NAPPA Gold and Parent's Choice Gold winner Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights rock 15 new family friendly tunes with 'Bandwagon'. Produced by GRAMMY Winner Dean Jones & featuring Grammy winner Justin Lansing of The Okee Dokee Brothers and Jonatha Brooke!

Bandwagon

WHAT A ZOO!
JOANIE LEEDS &amp; THE NIGHTLIGHTS
WITH GUEST ARTIST SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO

People Magazine
Joanie Leeds &amp; The Nightlights What A Zoo!
"Animal-Crazed kids will dig these new tunes, including "Mosquitoes", "Tofurky Song" and "Froggie Went a Courtin'," a swingy spin on the classic children's ballad."

New York Times
"Her band may be called the Nightlights, but there’s nothing soporific about the music."

New York Post
"Shine a light: There’s nothing better than a rock band for kids that can make grown-ups laugh, and with tunes like “The Tofurky Song” and “Mosquitoes,” Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights pull it off."

Time Out NY Kids
"Local chanteuse Joanie Leeds's latest will be a hit with young zoologists in the making—every song on the CD features a different animal friend. Listen up for a take on the traditional "Froggie Went a Courtin'" with an appearance from rapper Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, a cover of the Phish song "Possum" and the sweet original "My Butterfly."

School Library Journal
"With her rich, powerful soprano, Leeds belts out these original and traditional songs about crocodiles, hummingbirds, whales, and even mosquitoes. The especially appealing tune “Happy As a Clam” features playful animal idioms and phrases, such as “cat’s got your tongue” and “snug as a bug in a rug.” Other albums: I’m a Rock Star and City Kid."


NEW YORK (Feb. 5, 2011) – Building on the momentum of her 2010 Parents’ Choice® Gold Award-winning album, I’m a Rock Star, independent children’s musician Joanie Leeds brings her attention to the animal kingdom with the April 12 release of her new kids’ CD, What a Zoo! (Limbostar, $15.00, for ages 2 – 9, run time 37 minutes).Joining Joanie and her band, The Nightlights, is the critically acclaimed “hip hop for kids” musician, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.

Gifted with a soulful, “rock solid” voice and an instinctive knack for capturing the essence of any style she goes for, Joanie Leeds has delivered, with each new release, music that speaks to kids in a friendly, non-patronizing way and is imbued with artistic values that thrill admiring adults.Her presentation is notable for its child-appropriate clarity, yet vocally Joanie soars easily through a remarkable array of styles with such an enviable power and dexterity that it’s easy to forget her intended audience is under age 10.Joanie truly rocks!Time Out New York Kids enthused about I’m a Rock Star, “The title track – with its hint of mid-career Alanis Morissette – is a terrific jam, while the rocking-chair anthem ‘Give Me a Hug’ is a tender, parent-pleasing tune … if she can win over my discerning kid, then Joanie Leeds is indeed a rock star.”

NAPPA GOLD Winner, What a Zoo! presents ten rockin’ Joanie Leeds originals and four covers, each with its own distinctive personality that salutes every child’s fascination with our animal friends.The lyrics are thought provoking and packed with educational value. “My Butterfly” explores metamorphosis, “Sea Cow” and “Big Blue Whale” focus on endangered species, and the delightful, two beat novelty song “Tofurky” emphasizes responsible eating.Other songs are just plain fun.“Happy As A Clam” wends its way through the many animal-isms that pop up in our daily conversations, while the classic “Pony Boy” provides a sweet country touch.A brilliantly eclectic presentation of the beloved children’s folk ballad “Froggie Went a’ Courtin’“ updates Joanie’s authentic swing phrasing to include a super hip appearance by guest rapper Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.While the album is light-hearted, Joanie’s cover of the Phish song “Possum” does let kids know what happens when you don’t look both ways when crossing the street.And “Mosquitoes” is unapologetic about squashing those little bloodsuckers! What a Zoo! offers a perfect setting for Joanie’s vocal virtuosity and impeccable good taste. Its sophisticated humor is rooted in real life experiences and guaranteed never to wear thin with the repeated listenings this CD is bound to get.

Why an album of animal songs? Joanie Leeds explains, “Growing up in Miami, Florida, I developed a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors. Whether I was relaxing by the ocean with my mom, camping or hiking with my dad, or taking class trips to the Florida Everglades, nature and beauty surrounded me. My brother Jonathan took his love of nature to the next level as an environmentalist, and he’s taught me so much about how our daily actions impact our beautiful planet.Inspired by Jonathan, I’ve been writing songs about animals for years.With such a plentiful collection of animal tunes, it was easy and joyful to record What a Zoo!The songs are meant to be fun, danceable, and humorous, and I hope the content also encompasses and encourages a larger message, for both children and adults.”

