Chantal Kreviazuk: The Momterview

We all know Canadian star Chantal Kreviazuk from hit songs like Surrounded, Before You and In This Life, as well as her covers of Feels Like Home and Leaving On a Jet Plane (part of the movie soundtracks of How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Armageddon, respectively).

She is also a musical force behind-the-scenes, and has written or co-written songs for huge names like Kelly Clarkson (Walk Away), Pitbull with Christina Aguilera (Feel This Moment), Gwen Stefani (Rich Girl), Drake (Over My Dead Body), as well as songs for Jennifer Lopez and Carrie Underwood.

In her personal life, Chantal has been married to fellow Canadian musician Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace (they met at a Pearl Jam concert in Toronto) since 1999 and they are the parents of three boys, Rowan (11), Lucca (9) and Salvador (6).

I was thrilled to have the chance to send a few questions Chantal's way on behalf of This Mom Loves and SavvyMom.

Your new single I Will Be - in partnership with Kids Help Phone International - is so powerful, and I've heard you feel it's your favourite song to date. Why is it so special to you?

I guess it just really feels authentic to who I am right now.

Is there a different process when you're songwriting for other artists than when you're writing for yourself?

It's getting easier for me to not reserve a part of myself when writing for others. 

Has there ever been a song you wish you'd kept for yourself?

So far I am honoring that quest pretty well I would say. But it's hard.

What will we see next from you, career-wise?

I never know.... I just keep moving forward and see what comes.

Can you describe your emotions when you learned you and Raine were being appointed to the Order of Canada? {The two received the appointments for their achievements as Canadian musicians and for their extensive charitable and humanitarian work with groups like War Child.}

I was very surprised and felt so honoured of course.

You've been married for 15 years. What tips can you share for making marriage work?

Just because we take vows and profess our love when marrying someone doesn't mean it stops there. We have to constantly douse our spouse in love...we have to see and hear them and validate their process and their emotions. That is what makes a marriage work. It's not about "you" getting what you need, it's about giving your spouse what they need.

I was interested to read about your involvement in your sons' L.A. school and why you chose it{Chantal told The Ottawa Citizen that “For the same price, my kids could go to school with the kids of actors and heads of mutual funds. But ...we wanted them somewhere completely obscure where they could make their way that has nothing to do with Raine or myself. Our MO at the school is to raise critical thinkers, compassionate human beings and committed citizens.”} Plus, I was also pleased to hear your strong feelings towards teachers. Can you elaborate on that?

I am in awe of what teachers do. Plain and simple. I think that they should be ranked among our highest civil servants. Everyday they are our children's models and are preparing them for the path. There is not a greater responsibility or challenge.

What do you feel are your strengths and areas for improvement as a mom?

Just because I may have not loved what my son just did, doesn't mean I stop loving the boy....I have to be a little "all business" about parenting sometimes but that can be difficult because I am sensitive.

Chantal and Raine renewed their vows in 2009

How would you finish the sentence "This mom loves..." (apart from your family, of course)?

This mom loves Aromatherapy Associates serums, traditional Swedana treatment at Vida Spa Vancouver, Ong Namo by Snatam Kaur (the most healing musical experience ever) and knitting in cashmere (e.g. The Purl Bee, Jennifer Knits, Americo Original).

{Chantal really is a knitter - see photo of one of her projects below which she shared on her website!}

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Thanks so much, Chantal! You can follow Chantal Kreviazuk on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and find tons of information at ChantalKrevizuk.com 

KIDZ BOP Halloween Hits!

You already know I'm a fan of KIDZ Bop (versions of the songs we love, cleaned up and sung by kids, for kids).

This Halloween season, the fun continues with KIDZ Bop Halloween, featuring many "monster" hits!

I can't wait to use this for October gym lessons, and have it on in the class as we work on Halloween activities. It even comes with spooky party sounds!

I doubt my six and four year old daughters would recognize many of the titles, but if past experience is any indication, this KIDZ Bop CD will soon become a favourite in our house (and car) as well!

Available now where CDs are sold!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the CD for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.

