Award-winning song writer, Kath Bees sings and entertains children.

Hi!

I write songs for kids! I love writing, singing and recording my songs.

I love interacting with kids and seeing their happy, smiling faces when they sing songs (especially mine!! =)).

I love their openness, honesty and willingness to participate. Thanks all you kids out there!!

Before the year 2000 I was a ‘shower-singer’
and played a few chords on the guitar. It was suggested that I audition for the Nelson School of Music Contemporary Performance Course and completed the course in 2000. That’s when I realised that I loved and had the ability, to write songs.

At the end of 2001 I wrote my first children’s song for a group to perform at their end of year school concert. It was about Christmas and the School Holidays.

In 2002 I submitted 3 songs and had one song "Individuality" published by the Learning Media Ltd on their Kiwi Kidsongs CD No12. My daughter, then 11yrs old, sang it. In 2003 I had 2 songs published on KKS No 13 – "Dad I wanna be a Camel" and "Seasons". These three songs are very popular with Primary School teachers and pupils around NZ.

At this stage it was more of a "hobby", but last year (2006) I took some time off my ‘real’ job to concentrate on recording a kids CD because I had been asked to perform during the 2006 Nelson Arts Festival. This was to be my very first kids’ concert.

I had a lot of help from Rich Kendrick who played guitar and bass on the CD, David Bowater who recorded, mixed and mastered it and Liz Kendrick who’s harmonies just rock!!! My daughter sang "Individuality" with me and my 2 nieces sang on "Don’t Wanna". I designed a very simple cover and "Dragons Under My Bed" was "born"!!

Through word-of-mouth and some small school concerts I started selling more CDs and after a few months had sold/given away around 300. I started thinking more seriously about song writing as a career. By chance I met Paul Kayser who suggested a more "marketable" cover and Dennis Juan Ma was given the job of designing it.

While the cover was being designed, Rich and I performed my original songs at many schools and kindergartens in the Nelson area. My name and music is now pretty well known around here.

Once the cover was finished I could start marketing the CD nationwide through retailers. The songs play on KidsFm in the UK and there are a few in the USA, the UK and one in Norway! I feel a bit like a late bloomer, but I love it and I am learning all the time!!

I have been commissioned to write 4 Primary School Songs so far and an "environmentally friendly" song for kids by the Carbon Reduction group in Nelson called "Save the Planet".

I came 3rd in the Open Section of the Pacific Songwriting Competition in 2005 with the title song off the CD and was a finalist in the USA Songwriting Contest with "Individuality". Last year I was a runner up in the USA Song of the Year Contest.

Most of my inspiration and ideas have come from my daughter, my own experiences, observing children and walking on the beach!!

My biggest goal is to be a household name!!!

Awards
Finalist, USA Songwriting Competition 2005 with ‘Individuality’
3rd Place, Pacific Songwriting Contest Open Section 2005 with ‘Dragons Under my Bed’
1st Place, Pacific Songwriting Contest Open Section 2007 with ‘Don’t Wanna’
3rd Place, Pacific Songwriting Contest Open Section 2007 with ‘Dad, I wanna be a camel‘’