Dan + Claudia Zanes Embrace American, Haitian Folk Traditions with Latest Album

Family music duo Dan + Claudia Zanes know how to win over the hearts of their little listeners, through a balance high-energy, dance-along tunes and jazz-guitar-infused, coffeehouse melodies.  But the real connective tissue that weaves itself through every track on the couple’s latest record, Pieces of Home (Smithsonian Folkways), is a deep appreciation for culture.

Between the cool tremolo-guitar accents and sunny vibes of “Nobody Smiles The Way You Do” to the beatnik-poet meanderings of “Walkin’ Talkin’ Baltimore” (with Tyree Austin), the album is a celebration of American and Haitian folk traditions.

“I’m first generation Haitian American and pieces of home for me are the songs, food, stories, cousins, lessons, certain clothes, family traditions that I grew up with,” Claudia explains. “As you know, it’s a tough time right now for Haitians in Haiti and Haitians here in America … as far as music, literature, painting, storytelling are concerned, the country is very wealthy. I wish more people knew that.”

The album is loaded with tons of guest collaborations, too, most notably the track “Believe” with the cherished children’s music artist Father Goose, who passed away earlier this month.

“Father Goose changed me and he changed family music … all for the better,” Dan tells Rockmommy. “It means so much to me to have this song with both Father Goose and Claudia. And this song is the sensitive side of Father Goose, his message to all young people.”

We sat down with Dan and Claudia, who are also partners in life and recently relocated to Baltimore, to learn more.

Rockmommy: Dan and Claudia, nice to meet you! I’m from the Washington, D.C., area (Silver Spring, Md.), and it’s cool to see that you two call Baltimore home! Can you tell us what inspired your latest record?

Dan Zanes: It’s great to meet you too, Marisa! Yeah, we’ve been in Baltimore for five years now and a lot of that was pandemic times so we’re still getting to know the DMV. It’s exciting to live so close to DC, I’m guessing it was a good place to grow up and that you were at Go-Go parties every weekend. 

Claudia Zanes: So we left Brooklyn and even though we never questioned our decision, Pieces of Home is really about everything that has a place in our hearts, wherever we are. That includes the people we know and love in New York.  We wanted to make a soulful record for people of all ages and so we’re thinking of family, friends, stories, sounds, memories, all of that. We all carry culture of one type or another with us. For a four-year-old, part of the culture might be their relationship with the family dog. That’s love. That’s a piece of home!

Dan Zanes: We could talk about it all day. What do we carry in our hearts? One of the best things about being an all-ages entertainer is that we always have the artistic challenge of finding ways to express ourselves that are meaningful and accessible for young folks and older people too.

It’s got to be groovy, it’s got to be fun, but there’s so much room for real emotion and meaningful themes. We always want to write songs that we can connect to ourselves and that a young person can carry through life. That’s the folk tradition that we come from…I listened to Lead Belly’s music for children as a five-year-old and have continued to revisit those songs for fifty years!!

Rockmommy: The record highlights Haitian culture. Why is that so important to you and your listeners? 

Claudia Zanes: I’m first generation Haitian-American and pieces of home for me are the songs, food, stories, cousins, lessons, certain clothes, family traditions that I grew up with … all of that comes out when we make music. As you know, it’s a tough time right now for Haitians in Haiti and Haitians here in America. We talk a lot about poverty and wealth. Haiti is considered to be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, that’s how people see it. But they’re referring to economics. Important of course, but certainly only one aspect of the story. As far as music, literature, painting, storytelling are concerned, the country is very wealthy. I wish more people knew that.

We always play at least one Haitian folk song when we perform. It’s a chance for me to share something about myself and also let people know a little bit about this rich culture. The Haitian song on this record “Se On Tifi” is one I learned from my mother. It has a wild story attached to it. Come to a show and you’ll hear it! We’re touring these days with a third member of the group, a young singer named Tyree Austin. There are harmonies galore in the live show now.

Rockmommy: What are a few of your favorite collaborations on the album? 

Dan Zanes: All of them! Tyree, who we just mentioned, is on almost half the record, sounding jazzy and cool. But right now we’re thinking so much about Father Goose, who passed away a couple weeks ago. He’s on the song “Believe.” I’ve been collaborating with Father Goose for 30 years. When I met him he was in the Jamaican dancehall scene in Brooklyn, he went by the name Rankin Don. We used to go to reggae record stores together. When I made my first family music record I asked him if he’d be up for a collaboration. I was surprised when he said sure. He really didn’t know what I was up to but he was always very open minded. He came in and assumed the character of Father Goose and totally rocked!

We ended up touring together for many years in the band Dan Zanes and Friends. He was The King of the Dance Party, he’d come out for the last three songs and tear things up. He was an electric performer and a loving person. Father Goose changed me and he changed family music … all for the better. It means so much to me to have this song with both Father Goose and Claudia. And this song is the sensitive side of Father Goose, his message to all young people.

Claudia Zanes: Yes, he is really missed. Dan turned me on to Steve Earle and I love his music now. I love the song “Tomorrow’s Train” that he’s on. It feels like blues and country and Tyree and I add the jazz. Munit Mesfin and Z Lovebugs is a D.C.-based family band.

Munit is a very popular Ethiopian-American singer and her kids are incredible too. It’s definitely a family band on the rise. They’re on a lot of the record. Sweet and Cool is the one where you really hear them the most.

Dan Zanes: It’s important to us to have MCs on the record too. Folk music is evolving all the time and the real wordsmiths are such a part of it now. Eze Jackson, Jendog Lonewolf, And Klefta*Maniak all brought so much to the party. Brad and Ken Kolodner are old time musicians here in Baltimore. They came in with banjo and hammer dulcimer and totally lifted up the song “Little Pal of Mine.”

Rockmommy: What is the best thing about being family musicians? What inspires you to write in this genre?

Claudia Zanes: This is where we can really be ourselves. We don’t feel like we’re in a box of any kind. We make the music that’s on our hearts. Of course, we think about the shows, we want to record music that people will be able to sing along with, the social aspect of it is important. We love connecting with young people who are just learning about the world, music can give them a positive way forward. We take it seriously but part of the job description is to have fun and bring joy to everything we do. 

Dan Zanes: I love that! Part of the social aspect of it is making music that inspires people to go out and make their own music. Listening to recordings is great but when people get together to sing and dance that’s a whole other level. And it’s something that’s available to us all. We try to let people know that if they don’t already: you can do this too.

Rockmommy: You are also partners in life. How do you balance your respective musical careers and your personal lives?

Claudia Zanes: Well, we love each other’s company. Dan’s mother passed away earlier this year. We just lost Father Goose. It’s been life on life’s terms. A lot of sadness this year. But we don’t have to go through anything alone. Dan is my best friend. We talk to each other. We walk our dog. We read stories to each other. We sing and play music, we prioritize relationships. We have a spiritual life. Our life is rich and full on many levels and for this I am eternally grateful.

Dan Zanes: I knew on the day that I met her, Claudia was the person I’d been dreaming about my whole life. Every minute that we have together is such a blessing. We laugh A LOT. We just came back from a three-week tour playing shows all over Finland and Estonia. Each day was an adventure. If the theme of this conversation is home, well, home is wherever we are together…

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.