ReFolkUs Episode 14: Parenting in the Music Industry w/ Moonfruits

Parenting in the Music Industry with Moonfruits

 

Late night gigs. Recording Sessions. Touring. The erratic schedules of working musicians make work-life balance a tough thing to achieve. Add a partner and a growing child to the mix, and finding that balance gets even tougher!

In this episode, Rosalyn sits down with Moonfruits Alex Millaire and Kaitlin Milroy, as they share their experiences, insights, and lessons learned while balancing the demands of a music career with the responsibilities of raising a family.

From the challenges of finding childcare to the importance of fostering a supportive community, Moonfruits candidly share their strategies for maintaining a harmonious balance between their roles as artists and parents. 

This episode also delves into the broader landscape of parenting in the music industry, touching on topics such as work-life integration, self-care, and the need for flexibility and adaptability. 

Whether you're a musician, a parent, or simply interested in the intersection of art and family life, this conversation is sure to resonate deeply and provide valuable insights for listeners of all backgrounds.

About Moonfruits

Moonfruits craft contemporary folk that addresses our collective humanity with heart, wit, and wonder. Led by partners Alex Millaire and Kaitlin Milroy, Moonfruits pen songs in both French and English, reflecting their bilingual lived experience in their hometown of Ottawa.

The band harmonizes over assiduous arrangements of guitar, banjo, chord organ, and glockenspiel, weaving song-worlds that rouse and serenade in equal measure. Theirs is the music of open-minded dreamers and diligent doers, music that confronts dehumanizing capitalism and environmental catastrophe with a rousing message of solidarity.

Moonfruits have gone from serenading market-goers as buskers in Ontario and Europe to connecting with audiences in prestigious listening rooms (National Arts Centre, Place des Arts) and festivals (Philadelphia Folk Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, Festival of Small Halls Ontario). Since the release of their début full-length concept album Ste-Quequepart (2017), they have garnered Stingray Rising Star, SOCAN, and Trille Or awards and toured their transportive live show across Canada, the US, France, Belgium, and Germany.

Moonfruits’ anticipated sophomore album, Salt (Oct 2022), is a lushly orchestrated 12-song suite that explores what it means to the band to live, dream, and raise a child in an era of climate change and deepening socio-economic inequality.

Listen to Moonfruits performing their song "Salt", recorded at Folk Music Ontario Conference 2022.