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Press Preview — New Releases
Road Trip - Two Versions
Cover photos/design: Kelli Caldwell
BI-SPECIES Set of Summertime Singles |
Release date: July 19, 2024 • DOWNLOADS BELOW
You’ve heard of bi-lingual releases, but WHAT IS A BI-SPECIES RELEASE?! A catchy tune for the season of adventure written from two perspectives: the point of view of road-trip loving canines and road-trip loving homo sapiens. Just who is having more fun?
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Kelli is a mom to two human kids (twins, age 11 – her daughter steals the show on the cover artwork of the Human version) and a fur baby named Piper Peach (Black Labrador Retriever). Piper Peach contributed both to inspiration and vocalization in making the Dog version, along with her best buds, Loki Newman (Golden Retriever, Border Collie mix) and Mia Swanson (Australian Cattle Dog/German Shepherd, Siberian Husky mix). Loki contributed his special trill to the “mouth horn” section of the Dog version, his enthusiasm and heart not to be outdone by anyone of any species.
“I’ve had a dream for a while to make an album for Dogs and the people who love them. ROAD TRIP – DOG VERSION is the first single release for this forthcoming album (coming 2025) and I decided, why not go ahead and make a version for humans too?!” says Kelli Welli. “We have an absolute blast playing ROAD TRIP live, especially when the audience joins in on the mouth-horn part. Spit may be flying, but it’s some serious fun… And I was so excited to be joined in recording these songs by my great friends, The Newman Family Singers, and their dog, Loki, who make these songs even more special.”
Cover photos/design: Kelli Caldwell
Full Download
Both songs, cover artwork, press release, photos + bios
Song Download - Dog Version
Song Download - Human Version
Press Release Download
Kelli Welli - photo by Alia Rose
Kelli Welli (aka Kelli Caldwell) has been called “The Pixar of Children’s songwriters” for her award-winning work and commitment to keeping even the silliest of songs super smart, with full respect for kids’ brains. Recently named the Grand Prize Winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Top 3 in the International Songwriting Competition, Kelli draws upon her unique upbringing to create songs that often defy categorization. Kelli’s wide-ranging songwriting is clever, fun, often hilarious, sometimes reflective and deeply sweet. Always genuine. Kelli’s released four full albums in the last four years and can be heard on SiriusXM Kids Place Live. Her newest endeavors also include short film making, with inclusion in over 30 film festivals world-wide, including the Sonoma Film Festival, San Diego Comic Con, Children’s Film Festival of Seattle, and Portland’s one-of-a-kind gem, the Hollywood Theatre at PDX Airport. KELLIWELLI.COM
Favorite road trip destination: Camping with friends and familly. Also Disneyland.
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Bryan Daste is a multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and recording engineer based in Portland, Oregon. He’s worked with a wide variety of artists, including touring Europe with Grammy® nominee Courtney Marie Andrews, sharing the stage with the Head and the Heart as a member of Matt Hopper and the Roman Candles, playing countless shows with Emma Hill and Small Souls, and playing on Laura Sullivan’s recent Grammy® nominated album Pieces of Forever. He’s contributed session work with Jeffrey Martin, Evan Phillips, Pretty Gritty, Myrrh Larsen, Anna Tivel and many others. As a recording engineer and producer, Bryan likes to find and highlight what’s unique about each artist’s music. He’s a member of the Recording Academy, and has his own podcast dedicated to the art of pedal steel. More about Bryan’s work at BRYANDASTE.COM.
Favorite road trip destination: Pioneertown, CA. Former western movie set and location of legendary Pappy & Harriet's music venue.
Bryan Daste
Piper Peach Segelken (Black Labrador Retriever) loves balls, toys that squeak, and dirty socks. She's credited with writing one of the songs on Kelli Welli's 4th album, Baby Ninja: "Dirty Socks." Piper loves trying to catch or bite water from a hose and swimming or basking in water anywhere. She loves her friends, but also prefers being the center of attention.
Favortie road trip destination: Any water.
Family: Kelli Welli & kids
Loki Newman (Golden Retriever/Border Collie mix) is one of the sweetest people... he greets with the truest joy. He enjoys cornering chipmunks in the wood pile and keeping dedicated watch for squirrels, as well as his weekly adventure day out. He's known throughout the Pacific Northwest music community for the skill in his trill.
Favorite road trip destination: The Oregon Coast.
