These Seattle Moms really rock. Saran Shannon and Norea Hoeft are two members of The Not-Its!-- a rock band for kids of all ages.
The Not-Its! sound is described as quirky, catchy and melodious… and as adult-savvy as it is kid-friendly. The band just released their much-anticipated third CD entitled, “Tag, You’re It!.” GalTime caught up these musical Moms to hear about how they are pursing their passion for music-- and for parenthood, in harmony.
GalTime: How did the Not-Its! get together?
Sarah Shannon: The Not-Its! started with us getting together as friends with our growing families (we now have 8 kids between us). We all played in different bands before we had kids and we'd talk about how much our own kids love to rock-out and wouldn't it be great if there was a full on rock band for kids. So we decided to start one.
GalTime: How does being a Mom influence your music?
Norea Hoeft: It has made me a much more efficient songwriter, because I don’t have the time or energy to pour all my angst and heart into every song. The crazy thing is, I feel like I’ve written my best songs ever for The Not-Its!-- probably because I’m not so caught up in the “artistic value,” of the music; I just want to make something that kids will like and that won’t drive parents insane when they have to listen to it over and over and over again.
GalTime: Does Seattle have a good kid's music scene?
Sarah Shannon: Seattle has the best kid's music scene. There are so many great independent bands and we all support each other through a kid’s music cooperative called Kindiependent. On any given week you can find great music to entertain your family.
GalTime: The Not-Its! has been called Seattle's most rockin' band for children. Is the rockin' what makes your sound unique in terms of kid's music?
Norea Hoeft: If you close your eyes as you listen to our music and don’t pay attention to the lyrics, some of our songs sound like they could be straight off a Metallica record. This is completely intentional. We think it’s so important not to condescend to kids; we don’t do it as parents, so why would we “take it down a notch” musically?
GalTime: How do you like performing for kids AND parents? Who gets crazier at concerts?
Sarah Shannon: We love performing for the whole family. We pride ourselves on being a band that plays music that grown-ups enjoy as well as their kids. The kids definitely get crazier. They have little to no self-consciousness or inhibition (and sometimes no impulse control… they like to grab our instruments).
GalTime: Tell us about our new CD... inspiration?
Sarah Shannon: Our new CD is called "Tag, You're It!" and it represents a real growth for us as a band. The subject matter is still about all of the fun stuff of childhood (getting outside, playing tag, silly animals, family vacation etc) but we have made a real leap sonically with this record. Martin Feveyear, a gifted and experienced Seattle producer, helmed this record and we hope the result speaks (or sings) for itself!
GalTime: You are busy women... how do you fit it all in?
Norea Hoeft: We don’t. We are behind on just about everything (housework, work work, bills, self-grooming) and feel overwhelmed most of the time, just like every other mom in the world. Next question?
GalTime: What do your kids think of your music?
Sarah Shannon: My kids (two girls ages 3 and 5) are big fans. They know all the songs and I've even seen them incorporate some of my signature Not-Its! moves when they're dancing around the house.
Need More "Not-Its!" ?
The Not-Its! new CD, “Tag You’re It!” is available online at the official Not-It’s website as well as on iTunes and Amazon.com
Visit this link for a list of upcoming shows.
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