🎉IT’s RELEASE DAY! ‘We’re Friends Now’ is a celebration of friendship: making new friends, bonding with people who are different from you, sharing meals and adventures and even a very confusing train ride. (You’ll see!)
In a world that can isolate and divide us, ‘We’re Friends Now’ is a return to what matters most for our young people and beyond— building connection, support and JOY with the friends around us.
The album features 11 folk, indie, and pop-inspired songs, written and performed by award-winning children’s musicians Suzi Shelton and Benjamin Weiner (of Princess Backpack and Benjamin) and produced their friend, the GRAMMY®️-winning Dean Jones, with guest appearances by Little Miss Ann, Hot Toast Music Company, Katie Ha Ha Ha, and Jason Rabinowitz from the Pop Ups.
We hope you enjoy, and guess what? We’re friends now!
Produced by Dean Jones at No Parking Studios, Rosendale, NY
Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Music
Recorded 2024 - 2025
Released on March 6th, 2026
Featuring:
Jason Rabinowitz - co-producer of Best Rester
Jessica Jones - sax
Mark Murphy - upright bass
Melody Allegra Berger - violin/fiddle
Rebecca Coupe Franks - trumpet
Katie Ha Ha Ha - vocals
Little Miss Ann - special guest
Hot Toast Music Company - special guest
Kids - Zahi Weiner Alfonso, River Shrenka, Wilhelmina Powers, Hailey Levine and Marlowe Congar
Purchase the album on Bandcamp (BANDCAMP FRIDAY IS TODAY!) or stream everywhere you listen to your music 🎶
(See bio)
Artwork 🖼️ by Benjamin Weiner
#newmusicforkids #werefriendsnow #suzishelton #benjamin #joyfulsongs😍❤️
Our new album Carry On! is ✨💿OUT NOW!!! 💿✨
Streaming wherever you stream!
Huge thanks to @jasonrabinowitz from @thepopups for making this album shine beyond our wildest dreams. Thank you to our families for all their incredible support, to our amazing singers and musicians, @janeybrucey@melodiva42 and @edrosenbergiii . @kyleaaronlacy for the amazing album photography (art by Benjamin!) And thanks to @suzimusic for reminding me how much we love making kids music, and holding our hands (and straps) along the way. And thank you to YOU for reading and listening and spreading the word!!! 🙏🙏🙏
We are so happy to get these songs to families everywhere. Please add, like, follow, and generally smash all the little buttons - it helps a lot! 💖💖💖
Ok! Carry on!!
#kids #kidsmusic #kindie #music
Ok also, before posting I shared this with a someone who GASPED because she had just THAT DAY decided she was going to revamp her entire underwear drawer for this reason. So… the stars have aligned. It’s a sign. It’s TIME.
What new things do YOU & your little one want to try?
Will you:
* Taste new foods?
* Learn something new?
* Go to a new place?
* Play a new game?
What else!?
On the latest episode of TUNE UP, Cameron (age 4) encourages people to try new things. He also works with host Benjamin to create an original song — TRY IT — that encourages is a new song (and music video) that came from the Tune Up episode with Cameron, age 4!
The video debuted on the Tune Up episode called "Try Something New. You Might Love It!" in which Cameron and Benjamin talk about trying new things — and how tasting new foods and learning new skills is challenging but necessary.
Each episode of Tune Up starts with a conversation about something hard in a child's life ... and then the child helps to write an original song. The songs are then polished and turned into music videos. The songs are produced by GRAMMY®-winning musician Dean Jones. Animation for TRY IT is created by Carly Roventini! The songs will be released here on YouTube with music videos, and then on an album.
#kidsmusic #podcast #musicforchildren #familymusic #tryit #trynewthings #parenting
We're excited to share the newest, original song and music video from Sparkler's Tune Up Podcast called ...I CAN SAY SORRY.
The music video debuted on the Tune Up episode called "Saying Sorry So You Can Keep Playing" in which Zaim (5 years old) and Benjamin talk about when to say sorry, how to say sorry, and why it's important to say sorry...and MEAN IT!
