Young Folkies
Creator Profiles
Young Folkies is the artist name for children's music by songwriter, Marisa Levenson. Her original children's music promotes social and emotional awareness and is enjoyed by both children and adults!
Cards from this Creator
- Will You Sing with Me? By Young Folkies (Digital)
"Will You Sing with Me?' is an invitation to listen and sing along to songs about important people and topics."
Creator Q&A
Tell us about yourself
I'm originally from Boston, MA in the US and have been living in London, UK for many years. I was in London-based folk rock band, “The Common Earth” as singer/songwriter/guitarist and then singer in an acoustic duo called “Acoustically Tuned,” which played cover songs at events. I formed Young Folkies in 2018 when my daughter was 2 and now I also have a son. My kids have been the main inspiration for my children’s music. I released my debut Young Folkies album, "Be You," in 2019 and my second album, "Will You Sing with Me?" in August 2023. I am also a voting member of The Recording Academy.
What inspired you to make this title(s)?
"Will You Sing with Me?" is an invitation to listen and sing along to songs about important people and topics to me such as my children "Sweetie Pie" which features backing vocals from my daughter and a sound clip of my son as a baby; living far from my family "Far from My Family" which I think many can relate to; teaching children about kindness "Kindness (It Will Come Back to You)" and global warming/climate change "Mother Nature" to empower them to become global citizens who make a difference in the world. I was also inspired by the musicians and singers who accompanied me on various songs, making it a true global effort and collaboration.
"I imagine children all over the world listening to my music with their parents, grandparents, siblings, carers or friends."
Who do you imagine listening to your audio?
I imagine babies up until children who are about 8-years-old all over the world listening to my music with their parents, grandparents, siblings, carers or friends. I think younger children will enjoy the calming, acoustic music and start to learn the lyrics as they grow and learn to speak. The older children will get important messages from the songs such as learning about kindness, climate change/global warming, and about important, influential figures such as Raffi, and Princess Diana.
Is there anything different about making audio for Yoto?
Yoto is very kid-centered and easy-to-use, allowing children to be in control of what they listen to and when. Because it's content's specifically for kids, my children's music feels like it has found the perfect home and platform for young listeners to access it in a fun way. I also really love the pixel art that appears for each song, making it easy for young listeners to know what the song is about!
What’s next?
I am currently writing a family-friendly musical about my own experience learning an instrument and becoming a musician which will have an accompanying soundtrack (due for release in 2026) that will be available on all major streaming services.
New to Yoto?
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Creator FAQs
Who are the Creators?
Our Creators are independent makers of music and spoken word content for children and families. Some have established audiences in other places, while others are beginning their audio publishing journey with Yoto. We put out a public call to join this initiative at the start of 2024.
Each of our creators have their own Creator Profiles where you can read more about them and their cards. Just click on their name on their card store page to find out more.
How can I become a Creator?
If you are just starting out, you might first choose to share your digital content for free in the Open Mic section of our community site Yoto Space, where you can start building an audience and get feedback from friendly enthusiasts.
Learn how to make a great Yoto Card by reading our Yoto Creator Guidelines. Learn about what makes the Yoto format unique, and how to create a really engaging and successful title that children will love.
If you're ready to start selling your content on Yoto, you can register your interest.
Can I learn more about Creator content before purchasing?
Yes, each card has an extended audio preview so you can listen to a representative sample before making a purchase. You can also read more about a card's creator by clicking on their name on the card page.
How is this different from the free audio on Yoto Space?
Open Mic on Yoto Space is where we nurture those creators who may be just starting out or wanting to experiment with a new title. It's a friendly community where they have space to share content for free, build an audience and get feedback. We are delighted to see several creators make the leap from there to become Creators on the Yoto Store, where they can now monetise their work.
What do I do if I don't like a card that I've purchased?
If it simply isn't to your taste, purchases are covered by our usual returns policy. If you believe a title breaks our Creators Content Guidelines, please report it.
Are more Creators cards being added to the collection?
Yes, more titles and more creators will be added over the coming months.