The Ladybug songbookwhich spans six full-length CDsreflects that variety. In addition to writing her own original songs for the Ladybug collections, Maertens spends much of her time researching and sourcing songs from all over the globe, be it a West Indian field recording or an Irish street chant. She composes on guitar and piano, taking special care to incorporate odd time signatures and unusual scales, then enlists her favorite musicians to play in the studio. The result is a curriculum with music that honors the intelligence of young children without alienating their parents.
Walker Young is the wonderful singer songwriter multi instrumentalist from TheTruth & Salvage Co.are a six-piece roots rock/Americana band from Los Angeles, CA. The band formed in late 2005 when members from Scrappy Hamilton and Old Pike, two simultaneously-performing Los Angeles acts, merged and began performing under their current moniker. The band gained national attention in 2009, when Black Crows frontman Chris Robinson signed the group to his Silver Arrow label and gave them the opening slot on his bands tour that year. The band released their debut album (produced by Robinson) on May 25, 2010.
As Ladybugs primary creative force, Maertens seeks to synthesize the wide spectrum of styles and sounds shes been exposed to throughout her life. Born in Hollywood, she grew up in the culturally mixed neighborhoods of South L.A. and Portuguese Bend; she also accompanied her El Salvadoran mother and German father on their extensive world travels. Today her taste roams freely over the boundaries of genre and origin, from Billie Holiday to the Clash, Tinariwen to Rickie Lee Jones.
Born and raised in Bakersfield, California,Paul Cartwrightgrew up in a musical family. His parents, both musicians, owned a music store where Paul spent his childhood days.
Toshihails from the wonderful city of Tokyo, Japan but has been in Los Angeles since 1988. Coming from a musical family Toshi started playing classical violin and piano at a very young age but at 8 years old he found rock & roll, picked up a guitar and never looked back!
In 1988 he graduated from Musicians Institute and embarked on a very succesfull career as one of the LAs top call studio musicians.
Paul studied jazz and classical violin performance at CSU Bakersfield and CSU Northridge under the tutelage of Dr. Doug Davis, Gary Pratt, David Aks, Mary Kim, and Arnold Belnik.
Paul has since led a diverse career, performing and recording with a spectrum of artists, including John McEuen, Kenny Loggins, Rissi Palmer, Everlast, Ozomatli, Dr. Dre, members of Oingo Boingo, Black Eyed Peas, Los Lobos and War. Pauls playing can also be heard on numerous tv, film and video soundtracks, including Battlestar Galactica, Big Love, Trauma, and Mad Men. Paul currently resides in Los Angeles, and is a member of several local progressive string groups, including the Los Angeles String Collective, the Quartetto Fantastico, Elevation Orchestra, and DaKah Hip Hop Orchestra.
Jim Beckeris a Chicago based musician, producer, and sound engineer who has played around town and around the world since the 1980s. Jim has worked recording and engineering his own music and that of numerous other musicians. He has recorded and collaborated with a long list of rock, folk, experimental, and old time bands. Jim tours the US and Europe extensively, most recently withCalifoneandIron and Wine.
Bradley Dujmovicwas born and raised in Chicago, IL he began his studies of music at the age of 5, on the piano. He holds a Bachelors degree in Music Theory and Composition with an emphasis in Recording Technology from Ball State University. He moved to LA in 2002, where he began his professional career in music.
He was head engineer of Hancock Park Studios from 2004 to 2007 and formed the band Invitro in 2006. They signed to Gridiron records and spent two years touring the US with such acts as Korn, Evanesence, Sevendust. After Invitro disbanded in 2008, he started his own studio where he is a sound designer for many indie films including an award winning documentary, American Harmony. He also produces several SoCal indie bands and is writing, producing and performing in his own original music project and has launched his indie label Ecleticore. Check out his new tracks at
Jim plays guitar, banjo, filddle, mandolin, and is known for his original improvisation and use of effects. He draws from a wide range of inspirations, from classic rock to Appalachian old time music which he has played, studied, and taught since 1993.
Currently he is an in-house band member of ABCs Jimmy Kimmel Live and just finished his first CD.
In addition to recording with bands, Jim has done a variety of soundtrack work, for both film and television.
compositions and improvisations mirror a musical philosophy that aims to stretch boundaries while maintaining a reverence for the jazz tradition. The John Daversa Progressive Big Band was founded in 1996 and continues to perform regularly within the Los Angeles area. Over the past three years, the band has developed a following at the world famous Baked Potato, performing the last Sunday of every month. Composing and performing with the JD Progressive Big Band is Daversas main creative outlet, but he also enjoys teaching, directing, and producing. He has served as musical director for Holiday On Ice and Renee Olstead, and produced albums for James Torm, Peter Buck, and Phil Crosby, Jr. John is currently a faculty member at University of Southern California (USC) and California State University, Northridge (CSUN).
is professional singer, songwriter and producer whose original material has been featured in films and on TV. Her own education includes study at the prestigious Dick Grove School of Music and Musicians Institute.