Each episode of Tune Up contains an original song, written by Benjamin and his kid guest, and produced by GRAMMY®-winning musician Dean Jones. Animation for I Can Say Sorry is by Yvonne Saldana Hernandez. The songs will be released here on YouTube with music videos, and then on an album!
About the Tune Up Podcast:
Tune Up uses the healing power of music to help children (and the adults who love them) tackle challenges of early childhood, from cleaning up to including others. In each episode, teacher and musician Benjamin Weiner chats with a child about a difficult topic. Together, they write an empowering song to take on the challenge. Tune Up helps children to build social and emotional skills, growth mindset, coping skills, emotional regulation, resilience, and mindfulness skills. It's also FUN and a perfect co-listening experience for kids and their grown-ups.
About Host Benjamin:
Benjamin Weiner is a writer, composer, and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. He writes for shows including Dora on Paramount Plus, Rosie’s Rules on PBS, and Vida the Vet on Netflix, and makes kids music as Princess Backpack and Benjamin. His first picture book is in the works with Simon & Schuster.
Subscribe, Rate, and Share:
If this episode resonated with your family, please subscribe, rate, and share the show. It helps other families discover Tune Up. It's on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and on many other platforms where you find your favorite kids and family podcasts!
Credits:
Tune Up is hosted by Benjamin Weiner. Produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Brittany Sommer Katzin and Dana Stewart.
🌈 Visit The Tune Up Website: /tuneup
#musicvideo #kidsmusic #musicforchildren #sayingsorry #apologizing #playing #learning #parenting #newsongs2026 #newmusic2026
It's hard to clean up our Magnatiles...and all of our other toys!
On our new episode of Tune Up, Georgia talks about the challenge of picking up her toys and the burden — that many kids share — of living up to parents' cleaning-up rules.
Then Georgia and Benjamin write a brand-new (catchy! inspirational!) song to help Georgia and other kids clean up. It's called THE CLEAN UP DANCE.
Listen or watch it on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your favorite kid and family podcasts!
#kidspodcast #parenting #cleaningup #newmusic #kidsdiscuss #sparklerlearning #tuneup
Join us for a Jack and Friends Concert with Suzi Shelton and Benjamin! Featuring special guest Melody Allegra on violin.
Tuesday, April 28th 4pm
The Park Slope Library
431 6th Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11215
We’re happy to have them here and enjoy their individual hits and new music from their collaborative album, ‘We’re Friends Now.’
Suzi Shelton is an award-winning singer/songwriter who brings joy to families. Suzi creates music that is both uplifting and fun, encouraging little ones to sing, dance, and explore the world around them. With 10+ albums and multiple singles under her belt, Suzi’s songs are filled with playful melodies and positive messages, making her a beloved figure among families who seek heartwarming and interactive musical experiences.
Princess Backpack is a magical talking backpack from the kingdom of Backpackia. She loves to sing, rap, dance, and take frequent long naps throughout the day. She has performed for children of all ages, at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, Blue School in Manhattan, and of course throughout Backpackia and FannyPacksylvania. She is helped greatly by her friend Benjamin, who carries her around and helps her move. She is 100 years old.
This program will have registration that will open 24 hours before the program begins.** Please only one registration per family. Late entry will not be permitted beyond a 10 minute grace period.
**This restriction is due to the fire safety limit set by the fire Marshall and is non-negotiable.
Jack & Friends is presented in celebration of Jack Roberts and his joyful spirit. His friends and family hope you enjoy it. This program is presented with support from the Alliance for Climate Innovation.
We're thrilled to release a new episode of Tune Up all about something that's tough for many kids (and grown-ups alike): CLEANING UP!
In this new episode, Georgia talks about how she LOVES singing night and day, despite her mother's protestations. We say: KEEP SINGING, Georgia! Especially when your creative juices lead to catchy songs like THE CLEAN UP DANCE, which debuts in this episode.
