Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Torralba
Hi Ann, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
All through my adult life, I’ve been playing music in bands for fun. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d be doing it for a living. Somehow, I found a way to combine my love of kids with my love of music. In college, I played around on the guitar and did some open mics. After college, I played in a rock band with some friends. When I was a full-time teacher, I brought my guitar in to sing for my Special Education students. I could see how they responded so well to it. When my daughter was born, I made the difficult decision to discontinue teaching. I had no idea what I was going to do. I started teaching parent /baby music classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music. A parent who was the buyer for a popular kids store that had cd’s and in-store performances, handed me a couple kids music cd’s and suggested I make a kids music album. So I did. I took my savings and asked my husband if he would drum for me in the studio. I made this not knowing what I was going to do with these songs next. Anyways, next thing I know I was putting a band together because I was being asked to perform. It’s been busy ever since. That was 18 years ago!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, because of my career, I’ve been able to have amazing adventures and opportunities all over the country that I am so grateful for. I started performing when my daughter was around 4yo. It was challenging to balance work and family life. At some shows, I’d have to make sure that there was someone in the audience who could help watch my daughter if my husband wasn’t available.
Also, 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and had a very tough year. Music definitely helped me get through it. A couple. months after radiation, I started a Kickstarter campaign and made my fourth album “Follow Me”. Today, I am going strong career-wise and health wise. I am releasing another album soon “Rock Together”, touring the country to do many performances, spending time with my family, playing Pickleball 2-3times a week and just being grateful everyday that I got through that which I know not everyone does. I feel very lucky.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I create and perform music for kids and families. Children’s Music is a very unique genre in that it’s one of the only genres that are based on the audience. Kids music can be any style of music from rock to hip hop to folk to punk rock. The subject matter and the messages are probably what sets apart kids music from other types of music more than anything. Most of my messages have to do with togetherness, individuality, adventure, friendship, Filipino culture and more!
I’m very proud to be representing Filipino Americans in many ways but mostly just being me up on stage. In the earlier days, I was often the only woman of color in a line-up for a festival. There are very few Asian Americans doing kids music right now on a national level. All kids need to see role models that look like them or that they can relate to so they know they can do big things too. Another thing I am proud of is that my song “Ube”, a song about a popular Filipino purple yam was one of the first representations of Filipino American culture on many popular kids radio programs. I also went on to write or collaborate on more songs about Filipino American culture including Halo-Halo, Stars on the Island, Tong, Tong, Tong and Calamansi Twist. Being Filipino American is definitely what sets me apart plus I’ve been told my voice is unique as well.
.
What’s next?
My good friend and Brooklyn kids musician, Suzi Shelton and I have been singing on each other’s songs for the last 12 years. We have also performed with each other in Chicago, Brooklyn, St Louis, Philly, Madison, and more. This last year, we finally decided to take it one step further and record a full album under the band name “Birds of a Feather”. Our debut album “Rock Together” comes out June 7th. We recorded it with Grammy winning producer, Dean Jones. We also have incredible special guests on this album including Grammy winning musicians, 123 Andres and Joanie Leeds as well as Mil’s Trills, Aaron Nigel Smith, Red Yarn, Mista Cookie Jar, Ronnie Boy Kids, Uncle Devin, Claudia Robin Gunn, Katie Ha Ha Ha, Michael Napolitano and more! We are excited for our Summer tour which includes performing at The Acorn Theater (Michigan), Fitzgerald’s (Chicago) Levitt Pavillion (CT), BrittFest (OR). Our album release concert is at Shapeshifter Labs in Brooklyn on July 20th. Although Suzi and I have both been individually a big presence in the kids music world, it’s exciting to collaborate on someone who shares a similar music sensibility, work ethic and most importantly, a strong love and understanding of children as a whole.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://littlemissann.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemissannmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hi.little.miss.ann
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCep18av4pWWK8mIq4Pw0lpw
Image Credits
1. A Little Photo Studio
2 Shin Lim Photography
3 BrittFest
4 Kristin Chalmers Photography / Artwork by Patrick Milani