Suzi Shelton's Cure for the Winter Blues and a Cookie You Can't Miss
Plus, the children's musician talks about having a career she never imagined, heartfelt advice for parenting with an ex, and why she can never leave Park Slope.
Hi, I’m Kelley MacDonald, and I’m the editor of Park Slope Times. Each week, I interview a fun Park Sloper about their life, and they share their neighborhood favorites, like restaurants, shops, takeout, events, and more. These interviews are reserved for paid subscribers. If you'd like to read them, please upgrade to paid. If you stick with a free subscription, you'll get my big monthly email, plus occasional free emails. Thanks so much for being here!
Hi everyone, hope you had a good week! I’m so excited to feature SUZI SHELTON!! If you’ve raised a child in Park Slope sometime in the last 15 years, there’s a good chance you and your kiddo know and love Suzi. If you don’t, I’m thrilled to introduce her to you today.
Suzi is an award-winning Indie children’s recording artist. She’s released four solo albums, and her popular live-stream show, Sing with Suzi, has been viewed in more than 70 countries. It’s hard to believe Suzi didn’t plan on this career path, “I was trained as a dancer. I never would have imagined that I’d be a kids’ musician, writing songs, producing albums, and even touring sometimes. But now, I can't imagine doing anything else. I love my job so much,” says Suzi.
Here, Suzi talks about her songwriting process, new music coming out later this year, and a funny admission that may or may not involve The Golden Bachelor. She also shares her favorite things to see, eat, and do in Park Slope, including the location that initially creeped her out.
Kelley MacDonald: Hi, Suzi! I’m so excited to talk to you today! I’ve seen you perform several times but never had a chance to say hi, so this feels very special to get some one-on-one time with you. Thank you so much!
Suzi Shelton: Of course, and thanks for asking! I’m really happy that you thought about me for the newsletter. What a wonderful idea.
Thank you! Okay, first, you have a huge support group here in Park Slope. How do you feel the support from this neighborhood has shaped your career?
There's something really special about doing your art where you live. It really provides me with a connection — a spiritual connection in a way. When you put positive energy out there, it does actually reverberate. And since this is where I live — and I'm able to work in a bunch of the schools in this neighborhood, and I try to do as many performances as I can in this neighborhood — I try to keep that energy going. It sounds kind of vain, but I don't get a lot of negative feedback from this neighborhood. And I think that has shaped me because it makes me feel confident, and it helps me to continue to do what I do. The feedback that I get from people face-to-face in my neighborhood gives me a boost. Makes me feel like, Okay, well, I must be doing something right. It helps me also to stay creative, stay focused, and work on new material.
I wasn't trained as a musician. I was trained as a dancer, and I had some trepidation when I started doing music because I don't play an instrument as strongly as the musicians that I hire. I can sing; I can draw in an audience; and I can engage with kids. But as far as playing an instrument, I'm always trying to get better. I just hire really good musicians [laughs]. I think having that confidence of knowing that people are listening, people are watching, and they like what I do, makes me feel really good. It makes me feel valued. And I like that feeling. I try to bring that feeling to the table, like, I see you. I want the kids at my shows to know that it means a lot to me that they're there. It's really nice to have that back-and-forth energy.
Speaking of new material, I heard a rumor that you’re releasing TWO new albums this year! Is that right?
Yes! After nearly six years where I released singles, I'm happy to be releasing two full-length albums! “Community Through Music” is the first one, and we’re hoping for a March or April release. This album was actually started before the pandemic, and it coincides with the in-school music enrichment program that I provide for NYC schools. Jeff Kerestes is the producer, and several amazing NYC musicians play fiddle, banjo, percussion, guitar, ukulele, and bass for the album. There's one song called "Mango, Mango" that I often play live in my concerts that's always a big hit.