Need an instant pick-me-up? Try Grenadilla's dancing rhythms, gorgeous vocal blends and sunny lyrics spiced with kwela, an irresistibly effervescent style of music indigenous to South Africa. Named for the South African word for passion fruit and founded by Cape Town-born Debbie Lan, Grenadilla is a six-member, all-female group of singers whose voices weave Lan's original songs together in velvety melodic layers.

A sampling: The title track embraces each day as a glad opportunity for learning and growing.… Read more

Multimedia Reviews: June 2012

Can’t Wait. CD. 30:53 min. New Sound Kids. 2012. ISBN unavail. $14.98.

PreS-Gr 3–Grenadilla (South African name for passion fruit) is a six-woman band that performs in various musical styles, including the indigenous South African kwela, Cape Town jive, big band, and blues. Debbie Lan, Jodi Palinkas, Leah Glennon, Annemarie Callan, Brittany Sacash, and Natasha Williams blend their lovely voices into beautiful harmonies.

Accompanying them are outstanding musicians… Read more

Grenadilla - Can't Wait

Artist: Grenadilla

Album: Can't Wait

Age Range: 3-7

Review: A sunny, danceable album from Debbie Lan and her New York band. The band plays kwela-inflected music -- for those of you who don't know what "kwela" music is (and, hey, I didn't, either) Wikipedia suggests it's a "happy, often pennywhistle-based, street music from southern Africa with jazzy underpinnings and a distinctive, skiffle-like beat."

Based on the sounds on Can't Wait, the band's second album, that's about… Read more

Grenadilla "Can't Wait" CD Review

JOYFUL SOUNDS OF SOUTH AFRICA FROM GRENADILLA

Their Second CD Available now

There are few happier kinds of music on earth than kwela, the irresistibly upbeat indigenous South African style marked by joyful, lively rhythms and birdlike penny-whistles. And Grenadilla (pronounced “gren-a-dill-a”, the South African name for passion fruit) captures those sounds beautifully on their second CD, Can’t Wait, available March 6.

From the opening notes of the bass and pennywhistle… Read more

CD Review - Can't Wait by Grenadilla

About the group and CD:

There are few happier kinds of music on earth than kwela, the irresistibly upbeat indigenous South African style marked by joyful, lively rhythms and birdlike pennywhistles. And Grenadilla (pronounced “gren-a-dill-a”, the South African name for passion fruit) captures those sounds beautifully on their second CD, Can’t Wait.

Grenadilla is music for kids and their families, layered voices with Kwela flavored rhythms, a touch of Cape Town jive… Read more

CD Review: Grenadilla, “Can’t Wait”

Review by Jeff Giles
March 20, 2012

Like any good parent, I’ve taken thousands of snapshots of my kids, but there’s one particular picture of my daughter that always makes me smile. It captures her mid-swing on the playground, head tilted back toward the sun, with a look of absolute, unbridled, carefree joy on her face. For me, that look represents the perfect grace of the childlike spirit: the ability to uncouple from whatever worries are weighing us down and simply… Read more

Music Review - Can't Wait by Grenadilla

Hi folks, this morning I’ve got the new release CD from Kwela music collective Grenadilla to share with you. Kwela is a style of street music from South Africa that has an upbeat jazzy sound that is decidedly smiley and “feel-good” its approach.

If you like to use music (as I do) to heighten your mood and cheer up an otherwise mundane day, then this is an ideal CD for you. Its rhythmic beats and whistley melodies are fresh and vibrant and a little bit reminiscent… Read more

Can’t Wait New CD From Grenadilla

‘Grenadilla’ The name a lone just makes me want to tap my foot. Wait til you hear the music! Grenadilla (pronounced “gren-a-dill-a”, the South African name for passion fruit) captures those sounds beautifully on their second CD, Can’t Wait.

The music is bouncy and the lyrics inspire especially the tune of “Doodle Doodle Doodle Doodle Doo” which should encourage kids that they can do it and anything else they desire to achieve.

Each song is different and has a different… Read more

Can't Wait Review

Having a background in teaching has led me to naturally plan Little Bit's day like I would have done in my classroom. I try to make sure he is exposed to all the areas that are in Momma's SOL's. Momma's SOL's include making sure that Little Bit has some art, physical activity, free play, reading time, exposure to number, letter, and colors, and music. Within those subjects I try to present variations to make his education more well rounded.

With music I intentionally expose Little Bit… Read more

Can’t Wait from Grenadilla CD Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

Grenadilla is the South African name for passion fruit. It’s also the name of a group that puts out kwela music, which is a updeat indigenous South African style of music marked by joyful, lively rhythms and birdlike pennywhistles.

Lead singer and South African native Debbie Lan has a beautiful voice! And the entire cd has such a fun feel…like a neighborhood coming together for a party! We have been absolutely delighted to welcome this fresh, vibrant… Read more