KIDZ BOP 22: The Family-Friendly Musical Fun Continues!

A few months ago, I filled you in on KIDZ BOP 21, a CD with today's biggest hits cleaned up and sung by kids, for kids. I used it in my classroom (during art, snack, gym) and in the car with my daughters.



Now KIDZ BOP is back with number 22, featuring some of the songs you just might be loving this summer:

School is out, so I haven't been able to share the latest edition with my students yet, but my six year old Frannie has been listening to the CD constantly.

It actually created a great discussion point just this morning. When listening to the real radio in the car, "Glad You Came" by The Wanted came on, with the lines "Hand you another drink/Drink it if you can". Frannie immediately asked me why those lines were changed on her CD (to the slightly confusing "Hand you another dance/Dance it if you can") so I answered her truthfully, talking about the fact that "a drink" often refers to alcohol, which is just for grownups.

(Thanks to LMFAO, we've also had many a discussion about the fact that "sexy" is an adult word, not to be used by children!)

I am a huge fan of the KIDZ BOP line of CD's. Pick up KIDZ BOP 22 for your KIDZ today!

Kidz Bop 21: Today's Biggest Hits Sung By Kids For Kids

Just a quickie post today: I love Kidz Bop. Reminiscent of the Mini Pops, it's today's biggest hits (for grownups) cleaned up and sung by kids.

I've been using it with my young daughters and my class (of eight and nine year olds) in the gym and as background music and they all think it's fantastic. I'm not sure they even realize that the more questionable lyrics have been changed, but it sure makes me feel a lot more comfortable about using (relatively) authentic music with them.

Here's what you'll find on the latest CD, KidzBop 21:

I do have one warning: even though Junior and Intermediate teachers probably shouldn't be deliberately using the original versions of some of these songs with their students, anyone above about ten years old will probably find this too cheesy and may be hard pressed to buy in.

Parents definitely should stick to the 10-and-under crowd for this one as well. Give this to your seven year old, and you're the coolest mom ever. Your thirteen year old? You may never live it down.

Natalie MacMaster: The Momterview

Here's how Natalie MacMaster's website bio introduces her:

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"Meet Natalie MacMaster: wife, mother of four and virtuoso Cape Breton fiddler.

You know her more as the latter than the former; an electrifying performer whose passionate proficiency on the beloved four-string amplifies the traditional East Coast sound for contemporary times.

It’s a signature sound that has resonated with world audiences through 10 albums, multiple gold sales figures and 27 years; numerous Juno and East Coast Music Awards; two honorary degrees (from Niagara University, NY, and Trent University) and an honorary doctorate (St. Thomas University); the Order Of Canada – and a reputation as one of Canada’s most captivating performers."

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The gorgeous musician married fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy (of the all-sibling band Leahy) in 2002, and is now mother to Mary Frances (6), Michael (4 1/2), Claire (almost 3) and Julia (almost 1). No word yet on whether she's trying to compete with her mother-in-law's 11 offspring.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Natalie about her brand-new CD, "Cape Breton Girl", as well as motherhood, house design, and her fashion fetishes.

This Mom: Do you think your music has changed since you've become a mom?

Natalie MacMaster: Yeah, I do. How? This is my 11th recording, and my mother said to me that the fiddling sounds more mature. It's been about six years since I've recorded in the studio, and incidentally my oldest daughter just turned six a few days ago. I'm sure as you go through more of life's experiences you're able to get deeper into things, but as far as me being aware of how my music has changed, there was a day when I was completely devoted to my music, and now I am completely devoted to my children. Music is something that happens because of the good for them and the good for myself, as opposed to it being all about the fiddle. It's not that way anymore. It's changed. I haven't gotten worse, my mother thinks I've gotten better. I think I'm just evolving.

TM: I hear you're homeschooling your kids. How is that going?

NM:  It's going pretty well. I'm a teacher, I actually have a teaching degree. I've never used it, ironically now I'm teaching my own. This is my second year, and I'm on the road now so I usually school my six year old and my four year old from 9:00 to 12:00, four mornings a week and it's ever-evolving.

