mömandpöp

Mömandpöp is the brainchild of husband and wife songwriting duo Bobby Matthews and Virginia Ralph. For nearly twenty years they worked in separate careers in Memphis, Bobby as an art teacher and Virginia in a theatre company. In 2014 they joined forces, and the result? Mömandpöp!
Their "Mömandpöp Comeback Special" is an interactive musical comedy variety show for kids of all ages featuring puppets, quick costume changes, and catchy pop songs you'll be humming to yourself hours after the show!

"Mömandpöp isn't kid rock. The band's "Comeback Special" may be aimed at the shorter people in our lives, and younger kids really do love it--but the musical variety show quickly transcends...Think "School House rock meets the Partridge Family, " but more mod sixties than groovy seventies." - Chris Davis

Look Closer, the latest children's album from duo momandpop, starts with a vacation to the bottom of the ocean where a manta ray gives directions to a starfish reef, then goes on to cover things like learning to count, being nice, playing outside, waking up and coloring.
And it's all wrapped in ridiculously catchy melodies inspired by classic late '60s, early '70s American bubblegum pop that will likely find grown-ups and kids alike tapping their toes and singing along.

Little Rock natives Bobby Matthews and Virginia Ralph are the husband and wife behind momandpop. They will perform Saturday at a special record release party at South on Main in Little Rock. Brown bag brunches for kids and adults will be sold at the show.

"Maybe this will be the start of a whole new family-music brunch thing in Little Rock," says Ralph from momandpop headquarters in Bentonville.
The playful, exuberant Look Closer is the second momandpop LP, following a self-titled 2016 debut. Both are on Little Rock label Max Recordings and were made at Fellowship Hall Sound studio in the capital city.
Ralph and Matthews first met as teenagers at Arkansas Governor's School in 1985. The couple, who have two teenage daughters, eventually settled in Memphis, where Matthews was an early elementary art teacher and Ralph was a teaching artist and performed with a children's theater company.
After 20 years with separate careers, the two started looking for a way to work together and formed momandpop.
"We felt like we were in a rut," Ralph says. "We were going to do some sort of music classes that we created, but we couldn't get our minds around that. We're both big hambones, and we're only really happy when we're in front of an audience."
The couple took the music Matthews wrote for their music education program and turned it into a project for children.
"It dawned on us that this is a show, this isn't a class," Ralph says.
Inspired by the programs they grew up watching -- Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Captain Kangaroo -- they began working on characters and developing a show.
"We actually have a nod to Mr. Rogers in our live show," Ralph says. "Every time Bobby changes into a different character, he puts on a different cardigan."
Their quick onstage costume and character changes are also inspired by Captain Kangaroo, says Matthews who was a member of Little Rock punk outfit Trusty in the late '80 and '90s.
Their time spent as educators helped them learn how to connect with children.
"We've worked with small children for over 20 years," Matthews says. "Trying to crack that code of keeping a 2- to 5-year-old interested, our experiences as educators has let us figure out what they think is funny and interesting."
Songs on the 13-track Look Closer, which was recently awarded a silver medal in a review from the Parents' Choice Foundation, include "I Know the Numbers," "Go Outside!" and "Let's Take a Vacation."
Matthews is the main songwriter, and says he tries to make the lessons in the songs subtle.
"We can talk about the importance of going outside and kids getting off their devices, but I can't just say 'Hey, kids, don't be on your device all day!' It's got to be a little less obvious so we can fold it into the character singing."
Ralph adds: "We're definitely in the mindset of 4-year-olds and what is cool to them. We don't always sit down and say, 'What educational song can we write?' A lot of it is just whatever comes out." - Sean Clancy