Family: The Newman Family
Mia Swanson (Australian Cattle Dog/German Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix) is smart as a whip and a bundle of energy. She enjoys reading serious novels and scientific non-fiction, between calculating best methods to maximize daily dog treats. She keeps a steady watch on everything and loves sitting in the front seat.
Favorite road trip destination: The closest Aeronautics Research Center
Family: The Swanson Family
Three buddies making mischief, having just finished a class 3 Dognado.
My Darling Daffodil
New Single — A Duet with Red Yarn and Kelli Welli
Release date: March 15, 2024 • DOWNLOADS BELOW
A springtime song about love and admiration between a daffodil and dandelion (song produced by a bumblebee), paying homage to the unsung patience and persistence of flowers in nature, and anticipation of the coming joy that springtime can bring
Cover Illustration: Maddo Hughes; Design: Kelli Caldwell
Music Video
Created with Dave Gulick of Ants, Ants, Ants
Releasing alongside the song, a totally fun and funky music video! Another creative Portland powerhouse, Dave Gulick of successful bands, including Derby and kindie band, Ants, Ants, Ants, flexes his animation and video creation talents. Dave teamed up with Kelli to create an animated short film that brings to life… or shall we say “springs to life”… the artwork of rising Portland artist and muralist, Maddo Hughes. Kids and grownups alike will groove along with this story of love and mutual admiration that all starts with “Cheese!” in one of those photo-cutout boards for kids. A totally unique approach by this creative team!
Full Download
Song, cover artwork, press release, photos + bios
Song Download
Press Release Download
Music Video Stills Download
Kelli Welli - photo by Alia Rose
Kelli Welli (aka Kelli Caldwell) has been called “The Pixar of Children’s songwriters” for her award-winning work and commitment to keeping even the silliest of songs super smart, with full respect for kids’ brains. Recently named the Grand Prize Winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Top 3 in the International Songwriting Competition, Kelli draws upon her unique upbringing to create songs that often defy categorization. Kelli’s wide-ranging songwriting is clever, fun, often hilarious, sometimes reflective and deeply sweet. Always genuine. Kelli’s released four full albums in the last four years and can be heard on SiriusXM Kids Place Live. Her newest endeavors also include short film making, with inclusion in over 30 film festivals world-wide, including the Sonoma Film Festival, San Diego Comic Con, Children’s Film Festival of Seattle, and Portland’s one-of-a-kind gem, the Hollywood Theatre at PDX Airport. KELLIWELLI.COM
Red Yarn - photo by Aaron Hewitt
Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) is a Texas-born, Oregon-based family performer who weaves music and puppetry into high-energy shows for all ages. With his engaging performances, rowdy folk-rock recordings, and playful music videos, this red-bearded bard reinvigorates American roots music traditions for younger generations. Red Yarn recently released his tenth in a series of award-winning albums in ten years, The Get-Together, an inclusive celebration of community, collaboration, human connection & childhood. Red Yarn & his family band have performed at Austin City Limits Festival, South by Southwest, Pilgrimage Music Fest, Stagecoach Country Music Festival, Wolf Trap National Park, Symphony Space, Pickathon, Northwest String Summit, and libraries and children’s museums across the country. Accolades include: NAPPA Gold, Parents’ Choice, and Fids & Kamily Music Awards, and frequent play on SiriusXM Kids Place Live. REDYARNPRODUCTIONS.COM
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Bryan Daste is a multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and recording engineer based in Portland, Oregon. He’s worked with a wide variety of artists, including touring Europe with Grammy® nominee Courtney Marie Andrews, sharing the stage with the Head and the Heart as a member of Matt Hopper and the Roman Candles, playing countless shows with Emma Hill and Small Souls, and playing on Laura Sullivan’s recent Grammy® nominated album Pieces of Forever. He’s contributed session work with Jeffrey Martin, Evan Phillips, Pretty Gritty, Myrrh Larsen, Anna Tivel and many others. As a recording engineer and producer, Bryan likes to find and highlight what’s unique about each artist’s music. He’s a member of the Recording Academy, and has his own podcast dedicated to the art of pedal steel. More about Bryan’s work at BRYANDASTE.COM.