What a Zoo! is available online at <a href="http://www.joanieleeds.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.joanieleeds.com</a>, <a href="http://amazon.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.com</a>, <a href="http://cdbaby.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cdbaby.com</a>, and at specialty toy and bookstores across the country.
WHAT A ZOO! TRACK LIST:

All the Animals, Mosquitoes, Froggie Went a Courtin’, Big Blue Whale, Happy as a Clam, Hummingbird, Sea Cow, Possum, Tofurky, If You Go, Animals in Concert, My Butterfly, Pony Boy, Wimoweh.

What A Zoo!

Joanie’s back, with a stunning new album!  Beloved singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds continues to build her award-winning body of work with the September 4th release of her seventh children’s album, Meshugana (Limbostar, $15.00, for ages 4 – 14, run time 34:46 minutes).  

Joanie Leeds is once again joined by her band, The Nightlights, this time with a self produced holiday album recorded and mixed blocks from her home in Brooklyn, NY. Unlike any of her previous albums, Meshugana is made up of stories set in the Jewish context (for families), embracing each holiday throughout the calendar year along with themes such as love, family and the world around us. The Hebrew words used throughout Meshugana are all translated in the liner notes and focus on family values rather than religious texts creating accessibility for all who listen.

Meshugana soars with soulful tunes intertwined with rock and folk. Joanie Leeds, known for her genre bending albums says of her newest release, “While writing these tunes, I channeled sitting around the camp fire at my summer camp!” 

Self produced by Joanie Leeds and drummer/husband, Dan Barman, Meshugana (Yiddish for crazy) kicks off with an off-the-wall party tune and titled track “Meshugana” and segues into the clap-along, folksy love tune “Ahava”. “Hello, Goodbye, Shalom” is a harmony filled Beatles tribute (with a twist) and “Honey and Apples” is an old timey mandolin ditty centered around the Rosh Hashana holiday. Next is Yom Kippur’s most country-rock tune ever with “Al Cheit”, a song about saying “I’m Sorry” and trying to be “the best you can be”.  Other highlights include the spunky organ driven “Sukkah, Shakin’”, “Spinning”, an indie-pop-rock infused Chanukah tune about getting into trouble spinning inside the house and the Nightlights call and response rocker that screams CSNY on “Tu tu tu B’shevat”. Hilarious story telling ensues about a Purim Spiel on the Johnny Cash inspired “Haman” and the soulful, bluesy throwback “Mi Chamocha” fuses elements of the Passover story and the famous gospel tune “Wade in the Water”. It’s all about reading books before bed on PJ Party followed by a gorgeous lullaby “Lila Tov” (meaning- good night). Finally, “Mayim”, (translation: water) brings all of earth’s elements together (earth, wind, fire and water) on the folk/rock closing anthem. 


Meshugana

Get ready to get your fa la la L'chaim on with Grammy winner Joanie Leeds and Grammy nominated Fyütch who have teamed up for Oy Vey! Another Christmas Album. The unique holiday collection is a genre bending all-ages album featuring merry and bright remakes of four classic Christmas tunes written by Jewish songwriters and which also features two new original tracks co-written by the duo.

Years ago, when Joanie Leeds was first made aware that some of the most beloved Christmas songs are written by Jewish songwriters, as one herself, she envisioned creating a collection of these songs both honoring the creators who help spread the Christmas spirit and helping to bring communities together through the power of music. Joanie paired up with hitmaker and musical activist, Fyütch last year releasing their Sirius/XM chart topping single, Winter Wonderland, and the two continued working on the project throughout the year.

"As a kid, I often felt left out around Christmas. I was in my school choir and each year we'd sing 10 Christmas songs and maybe I Have a Little Dreidel (if we were lucky) so you could imagine my surprise and excitement to learn some of the very best Christmas music was written by Jewish songwriters." said Leeds."I love our contribution to the holiday season and was excited to share my passion project with the world and write some new ones too, especially as antiSemitism is on the rise." 

