We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angie Who a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Angie, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I was a shy kid who secretly dreamed of performing. I had this book about a ballerina and I studied the page where her reflections in a mirrored studio went on and on. I wanted to move like that. I did some ballet classes as a child, my mum called me her fairy elephant. My sister got head shots and an agent at one point, she went to auditions and classes. I was too shy to even suggest how much I would love that kind of opportunity.
At 11 years old, I was singing in the school choir and a friend told me she thought I had nice voice. She probably doesn’t remember, but I do. She planted a seed that day. I sang in youth and church bands, choirs and recorded an album with the help of some friends in my early 20’s. Don’t look for it.
I moved to London to travel and find more opportunities in music, I sang at open mic nights, collaborated on some funny projects, worked as a nanny and an office temp, which lead to me to an opportunity with a well known producer and a big record label. Some might say the meeting went well, I would be teamed up with a band of boys, the songs had already been written. But I couldn’t do it, I had issue with being a room where people were talking about me, and not to me. I’ve always trusted my gut, and it said run.
When I moved back to Australia, a friend I had made in London invited me to join a band called ‘The Smoking Muskets’. We were alt country. I loved it. I loved the drummer, I married him actually.
We had a baby girl and like for many, something in me woke up and the urge to sing to her was so strong. I had trouble finding the right songs, or the right words. I was so tired. Besides creating an actual human, at this point, I had found a place for my most meaningful work.
It took me 4 years from concept to holding that first album in my hands, simultaneously cradling baby number two, my boy.
I knew early in my motherhood journey that I wanted to create music that other parents could sing to their babies, songs that could be shared and enjoyed by whole families. Family Music.
This year I released my third album in this genre and feel so puffy in the heart every time I hear from a mother, father, teacher, grandmother. More than once I’ve had a mother shake me and say that my music saved her life.
There’s a deep sense of fulfillment knowing that songs from my own experiences of motherhood, songs from the extra compartments that open in your heart and the crazy corners of your brain that you find in the wee hours of the morning are out there, helping other parents navigate the wild waters of early parenthood.
It’s my most meaningful work and it lives on as new families, parents, babies are born everyday.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am mother to 2 of the most delightful children I’ve personally ever met. Married to a drummer/teacher/darling heart. I am an independent artist, songwriter, song sharer, keen collage maker with an inability to say no to a scone (jam first, cream second). Very open to collaborations and conversations with music supervisors (had to slip that in).
Our society, particularly the music industry have shunned women of a certain age and mothers. As a mother, I feel I have more to say and share than ever. I’m grateful to be living in a time where I hold the keys to the door that lets my music into the world. Gatekeepers are gone.
Stronger families equal stronger and healthier communities.
I work in spaces to create shared experiences for young families through my music.
I have released three albums under the banner of Family Music.
Littlefolk (2015)
I Love You the Most (2020)
One Million Millions (2023)
I wrote and performed ‘A Little Song Workshop’ for the Sydney Opera House Digital Season during the pandemic. A terrifying and amazing experience! This year I have also been working with the SOH Centre for Creativity providing a workshop called ‘Lullaby Love’ sharing the magic of music and singing with new parents.
I am the host of ‘Sing-a-Song with Angie Who’ a Podcast for Kinderling Kids Radio, encouraging families to sing together.
Lullaby Club is my latest love, each week I host a singing circle for new mamas with tea and cake and am proud to run this as part of the International Singing Mamas network, a grassroots movement sweeping the globe.
I am also affiliated with Major Minor Music Australia – working to raise the profile of Australian Children’s Music, (which ya’ll need to know about because we have the most incredible community of joy makers over here).
And, Coming Soon – Waltz Away. A small collection of Country Songs that I am very excited to share. As with all of my work, this will be available wherever you stream your music.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
If I had to boil it all down to just one word, it’s connection. I want people to connect to my music, but more than that, my deep hope is that my music connects them. Families, mothers, fathers, babies, children and communities.
Humans have been singing since time began. It’s a large part of many cultures, but in ours, in more recent history, we’ve lost that in many spaces. We sing less than ever, in a time when we know more than ever, the benefits of singing to our little ones and singing with each other.
Modern life has taken away a lot of the daily tasks even our grandparents did together, like growing vegetables, cooking, sewing, building, activities that relied on community. Interestingly, many of these activities now exist in therapeutic spaces.
When we sing together in groups, our heart rates sync up, I like to think of it as an invisible physical bonding that occurs during this simple act. Studies have shown that singing is the quickest way to bond a group of people together.
Similarly, when we sing to our babies, their brain waves sync with ours, their heart rates, oxygen and stress levels regulate. And, magically our stress levels are reduced as well.
I knew nothing about neuromusical science when I became a mother, but I felt it and have become a bit of a self confessed nerd on the subject. Many thanks to Dr Anita Collins for her work in this area.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The early years of parenting are so incredibly hard and so incredibly delicious. It’s an honour to create music in such a precious space. Knowing that sometimes a song you have written in a moment of frustration, trying to get your little person to eat their dinner, or a moment of sheer delight where you just want to drink up the joy in their wonder filled eyes, or trying to figure out who you are again after becoming a mother… Knowing that is being played in the car of a family, on a road trip, or a school run and that family is singing your song together is, well, honestly, I can’t find the right word for it.
To imagine that one day, when everybody is much older, your song might come on and take a parent or child, back to a happy place, a core memory, that’s kind of magic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.angiewho.com.au/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angie.who/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.who
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@angiewho
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Uz3KziV0932zrV4awUYtE?si=jmiwFw9BSw2iOIGQiFnSKg Sydney Opera House – Digital Season – A Little Song Workshop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ARotezqtYY Kinderling Podcast: https://www.kinderlingkids.com/shows/sing-a-song/ Singing Mamas https://www.singingmamas.org/ Major Minor Music Australia https://mmma.com.au/
Image Credits
Artwork: Angie Who Photographs: Jade Warne, James De Vries