Band & Musician News - Award Winning Duo Lips Launch 'Little Lips' + Release First Kids Song 'Because'
08 September 2023 - 0 Comments
If you’ve ever struggled with helping a young child learn a spelling list and wondered “surely there’s another way?!”, then this press release might give you something to celebrate.
Award-winning songwriting team Steph Brown and Fen Ikner (Lips ) present their first song and video from a larger project (by Little Lips) that aims to help kids learn to spell using the power of music and comedy.
Drawing inspiration from such songs as G.L.O.R.I.A by Van Morrison, or R.E.S.P.E.C.T by Aretha Franklin, the pair use their trademark humor and quirk to tackle words from the “essential spelling list”, a list that is sent home in the schoolbags of tamariki across New Zealand.
The idea was born at home: Steph and Fen are married with two young sons (6 and 3) and it was during a parent conference for their older son that they were introduced to the concept of “heart” words.
Steph explains, “Freddy’s teacher suggested we help him with the spelling of these “heart” words, which are named such because you can’t sound them out, you just have to learn them by heart. Words like “could”, “little”, “because”, they’re a nightmare to spell for young kids. We thought, if you have to learn them by heart then why not write songs to help with that. And then we started making videos to go with them”.
The pair are no strangers to using songs and visual media to entertain - they were music directors on the theatre show and subsequent feature film Daffodils and Fen has directed several music videos - “we have a full on DIY greenscreen film studio in our living room these days, the kids are getting to the point where they can help me set up! Freddy's also been playing the drums for a few years now, so we have him rocking out in the video as well.”
Because is just the first song of about 25 spelling songs the pair have written with “more to come” says Steph. “They will be folded into a much bigger project that we can’t talk about yet, but we’re super excited about it!” So watch the video, follow and subscribe for more home-grown creative learning from Little Lips!
Steph Brown and Fen Ikner are composer/musician/producers who perform under the name Lips. They won the APRA Silver Scroll award for best song in 2012, and were later nominated for the APRA Best Musicfor the Screen award for their work as Music Directors on the feature film Daffodils. They have released several EPs, a full length album, recorded and produced music for many other artists and their music has appeared in television, documentary, and film soundtracks.