"I've always wanted to make a Christmas album. When Joanie told me the concept and trusted me to produce it, I was overjoyed. Who knew so many of the classics were written by Jewish writers?! I'm honored to add our stamp to my favorite holiday." -Fyütch

Everyone will be kvelling over this joyful Christmas collection filled with chutzpah. The album opens with a playful skit featuring Joanie and Fyütch's daughters, Joya (7) and Aura (5) talking about what they like best about Christmas. The first original track "Every Day's a Holiday" is an upbeat, poppy song celebrating being together that can be played year round and "The Christmas Tree" features Joya and Aura exchanging lines in a fun, silly story song about decorating a Christmas tree for the first time.

The classic remakes featured are: "Winter Wonderland" Felix Bernard & Richard Bernhard Smith, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an open Fire)" by Mel Torme, "Little Drummer Boy" by Harry Simeone, Katherine K Davis, Henry V. Onorati and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Walter Kent; Buck Ram & Kim Gannon.


For her original kids music NYC- based singer-songwriter Joanie Leeds has won a GRAMMY® award, first place in the USA Songwriting Competition, several Independent Music Awards, Gold Parents' Choice Awards, NAPPA Gold Awards, Family Choice Award and she is an International Songwriting Competition Winner and John Lennon Songwriting Award Finalist.

For the past decade, she has performed songs from her nine high-energy and interactive albums in dozens of cities across the country at venues and festivals such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Clearwater Festival, Wolftrap's Filene Center, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, The Smithsonian, CMAs, Hang Out Festival and the Skirball Center in LA. Her music has climbed up the charts to #1 on Sirius-XM's Kids Place Live and has been raved about in People Magazine, Parents Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post and Billboard.

Fyütch is a Grammy nominated music and social justice artist who combines Hip-Hop and visual storytelling to educate, entertain, and empower the next generation with songs about fatherhood, spirituality, love and positivity. His live shows are filled with spirited songs that celebrate community, history and culture through a blend of Hip-Hop, Soul, R&B, and Pop.

Fyütch has been featured on The Today Show, in the New York Times, and at NowThis, Fatherly and more. His music can be heard on Sirius XM's Kids Place Live as well as kids and family radio shows all around the country.

Oy Vey! Another Christmas Album

Joanie Leeds' 9th children's album, titled All The Ladies, is a passionate and honest serving of female empowerment folk tunes aiming to inspire young girls and people of all ages and gender identities.

Produced by GRAMMY Award Winner Lucy Kalantari, Joanie’s album, releasing April 3rd 2020, shortly after International Women’s Day, showers praise upon influential women such as Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsberg in ‘RBG’. She reinforces that young girls can be ‘Anything’ no matter what you look like or where you come from in ‘You’re Beautiful’ and by working together “All the Ladies” can continue to break ‘Glass Ceilings’ (inspired by The Guardian article, “Four Reasons not to tell your Daughter She’s Pretty” by Sarah Newton/Carol Dweck). ‘Lioness’ reflects on the fierce animal instincts of a mother.

Leeds also addresses difficult topics in a child-friendly way such as systemic sexism and a hope for real gender equality in ‘Half the World’, divorce and single motherhood in ‘Rosie Darling’, miscarriages and the motherhood bond in ‘For You’, and proposes a matriarchal society in ‘If Girls Ruled the World’ inspired by the Himalayan Mosuo tribe. Also, not forgetting to be kind to the ultimate mother, “Mother Earth.’ 

A USC Annenberg study revealed that only 2 percent of music producers and 3 percent of engineers are women. In the predominately male music industry and in the spirit of lifting up women in music, Joanie has ensured everyone involved with All The Ladies is female- (Producer, Engineer, instrumentalists, guest vocalists, mixing engineer, master engineer, graphic artists and even her photographer). 

A percentage of the proceeds will go straight to the National Women’s Law Center (advocates, experts, and lawyers who fight for gender justice by driving change in the courts, in public policy, and in society, especially for women facing multiple forms of discrimination.) 

The album’s first single release, RBG will release on Friday March 13th, two days before Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s 87th birthday (March 15th) and in the same week as International Women’s Day (March 8th). 