Natalie and Donnell onstage

TM: You recently built a new house. What are some of your favourite features?

NM: Oh, that's a good question. We have stone on the front of the house and I love that. Also the function of the house. We put our laundry room on the second floor - we have a storey and a half- and all the clothing, bedding and towels are there. It's where we get dressed so it makes sense to have it there. It functions really well. I thought a lot about where to put the washrooms, so one would be accessible if the kids were playing outside, which drawer should the knives be in...and homeschooling, I took that into consideration as well. How to have homeschooling as part of my home, so I could put up the alphabet and things like that without it making the house look too much like a school. It's an open concept so you walk in and it's all right there, but this little room that jets off our main living space has all windows, so when you're standing in the centre you just see windows, but when you actually go into the room and look back, that wall is covered with alphabet, calendar, kids' art and all that, so you don't see it unless you're in there looking for it.

TM: I've already seen Mary Frances and Michael perform live with Leahy {the special appearances by the next generation always tend to steal the show}, and obviously they're exposed to a lot of music at home. My own daughter stepdances and I'm curious to know how much time your kids spend practising each day?

NM: It varies. The only one really doing that is my six year old daughter. We started my four and a half year old son on the fiddle at age four, but he's not really that ready for it. Not like our daughter was. So he's just playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and plays maybe three times a week for ten minutes. The dancing is much shorter; maybe two minutes twice a week. He dances all the time and I don't want to thwart his enthusiasm. He actually dreads me saying 'Okay, Michael, try this'. He doesn't like that at all, so I don't make him very often. He's just not ready for it yet.

Mary Frances does piano, fiddle and dancing, so she practises them all pretty much every day. Probably five days a week for half an hour each.

TM: Do you think there is one instrument that kids should learned before any others to give the best musical start?

NM: It all depends on the child and what they like. Start off with anything and go from there. I have no preference. I'm sure there are people who study that sort of thing, but my own opinion is play whatever they want. They have to start somewhere, and as they get older they may be drawn a certain way.

TM: I read that you went through a phase when you were younger when you were very nervous about being on stage. How did you push through that?

NM: I guess just by knowing that nervous energy is an energy and thinking of how to make it something positive. If you're half asleep when you go onstage, that's no good. If you're nervous you have intensity running through your body. It's mind over matter I guess. Prayers too!

TM: What do you want people to know about your brand-new CD, "Cape Breton Girl"?

NM: I want them to know that I very much like it, and it is what I hoped it would be. It's very Cape Breton, which was the point, so it's for the hard-core Cape Breton fiddle enthusiasts.

TM: And was that always going to be the title?

NM: No, in fact I was going to call it "Our Water Runs Deep". I was convinced of that, and really liked the title. The reason why I changed it was because I was trying to find a title to suit the cover picture {see photo above}, and I could find all sorts of analogies about water running deep, like my roots, the blood runs deep, all of that. But the music on the record is so happy and light-hearted that to me the title didn't match. Cape Breton Girl is a title I've had for a long time and haven't used on anything, and it kind of resurfaced at the last minute after all the artwork was done.

TM: How would you complete the sentence "This Mom Loves..."?

NM: Well, the first thing I thought of was This Mom Loves tradition. I'm not just talking about the music. I love "traditional": furniture, the way we live our daily lives, Christmas, holidays, anything. Other than that, more materialistic things...This Mom Loves being blonde. I guess that would mean highlights. Can't get along without those. I do love shoes, and I like them with a heel. Nothing unique there! This Mom Loves the farm. The whole farming lifestyle. And I have a bit of a coat fetish. I love coats and jackets!

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The new CD "Cape Breton Girl" is available now at your music retailer, through Natalie's website or on iTunes, and would be a perfect surprise under the tree of any Natalie MacMaster fan. {The great thing about my family is that my 78 year old Grandma and 5 year old daughter would be equally happy to find this gem in their stockings...and they both just might!}

Natalie's favorite place was also the theme of the book she put out last year, "Cape Breton Aire" which can be purchased online, at her live shows, and at some boutique shops.




Find out more about Natalie MacMaster on her website.