Peninsula-based children’s musician Andy Z is set to release his first full-length album in seven years, “My Voice,” Friday, Aug. 29, with plans to celebrate his work two weeks later in Los Altos.
An album release party featuring a free performance by Andy Z – along with a giveaway and an artist meet and greet – is slated for 6:30 p.m., Sept. 12, at Linden Tree Books, 265 State St.
The Redwood City native has performed for more than two decades in Los Altos, including at Linden Tree and the annual Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival.
Andy Z said he began making music especially for children after realizing “it was the kids that were gravitating toward me while I was playing my little solo gigs.”
“My Voice” includes both original songs by Andy Z and his takes on well-known classics, combining songs for music and movement, finger play, singing along and learning about nature.
Andy Z said he hopes the album “affects kids in a positive way” and “brings them joy.” He started the recording process for “My Voice” in September 2024, and, as with all his other music, he also served as producer.
According to Andy Z, the first and penultimate songs in the album are inspired by his 7-year-old son, Gio.
“Not long after he was born, I wrote a song called ‘Song for My Baby’ and that song ended up being the first track on ‘My Voice,’” Andy Z said. “Then, when he was having some difficulties with some kids in his first-grade class, there were a few bullies there … and they can also blame themselves for it, like, ‘What’s wrong? Why is this happening?’ So, I wrote a song called, ‘It’s Not Your Fault,’ and that’s the second-to-last song.”
He added that the album’s music is not just for young children but can be enjoyed by entire families as well.
“I think the parents can get something out of these kinds of songs that are directed toward nature and appreciating it … and (‘It’s not Your Fault’) can help folks, too, to maybe share this song if their child is having the same kind of problem at school,” Andy Z said.
“My Voice” also includes two collaborations with other children’s music artists. The Grammy-winning duo 123 Andrés helped translate the lyrics and record vocals for “Mariposa Vuela,” the Spanish version of the song “Flutter Flutter, Butterfly.” Dana Cohenour of Dana’s Music Playground – another musician Gio likes – sings harmony on “It’s Not Your Fault.”
Andy Z noted that although “Mariposa Vuela” has the same melody as “Flutter Flutter, Butterfly,” 123 Andrés gives it a different flair.
“‘Flutter Flutter, Butterfly,’ is a very sweet, more intimate, sounding song, but ‘Mariposa Vuela,’ which is the Spanish equivalent, is like a party … it has a very festive feel to it, because of the arrangement of the vocals that they recorded, which I thought was cool,” Andy Z said.
Another one of his favorites on the album is “Buzzabee.” It features one of Andy Z’s original characters, Bizzabelle, and aims to teach kids more about the nature around them.
“It has a kind of shuffling, jazz tune (sound), and it’s basically about honey bees, how they operate and the work they do out there,” he said.
Ultimately, Andy Z sees the album as one more way for him to express his love of making music.
“Just to tell stories and do character voices and write music and play music are all my favorite things. And I got to put it all together to make ‘Andy Land,’ which is the imaginary world I make up,” he said.
For more information, visit andyz.com.