The full album, All the Ladies will release release on April 3rd, also the same year as the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote in 1920

All The Ladies

Every Day's A Holiday

Little Drummer Boy

Decorating The Christmas Tree (feat. Joya and Aura)

Winter Wonderland

The Music (feat. Joya & Aura)

Confusing Costume

Freadom: Songs Inspired by Banned Children's Books

Tango (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul & Divinity Roxx)

Block Party (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul & Divinity Roxx)

Born That Way (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul, Divinity Roxx & Darius Kalantari)

Banned

Banned (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul, Divinity Roxx & Joya Barman)

Inside Your Heart (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul, Divinity Roxx, Lucy Kalantari, Flor Bromley & Syreeta Thompson)

Sing It Out (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul, Divinity Roxx & Kymberly Stewart)

Rainbow Flag

Rainbow Flag (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul, Divinity Roxx, Robin Tucker & Rob Dietz)

Cholent Time (feat. Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, SaulPaul & Divinity Roxx)

Carol Of The Bells

Christmastime

Merry and Bright: Folksy Christmas Songs

Deck the Halls

Auld Lang Syne

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Silent Night

O Christmas Tree

Joanie Leeds' first album of original tunes for kids, released in 2008

This Pretty Planet

Freeze Dance

Mister Softee

Hello Everyone

Family Tree

I Love NY

2 Back To School

Are We There Yet

Challah, Challah has a sound reminiscent of the Greenwich Village folk revival of the 1960’s and is a collection of Shabbat, holiday songs and liturgy perfect for families with young children by Joanie Leeds and Matthew Check. Recorded in 2009.

Challah, Challah

Barchu

Modeh Ani

Sukkah Shakin'

Al Cheit

Honey And Apples

Hello, Goodbye, Shalom

Ahava

All The Animals

Mosquitoes

Froggie Went A Courtin  (Featuring Secret Agent 23 Skidoo)

Big Blue Whale

Happy As a Clam

Wimoweh

Music & Lyrics by Joanie Leeds
*Additional lyrics by Carly Ciarrocchi

Polly Hall- lead vocals & background vocals
Carly Ciarrocchi- lead vocals & background vocals
Caylen Bryant- Bass
Joanie Leeds- Guitar
Lucy Kalantari- Wailing Ukulele, Percussion, Keyboard, BG vocals

If Girls Ruled The World

Music and Lyrics by Joanie Leeds

Rosa Avila- Drums
Lucy Kalantari- Ukelele, Glockenspiel, background vocals
Joanie Leeds- Guitar, lead vocal
Libby Weitnauer- Fiddle
Caylen Bryant- Bass

Music and Lyrics by Joanie Leeds

Joanie Leeds- Lead Vocals, Guitar
Rosa Avila- Drums
Caylen Bryant- Bass
Lucy Kalantari- Percussion, Organ, Background vocals
Libby Weitnauer- Violin
Tina Kenny Jones- Background vocals

Anything

Music and Lyrics by Joanie Leeds

Joanie Leeds- Lead Vocals, guitar
Nelly Rocha- Cello
Libby Weitnauer- Violin

Rosie Darling

Music and Lyrics by Joanie Leeds

Joanie Leeds-  Lead Vocals, Guitar
Rosa Avila- Drums
Lucy Kalantari- Percussion, Keyboards
Suzi Shelton- BG Vocals
Vered Benhorin- BG Vocals
Amelia Robinson- BG Vocals

Half Of The World

Music and Lyrics by Joanie Leeds

Lisa Loeb- Lead Vocal
Joanie Leeds- Lead Vocal, guitar
Lucy Kalantari- Percussion, piano, keyboards
Caylen Bryant- Electric Bass
Tina Kinney Jones- Background vocals
Vered Benhorin- Background vocals
Sonia De Los Santos- Background vocals
Kyler England- Background vocals

Music and Lyrics by Joanie Leeds

Chava Mirel- Lead vocals
Lucy Kalantari- Percussion, Cajon, Ukelele
Nellie Rocha- Cello
Joanie Leeds- Guitar, Background Vocals

Glass Ceilings

GRAMMY Winning, NYC-based Joanie Leeds has played for thousands of families all across the country. As a singer/songwriter, Joanie has won first place in the USA Songwriting Competition, an Independent Music Award, Gold Parents' Choice Award, NAPPA Gold Award and she has been a John Lennon Songwriting Award Finalist and an International Songwriting Competition Finalist. Her original music with her band Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights has been featured in People Magazine, USA Today, Parents Magazine, New York Times and Washington Post. Some of her favorite venues played are Lollapalooza, Clearwater Festival, Skirball Center, Lincoln Center, Wolftrap and the Kennedy Center. She won a GRAMMY Award for her album, All the Ladies- a female empowerment and gender equality album for families.  Her songs are played on many radio stations nationwide climbing up the chart to #1 on Sirius-XM's Kids Place Live and WXPN's Kids Corner.

Joanie Leeds

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