Monica Cravotta, co-owner of recording studio, Hideout Studios with husband Mark and indie singer-songwriter, Ben Kweller came up with the idea to record an album of children’s music with friends while pregnant with her first baby in 2006. She had bonded with Libby Kirkpatrick and Sarah Sharp when they were all eight months pregnant and singing together at a Strings Attached concert. At the same time, Monica’s friend Mary Londos was exploring the idea of recording her own album of lullabies. Monica suggested that everyone come together at The Hideout and contribute a song or two to make an album for the new babies and as a benefit for Mama’s Milk Bank of Austin.
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Between 2007 and 2009, the project went through some stops and starts (and a little Slow Family Living) but Sweet Songs continued to grow and blossom in its own all-in-good-time organic way. During this time, Monica invited more friends to contribute songs including Noëlle Hampton, Gretchen Janzow, Elizabeth Suggs and Elizabeth McQueen. She also invited André Moran to engineer and Sara Hickman to produce. Sweet Songs really came to life in 2009 with Sara’s production leadership and Monica’s fundraising efforts to cover the album’s production, manufacturing and marketing costs.

The artists are thrilled to be contributing to the children’s music genre while advocating for the health benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants and raising awareness and money for Austin’s milk bank.  100% of the profits from Sweet Songs CD sales will go to the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin.

This album has been a long time in the making and has been the direct recipient of a lot of tender loving care.  If you would like to share in the big debut, and get your own Sweet Songs to take home,  join the creators at this very family friendly, mama-inspired Mother’s Day event…

  • Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010
  • Venue: Big Red Sun, 1102 East Cesar Chavez, Austin
  • Time: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
  • Cover: $10/adult, $5/child, children age 3 and under, FREE.

Purchase tickets in advance by clicking the Sweet Songs logo in our sidebar.  Ticket price includes buffet brunch sponsored by Whole Foods and Bona Dea Bread and a lovely Mother’s Day outdoor concert – bring your picnic blanket for ground seating.

About the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin

The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to accept, pasteurize and dispense donor human milk by physician prescription, primarily to premature and ill infants. The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin collects, processes, and dispenses the donor milk that helps these medically fragile babies survive and thrive.

Milk bank donors are healthy, conscientious women who care about the health of babies. They are most often nursing their own infants, have an abundant milk supply, and donate their extra milk to the Milk Bank. For this generous act they receive no payment or compensation, except the satisfaction that comes from knowing they have helped improve the health of a fragile baby.

Executive Sponsors of the Sweet Songs album include: SetonBabyTalk.com, Weathershenker Photography, The Board Members of Anthropos Arts, Whole Foods, Wildflower Organics, Special Addition, Medela, Barton Creek Pediatrics, Slow Family Living, GB Khalsa/midwife, Jen Hellow Photography, JH Jackson Photography, Event Envy and Bona Dea Bread.

The Sweet Songs project has benefited also from many personal donations. Interested sponsors or donors may contact Monica Cravotta