Bryan Daste
Dave Gulick is the driving creative force behind the bands Derby, Fremont and Teemster. Known for his infectious melodies and perfectly crafted indie rock arrangements, his work has been heard in countless television shows and advertising campaigns, including spots for Nike, Coca-Cola, Verizon and Facebook. Derby’s 2008 hit “If Ever There’s a Reason” was also featured in a Super Bowl spot for Ford, showcasing the band and Gulick’s songwriting to a global audience. With his work in several short films, Gulick has explored multiple genres in recent years, collaborating with songwriter Johnny Clay (The Dimes) on indie film scores, rock, electronic pop and many others. DAVEWGULICK.COM
Dave Gulick
Maddo Hughes
Maddo Hughes is an artist and muralist based in Portland, OR. He began his journey engaged in the task of painting theatrical sets, eventually transitioning into a career focused on murals. His approach incorporates folk art themes with elements characterized by a sense of playfulness. He has now developed into an artist with a commitment to capturing life's essence. Maddo's practice explores creating site specific artwork that is influenced by the community that it serves. MADDOMURALS.COM
Baby Ninja Album
16 tracks -- AND a Baby Ninja Comic Book!
Releases June 16, 2023 • Downloads Below
Baby Ninja bursts out of the gate with the album’s title track, infused with a Southwestern, retro-martial-arts spy vibe underscored by this takeaway: never underestimate the very real power of a baby!
Cover Illustration: Belén Toscano; Design: Kelli Caldwell
Listen along with the Baby Ninja Comic Book!
Take a little bit of pop, a pinch of Americana, and a dash of African rhythm. Add in a taste of Cajun flavor, a touch of country and western with a Japanese flair, (and some dirty socks), and you have what fans have come to expect from Kelli Welli: originality, personality, a dose of the ridiculous, and lots and lots of love. The 16 tracks on Baby Ninja explode with Kelli Welli’s creativity and include contributions from fellow kids' artists and talented friends Uncle Jumbo, Claudia Robin Gunn, Nanny Nikki, Stacey Peasley, and the album’s co-producer and multi-instrumentalist, Bryan Daste.
for online use - 500 & 1500px versions in ZIP
Album Download
16 Tracks, 30 minutes, produced by Bryan Daste and Kelli Caldwell
Comic PDF Preview Download
40 pages, co-authored by Kelli Caldwell (Kelli Welli) and illustrator Belen Toscano; layout by Kelli Caldwell
Press Release Download
Press contact: Elizabeth Waldman, Waldmania PR
elizabeth at waldmaniapr.com
for print use - 3000px image in ZIP
Kelli Welli - photo by Alia Rose
Kelli Welli
illustration by Belén Toscano
Bryan Daste - Producer
Bryan Daste
illustration by Belén Toscano
Kelli Caldwell, who performs for kids as Kelli Welli, is an award-winning children’s songwriter, recently named the Grand Prize Winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Drawing on her unique upbringing and often inspired by the kids and animals in her life, Kelli’s wide-ranging songwriting is smart, fun, often hilarious, sometimes reflective and deeply sweet. Always genuine. Her original songs and lullabies weave wonderful tales, celebrate love, nature, different languages, and honor all the details that come with raising the amazing little people in our lives. Kelli has a Master of Publishing degree with minors in Japanese and German. She’s a member of the Recording Academy, Children’s Music Network, and SCBWI. Kelli lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, boy/girl twins who also performed on this album, her black lab and cat. Songs and stories for kids and the people who love them. Find more info on socials @kelliwellikids and kelliwelli.com.
Belén Toscano is a fun-loving 2D artist & animator with a BFA in Character Animation from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). She is a proud second-generation American from immigrant Mexican and Nicaraguan families. Though a native North Californian coast expat, and raised through the torrential rain seasons of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, she’s still probably dreaming up stories from various fictional locations. She loves reading, gaming, serialized television, goofing off with friends, and discovering interesting fun facts. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her chihuahuas: Pancha, Mimi & Bonita who served as inspiration for the dog in this book. For more of her artwork, please visit @cutie.spice on Instagram and her website www.cutie.vision.
Bryan Daste is a multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and recording engineer based in Portland, Oregon. He’s worked with a wide variety of artists, including touring Europe with Grammy® nominee Courtney Marie Andrews, sharing the stage with the Head and the Heart as a member of Matt Hopper and the Roman Candles, playing countless shows with Emma Hill and Small Souls, and playing on Laura Sullivan’s recent Grammy® nominated album Pieces of Forever. He’s contributed session work with Jeffrey Martin, Evan Phillips, Pretty Gritty, Myrrh Larsen, Anna Tivel and many others. As a recording engineer and producer, Bryan likes to find and highlight what’s unique about each artist’s music. He’s a member of the Recording Academy, and has his own podcast dedicated to the art of pedal steel. More about Bryan’s work at BRYANDASTE.COM.
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