For Teeny Tiny Stevies, big problems are best tackled in song on The Green Album
How do you explain big topics like climate change to a young audience? For this Melbourne duo, the solution was simple: pair the information with chords and melodies, and put it in a song.
How do you explain big topics like environmental sustainability and climate change to a young audience?
For ARIA Award-winning Melbourne duo Teeny Tiny Stevies, the solution was simple: pair well-researched information with chords and melodies, and put it in a song.
The Green Album is the fifth collection of songs sisters Byll and Beth Stephen have issued under a memorably playful banner that’s based on their shared surname.
Together, they’ve grouped 11 clever, catchy compositions aimed at educating and entertaining the preschool and primary school-aged fanbase they’ve amassed nationwide since their 2015 debut, Useful Songs for Little People.
With The Green Album released on Monday to coincide with Earth Day, a scan of its tracklist tells part of the tale: song titles include Energy, Pre-Loved, Compost, Water and Climate Change.
The latter track is written from the perspective of a child, and coloured by lush, strummed acoustic guitars. Its lyrics begin: “I’ve heard of climate change / People changing their ways / I’ve heard the whole world’s involved / I’d like to lend a hand, I’d like to understand / What I can do on my own.”
When Beth sent the chords and melody to her sister, she was thrilled by its musical possibilities even before they began adding lyrics.
“That’s our intention with this whole album: to take away the feeling of panic,” said Byll. “When you get frozen in panic, it’s not helpful, and no one moves anywhere. That was a huge inspiration for us: how can we write about this, and inspire those thoughts for people?”
That goal applies for listeners of all ages but particularly for younger ears tuning into their creations. “There was zero intention for us to create any more anxiety or stress in a child listening to this stuff,” said Beth.
“We wanted it to be really fun, too,” she added. “It was important the songs were empowering and fun, and that there was an element of silliness and humour to these topics – because if you can laugh within a serious conversation about something, that’s a really effective place to be.”
Near the end of Climate Change, the sisters sing in harmony: “None of this is my fault / I’m still showing support / Then I’ll know that I’ve fought / For something so important.”
Its gentle coda is a message of can-do unity: “Standing next to you / I believe in you.”
Teeny Tiny Stevies will take The Green Album on the road for a 24-date national tour that begins in Byron Bay (June 7) and ends in Bright, Victoria (October 13), as well as an appearance at The Gum Ball Festival in the NSW Hunter Valley on Saturday, April 27 at the family-friendly time of 10am.
More Coverage
