Before I even heard his music, I had a sneakin’ suspicion - just from the adorable CD cover art and clever name - that I was going to love Caspar Babypants! My first impressions are rarely wrong, and in this case, I was oh-so-right! Both of his first two albums - HERE I AM! and MORE PLEASE - are loaded with original songs and sprinkled with a few traditional ones, newly arranged - think Three Blind Mice with a rocking twist. I think what I like best is the sing-a-long-ability of these songs. The "hooks" are super catchy. The lyrics are creative but not weird. And the music itself is mostly guitar and keyboards and all sorts of whistles (my husband’s favorite part). None of it is unnecessarily complex - it is kid’s music after all. The kind of kid’s music that parents really and truly enjoy!
The best part - as far as I am concerned - is that we all get to claim Caspar Babypants as our very own “local” talent. So local, in fact, that my daughter and I have had the pleasure of seeing him perform at our local library and other venues. Right up there - amongst the cute album covers - that’s a picture of Caspar Babypants holding my daughter after our first show!
Recently, Macaroni Kid Snoqualmie Valley had the chance to ask Caspar Babypants a few questions. I hope his answers help you get to know this local talent just a little bit better.
Many parents from my generation know you as Chris Ballew from the Presidents of the United States of America. How did Caspar Babypants come to be?
WOW! that is a big question. There were a few things that made the transition happen. Number ONE would be my wife Kate Endle's art. Her simple cute smart well crafted images of birds and whales and kids made me envision songs to go with her images and that uncorked an unexpected volcano of ideas and helped me find my true musical home as Caspar Babypants!
You've written so many songs - covering a wide variety of topics - what inspires you?
I am so inspired by simple ideas like how a spider might tuck all of their thousands of babies in or how a dog might find its way home or how a bird might tell me all about how important love is. Just random innocent ideas of happy. SIMPLE!!! I do draw inspiration from nature in that Kate and I will go into the woods for a good long walk and come out with a new song from just absorbing nature and relaxing. The song "Where Do You Go?" on the new record is one of those just written during a walk.
As a musician from an early age yourself and a parent now, what advice can you offer parents about fostering a love of music and the arts in our children?
The big point is just to enjoy singing with your children. That is why I make music that appeals to both babies and their parents. I want the whole family to enjoy fun songs together. I hope people can just relax and realize that music is essential to the happy growth of a brain.
What's next for Caspar Babypants?
I have a new record coming out on November 2nd! Its called THIS IS FUN! and it IS FUN! I am SO proud of it. So that is the main thing then I am planning on making another record after that called LOOK AT ME! out in 2011. I am also playing around with the idea of a theatre show based on songs from the first three records called "A Day In The Life of the Pants" that takes place from noon on one day to noon on the next and tells the story of a dog on its way home for a surprise party!
If your kids are anything like my daughter - who can’t get enough Caspar Babypants - be sure to check out ...
www.babypantsmusic.com where you’ll find tons of songs to listen to, dance along with, and just enjoy! There’s also a newly added song written for a young girl who is fighting cancer.
Caspar Babypants on Facebook - "like" his page and tell him Macaroni Kid Snoqualmie Valley sent you!
Caspar Babypants TV on YouTube where you’ll find fantastic video versions of some of his songs ... some of them created by Caspar, others by some very talented fans! Start with the Ramshackle video - so hilarious!
Many Hands - unique collection of songs - including Check It Out by CBP - filled with uplifting messages from some of today’s very best family musicians - is a benefit for Haitian Relief.
One of his many upcoming live performances in the area - here are just a few:
- Saturday, October 9th @ 6:00 pm - Kid’s Quest Museum in Factoria
- Saturday, October 16th @ 4:30 pm - The Vera Project, “Many Hands” Haitian Benefit CD Release
- Monday, October 18th @ 11:00 am - North Bend Library