Music Minute: Dana - A Place to Call Home

Every living being, from honey bees to humans, needs a safe place to call home. Dana, an award-winning singer/songwriter for children, highlights the havens of animals and people with her seventh album, A Place To Call Home. Dana will celebrate the album release on June 6th with an online family concert. The album will be available for pre-orders on May 15th from www.danasmusicplayground.com and wherever music is streamed or sold, and the first music video for "Underground Traffic Jam" will also debut that day.

The immigration crisis at the US-Mexican border crossing inspired Dana to write these songs. Moved by the fact that the families trying to cross the border (and other refugees worldwide) were desperately looking for a place just to be safe and simply live with their families, Dana wrote the lyrics to what would become the album’s title song: “Everybody needs that one place… everybody needs a safe space… everybody needs somewhere to be with their family. A place to call home.”

Animals also need secure habitats. Dana’s new songs explore the different places animals make their homes… in the sky and sea, in wetlands, hidden underground tunnels and more. She chose to shine a light on some animals who are threatened and incorporated factual information into the lyrics.
Introducing children to numerous musical genres and respecting their little ears with high production standards has long been Dana’s intention. For this recording, she worked closely with Boston area producer EJ Ouellette and top session artists. Ouellette plays 11 different instruments himself and enlisted drummer Dave Mattacks (whose credits include Paul McCartney, Elton John, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention). In addition to lead and background vocals, Dana plays keys/piano and is joined by Albert Lamar and Steve Baker on flute and saxophone. The Whole Music Kids’ Chorus adds cheerful background vocals to several tracks.

“My hope is that the songs on A Place To Call Home will help children to develop a love and appreciation for the animals and their habitats and be inspired to make a difference for every living creature on this precious planet we all call home.” says Dana.

Dana has created music videos (to be released on three consecutive Fridays starting May 15th) and educational activity sheets to complement the album. As soon as possible, she will announce her next family concerts and the return of her Music Playground classes in September. Meanwhile, her “Dana’s Music Playground” Thursday Facebook Live performances and Saturday morning series on YouTube offers hours of fun for stuck-at-home families.

Visit www.danasmusicplayground.com for updates.