Kelli Welli

My secret identity is Kelli Caldwell and I live in Oregon in the United States. I started songwriting back in college and when I had my twins, I naturally started writing songs and lullabies for and about them. Most of the songs included on this album and others were inspired by the kids, animals, friends, and family in my life.

"Let's Go, Pistachio!" came from trying to get my kids out the door. Parents get it - if you know, you know. The struggle is real. So this started as a toolbox song with that phrase, and the story of our goofy little Pistachio flowed from there. We also made a fun animated video to go along with the title track.

Many of the songs on this album are toolbox songs, meant for parents of littles looking for ways to inspire or remind without nagging and feeling exhausted. "Tinkle Tinkle Toot" is a potty training song I wrote while my twins were at that stage; "We're Almost There" was written while my babies were crying in the car and I was trying to figure it out as a new mom; "The Waiting Song" was written to give them a tool while waiting to share or go on the slide; "Peanut, Pinenut" is a silly song about protein sources and the food groups; "I'm Proud of You" is for those times when you want to encourage and celebrate. And "Can't Find My Appendix" is for moms who are asked constantly where things are, the refrain "Let's retrace our steps!" instructing on how kids can search for themselves.

Most of our songs are meant for kids ages 0-8, but we also always keep in mind the parent listening (on repeat) and so often hear that teenagers like the songs too -- that's always a big check in the Win column. I really hope kids have fun, are allowed to be silly and themselves, and ultimately to feel loved through the music. And I hope grownups feel seen in their parenting experience through the songs that were written in the midst of me being a mom to twins. Parenting can be a lonely experience at times in some ways, so we need to be a village for each other, as well as for our kids.

I'm thrilled to be releasing songs on Yoto, because I know so well what it's like to have little kids in this digital age. When my twins were tiny, we played CDs and vinyl, because we wanted them to have the physical attachment that goes with the accompanying art and not to interact with phones. Yoto is a wonderful solution to make it simple for tiny kids to experience the rich offerings in today's world in a healthy way.

My next album is for Dogs and the people who love them, to be released in 2025. And after that -- an album about Friendship!