Award-winning children’s music duo Ants on a Log is producing a new music album for and about transgender and nonbinary youth—and plans to make it available free! Here are the details—and how you can show that this type of project is valued!
The Ants, aka Julie Be (they/them) and Anya Rose (she/her), write and perform music for children and other childlike people, filled with positivity, social justice, and silliness. Since the pandemic started, however, they observed, “All youth need music that reflects who they are, and trans/nonbinary youth especially need our support during this challenging time of increased isolation.” They therefore put out a call to other musicians for songs that:
- reflect the trans/nonbinary experience
- use gender neutral pronouns
- sound like an ally anthem
- use humor to talk about gender
- smash the concept of the gender binary
- talk about intersecting identities
- speak to kids in elementary or middle school
The project is supported by, among others, Grammy-nominated musicians Alphabet Rockers and Alastair Moock, each of whom has created LGBTQ-inclusive music before. (See my post on Alphabet Rockers here and on Moock here). The Ants have now compiled all the contributed songs into an album that will be released very soon (likely this month). Artist Wriply M. Bennet, a trans woman, will be doing the cover art. “We want this music to support and connect trans/nonbinary youth as they are home alone, without camps, without being able to visit their trans/nonbinary friends,” the Ants say.
The album will be free—how awesome is that?!—but donations will be accepted and given entirely to Camp Aranu’tiq summer camp for trans and nonbinary youth. (In-person sessions have been canceled this summer because of COVID-19, but Camp Aranu’tiq is still offering an interactive “e-camp” experience.)
Before they release the album, however, the Ants are trying to raise funds to pay the musicians and artist a stipend. While they’ve been kind enough to contribute their work, they still need to support themselves and their families. If your means allow, please consider giving them even a little something (or a lot) to show that this type of project is valued and valuable.
Once the album is released, I’ll have more on how to get it and how to donate to Camp Aranu’tiq when you do!