Songs to spark intergenerational conversations

Charlotte Talbot has another EP ready to release on Valentine’s Day. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Charlotte Talbot has another EP ready to release on Valentine’s Day. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Charlotte Talbot has been singing up a storm to get her EP ready for release next month.

Songs to Sing and Talk About would be released on Valentine’s Day.

Talbot said since the birth of her "Cee Bee Teatime" project in 2020, her main focus has been on action songs to share with her preschool audiences.

Talbot had enjoyed many a discussion with her own children over the years about feelings, manners, behaviour, love and loss and being happy with who we are, which inspired her musical work.

The collection of six songs were thought-provoking, sometimes poignant, and sometimes humorous.

"Each song is designed to spark a conversation between adult and child.

"The use of language to tell stories, twists at the end of songs and children’s voices all add to the variety and interest of this original playlist."

The EP was a family affair; while all the lyrics and melodies were her own work, her son Oscar was responsible for much of the instrumentation and production.

Her daughter Emily was the principal vocalist, and her second son, Louis, has added his voice and guitar in places.

She said there were other key people involved in the project; the young voices were those of local children (with a notable solo performance by Geraldine’s Theo Polasek) and the final mixing and mastering was executed by Levity Beet, of Wild Beet Productions.

Talbot enjoyed every stage of production, from imagining the songs to acting out the finished product with her little ones.

However, the collaboration with local artists to source the artwork for her songs was one of the highlights for her.

"All the art for this EP is the work of Timaru’s very own Mike Armstrong and if you are familiar with his work, you will see his inimitable style in every image."

When Talbot is not tending the farm house and grounds, doing the farm books, looking after her 1-year-old grandson or leading Music and Movement sessions for preschoolers, she was writing and recording original, wholesome, home-made songs for children.

Songs to Sing and Talk About by Cee Bee Teatime would be available on Spotify, YouTube and all streaming platforms from February 14.

— APL