When I was in the process of creating the Embrace Kids film, I was invited to join a discussion panel for a Flinders University event about all things body image. After the event, I was on a high, chatting away to the professors I had shared the stage with … and secretly rejoicing that I had shirked the imposter syndrome I’d felt as a high school dropout speaking at academic events!
We discussed how sad it was that negative body image was affecting kids who were younger and younger — like the five-year-old girl who was on a diet that I’d met recently. I mentioned how I’d dreamed of creating an uplifting song that teachers could use in their classrooms to promote self confidence and self love with their students. The song would be an entrée to the main meal that I was cooking up — the Embrace Kids film. It was an idea that had been swirling around in my head for months, but this was the first time I actually let it out into the universe.
And the universe responded!
The next morning, I opened up my inbox and saw an email from Sarah. It said:
“My husband and I are musicians turned primary school teachers who then created the award-winning kids’ music group, Pevan & Sarah. We’ve released two albums, have our music released by ABC for Kids, have played all over Australia and won “Best Live Children’s Entertainment” at the What’s On 4 Kids awards last year.
“We see the daily effect of the media on kids’ self esteem, and we want to help. We are offering you our services. Let us write an epic theme song for Embrace Kids.”
Woah. I immediately jumped on a call with Sarah and Manny — the duo behind Pevan & Sarah — desperately hoping they would be as genuine as they came across on email. And they were! They had no self-serving agenda, just a pure desire to support the Embrace Kids project.
Sarah and Manny were a dream to work with — they took my words and turned them into lyrics to create a feel-good song with an 80s twist! I flew to Melbourne, and we recorded the Embrace Kids song in their home studio. Now, I love singing in the shower and I can really perform at karaoke, but I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about singing into recording equipment! Luckily Sarah and Manny were an absolute delight to work with and made me feel at ease as we sang and danced our way through the whole process.
I’m so grateful to Pevan & Sarah for helping me create this super fun song to teach kids about the importance of embracing their body. And I’m not the only one who loves it … the song was an absolute hit. It even knocked Baby Shark off the number one spot on iTunes!
It’s the perfect tool for teachers and parents to plant the seed of embracing.
Download the Embrace Kids song!
