first song I ever wrote about my Filipina American Heritage called “Ube”. Ube, is a purple yam, a filipino ingredient used to make desserts like cake, candy, ice cream and more. It is very popular these days. Sirius XM Kids Place live began playing the song. I receive messages all the time from people all the time now sharing pics of something they tried with Ube. People get so excited. I’m very passionate about Kids Music and do a lot of advocacy work as well. I am a Governor for the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy and on the Board of the Children’s Music Network. I’ve been a big advocate for having diversity in kids music. It’s important that the voices from marginalized communities do not get lost and that kids can see themselves when they look up on stage once in a while so they know they can do big things too.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I often talk on the phone with new kids musicians who want to make their first kids music album. I remember how daunting it was when I first started making kids music 15+ years ago. I try to walk them through the steps as much as possible. I don’t feel competitive because I know that they have their own style of music just as I have my own. As far as creating my own music these days, it’s very satisfying to be able to create and release music for all these years. For my last 4 albums, I’ve been working with a producer named Dean Jones, a Grammy Winning Producer. Dean’s studio is in a “straw bail insulated barn in the Hudson Valley of New York. When I decide to make an album, I usually fly out to Dean with my handful of songs. We lay down as many tracks as we can in 3-4 days and the rest of the work is done remotely. During the process, Dean is instrumental in helping me figure out how I want the song to sound as he always sprinkles his magic on each song. One rewarding aspect of being creative is starting with an idea and seeing it all the way to it’s release where kids and families all over the world can enjoy it. I feel like a song has a life of it’s own. Also, I’ve had the honor of collaborating with some amazing kids musicians which I really enjoy like 123 Andres, Red Yarn, Suzi Shelton, and more!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

10 years ago, I survived Uterine Cancer. In 2013, I spent a lot of time in the hospital. If I wasn’t in the hospital, I was waiting for some sort of procedure. It was a tough year but I spent that year writing one of my favorite albums that I ever made “Follow Me” I never had to do chemo but I went through radiation. A month after radiation, I did a kickstarter so I could start making that album. Being survivor has given me such a deeper understanding of the power of music and bringing joy to others. I was recently the keynote speaker at the Illinois Library Association Conference where I spoke to hundreds of librarians about the power of music. Music has been found to be very beneficial to kids and families general mental health and educational development. I’ve got a very full schedule of concerts all year around. I haven’t really slowed down since that “challenging year” but I know it’s also very important for me keep a healthy balance. I truly love what I do and feel passionate about kids music. I also love spending time with my family and friends and living a healthy lifestyle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://littlemissann.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemissannmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hi.little.miss.ann
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/littlemissann/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/HiLittleMissAnn
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCep18av4pWWK8mIq4Pw0lpw

Image Credits
All pics taken by friends and family except “posed pic” of band where I am in yellow shirt. This one is by Shin Photography