In Peques and More we continue to introduce children's music singers that make kids have fun with their songs and also encourage them to discover new artists and music styles. Nathalia Palis She is passionate about education and music and that is the origin of her career as a composer and singer of bilingual children's music. So far he has published two albums: From Here to There (From here to there) in 2012 and Dream a little (Dream a little) in 2014. Nathalia was born in Barranquilla, in Colombia, a city full of joy and folklore that has facilitated that through her family veins music runs as a constant to live. Nathalia studied at the prestigious University Berklee College of Music in the city of Boston (Massachusetts), obtaining the degree in Music therapy. There she met her husband Brian McLaughlin, percussionist and professional musician, once they finished their university careers they settled in Los Angeles since 2004 to develop professionally.
The birth of his first daughter Vanessa and the deep desire to transmit her cultural values, he folklore and his mother tongue, were the breeding ground and the source of inspiration for the launch of his professional career as music therapist Y children's music educator. His second son Daniel increased his creativity, dynamism and motivation for his second musical album. Nowadays Nathalia has two professional activities; how music educator preschool children and therapist of children and young people at risk. Every weekend in the enjoyment of his family life with his little children, the muse returns to be a source of inspiration and it is with them that Nathalia becomes an artist and composer. Dream a little (Sueña un Poquito), is Nathalia's latest album that sings in English and Spanish in a poetic, rhythmic, educational and entertaining way for children. I leave you with Nathalia's answers to learn more about her music
At what ages of the kids does your musical production apply?
My music is for the whole family but in particular it applies from babies to 10 year olds. The source of inspiration for all my songs have been my children and with them they have grown, who with their innocence and their ingenious questions develop my creativity. The work I do in preschoolers and my direct contact with teachers and children, fill me with ideas to make songs that make pedagogical work and the task of parents at home easier.
What type of music do you do for children?
My Latin American origin makes the compositions have a variety of styles, so in my songs there are folk, pop, rock, jazz, reggae, cumbia, reggaeton, merengue, and other Latin rhythms. As a music teacher in preschoolers, through my songs children learn concepts such as colors, animals, days of the week, planets. And it is all the daily occurrence of my work with the children that makes me be attentive to capture the attention of the children to incorporate in their motor development all the energy and imagination they need to dance, jump, shoe, climb, lower, clap etc. As they grow, the songs change according to their interests, for this reason and composed songs with themes of optimism, how to fix a sad day, about friendship and about the magical things that surround us.
What language do you sing in?
My albums are completely bilingual, I use English and Spanish equally. I am Colombian and Spanish is my mother tongue, I grew up listening to Latin music and I feel that expressing and composing is easier for me in Spanish. But my professional life as a musician therapist and music educator has been here in the United States so my work has always been primarily in English.
It was when my children were born that I decided to join both languages. To facilitate and transmit my mother tongue in addition to my cultural values, I found in music the perfect tool to teach my children.
My albums are completely bilingual, I use English and Spanish equally
How do you promote your musical work?
I am an independent artist and it is not an easy task. It is a constant struggle to find a balance between my professional, artistic and personal career. To promote I must stay updated on social networks and keep my website up to date. I have the unconditional support of my family and friends who collaborate with me in concerts selling albums or helping me share my articles or interviews on social networks.
Are you the songwriter and songwriter or do you make versions?
I am the author of the music and lyrics of my songs, but my albums have been a total family collaboration. Both albums were produced by my brother Shafik Palis (winner of several Grammys) and my husband Brian McLaughlin (professional musician), both are geniuses in converting each song to a different genre. Brian takes care of the songs with a more American feeling, while my brother Shafik takes care of the Latin songs.
That the children listen to good music relates the children to the environment, their world and facilitates their learning
What is your proposal for the future in children's music?
Music trains the ear from the earliest childhood. Listening to good music that relates them to the environment, their world and their experiences makes learning easier. It is a music so that parents can enjoy it and also feel identified with what their children are living, it is a communication link to express themselves and enjoy time together. When I write songs with the family in mind I imagine young and old dancing with my songs and not a family divided with their independent headphones because they do not tolerate their music.
Do you like singing for children?
I love singing to the little ones! Because they are honest, they have enough energy, and they enjoy music in a real way. I believe that I am still a child at heart and composing children's music songs provides me with continuing to feel like a child with them and understand them. I always think about how incredible it must truly be to see the world through the eyes of a child. I also like to see how the two languages absorb through the songs.
I love singing to kids because they are honest, have enough energy and enjoy music
How many works have you published for children and what can we find in them?
So far I have published two albums From Here to There-From here to there (2012) and my new album Dream a Little-Dream a Little (2014). The first has a more pre-school approach, many movement songs, some in English, some in Spanish and others with both. In the second disc the challenge was to incorporate both languages in all the songs and to use different musical styles to the first disc.
Where can we acquire your works and where are you going to perform live performances?
My songs can be obtained on iTunes, Amazon, Baby CD or on my website. You can also listen to them on Pandora, Spotify and various Internet radios. I have scheduled several performances in the Los Angeles area and programming the possibility of national and international tours. You can keep track of my presentations on my website.
Nathalia It has an active YouTube channel where we can find many of his videos with his songs:
I thank Nathalia Palis for your answers and congratulations on your work. The last published album, Dream a Little, has been recorded and co-produced by Shafik Palis, winner of two Latin Grammys with Carlos Vives in 2014. I wish him many successes because his songs and albums help children experience a variety of adventures Musicals in English and Spanish.
