CR 002: Renee Stahl on Making Music for Kids of All Ages

An interview with the singer-songwriter on working in the children's music realm, covering Led Zeppelin for little ones, and the healing nature of song circles.

Renee Stahl by Danielle Rubi

Although singer-songwriter Renee Stahl had already recorded and released two solo albums, she became widely known for her children’s music in 2007, when she and Jeremy Toback released their debut album, It’s a Big World, under the name Renee & Jeremy. A collection of lush, harmonic lullabies, It’s a Big World quickly became a hit with parents, who found that the kid-friendly tunes were just as enjoyable for adults.

In the years since, Renee & Jeremy have released four additional studio albums featuring a mix of original songs alongside folky, family-friendly covers of hits by the Pixies, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Guns N’ Roses, and Steve Miller Band, among others. In addition, Stahl has released two Renee & Friends albums, on which she collaborates with a notable array of talent, including Maya Rudolph, Lisa Loeb, and Men at Work’s Colin Hay.

All of this work has put her solidly in the children’s music genre, though she admits that the label isn’t quite right fo…