The episode begins with a playful and honest conversation about cleaning — why it's hard even though your parents insist it's important — and some ways that we can make the chore of cleaning a little more fun. Georgia shares her idea of a clean-up DANCE, which she says makes the work of cleaning more tolerable. Using the Tune Up method, Benjamin and Georgia co-create a catchy song about cleaning up — with Georgia's tune and words: THE CLEAN UP DANCE. (The song was produced by GRAMMY®-winning musician Dean Jones. It will be released as a stand-alone music video tomorrow!)
Perfect for kids ages 3–10 and for listening together as a family.
#cleaningup #tidyup #parenting #kidspodcast #newepisode #kidspodcast
Had a great rehearsal yesterday and we’re ready (Penny the dog 🐶 thinks so too!) for Wake Up & Dance tomorrow, Saturday, April 18th at 10am at Shapeshifter lab in Park Slope, BK. Did you get your tickets yet? (Link in bio) See you there and let’s spread more love 💕
Sponsored by Shibley Day Camp and Fruit Bliss
#brooklyn #concertsforkids #wakeupanddance #saturdayvibes
SIBLINGS ARE TOUGH is a new song (and music video) that came from the Tune Up with sibling pair Zaira (age 8) and Zaim (age 5).
The video debuted on the episode called "Siblings Are Tough...But Also The Best," in which Zaira, Zaim, and Benjamin have a playful and honest conversation about what it’s really like to have a sibling...and then create an original song about being siblings.
Each episode of Tune Up contains an original song, written by Benjamin and his kid guest, and produced by GRAMMY®-winning musician Dean Jones. The songs will be released here on YouTube with music videos, and then on an album!
About the Tune Up Podcast:
Tune Up uses the healing power of music to help children (and the adults who love them) tackle challenges of early childhood, from cleaning up to including others. In each episode, teacher and musician Benjamin Weiner chats with a child about a difficult topic. Together, they write an empowering song to take on the challenge. Tune Up helps children to build social and emotional skills, growth mindset, coping skills, emotional regulation, resilience, and mindfulness skills. It's also FUN and a perfect co-listening experience for kids and their grown-ups.
About Host Benjamin:
Benjamin Weiner is a writer, composer, and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. He writes for shows including Dora on Paramount Plus, Rosie’s Rules on PBS, and Vida the Vet on Netflix, and makes kids music as Princess Backpack and Benjamin. His first picture book is in the works with Simon & Schuster.
Find the music video and the whole episode on YouTube (or all the other places you find your favorite family podcasts).
🌈 Visit The Tune Up Website to learn more: /tuneup
#musicvideo #kidsmusic #musicforchildren #siblings #sistersandbrothers #playing #learning #parenting #newsongs2026 #newmusic2026
We're thrilled to share episode 3 of Tune Up ... all about the roses and thorns of being siblings. In this episode, host Benjamin is joined by his friends Zaira (age 8) and Zaim (age 5) to talk all about the ups and downs of having a sibling — and to create a brand new song inspired by their experiences.
The episode begins with a playful and honest conversation about what it’s really like to have a sibling. Zaira and Zaim share some of the best parts of being brother and sister, like always having a built-in play partner, as well as some of the challenges, like sharing things that both want and working through disagreements. Together, they explore their feelings and what helps when things get tough.
With support from their stuffies (who are siblings, too!) and Benjamin’s puppet friend Bloop, the conversation turns creative. Using the Tune Up method, Benjamin transforms Zaira and Zaim’s ideas into a fun, original song called SIBLINGS ARE TOUGH, helping turn real-life challenges into something kids can sing through and feel empowered by. (The song was produced by GRAMMY®-winning musician Dean Jones. It will be released as a stand-alone music video tomorrow!)
Perfect for kids ages 3–10 and for listening together as a family.
#kidsslisten #tuneup #kidspodcast #kidsmusic #kidsvoices #singingtogether #playingtogether #brothersandsisteres #odetosiblings #parenting #newepisode
