Boy, it’s been forever since The Nerdz tore up the stage back in 2007. For Peter MacDonald, who goes professionally by the diminutive moniker ‘Pete’, it was his first chance to play in a band—he was in the fifth grade—but not his first crack at performing. That’s something he’s been doing his whole life having grown up in the theatre. His parents, Peter MacDonald Sr. and Ronalda Hutton MacDonald operate a musical theatre production company. Since he was five years old, MacDonald has lived in the glow of stage lights.
As it turns out it wasn’t simply a passing phase. MacDonald is a highly accomplished artist in his own right having earned a B.P.S. in Music Production from Berklee College of Music and is co-writer of the 4-out-of-5 star touring hit, Trummp The Musical. He’s received three nominations for the 2020 MusicNL awards; Best Pop Artist of the Year (Pete), Best Songwriter of the Year (sharing credits with Quote the Raven), Best Entertainer of the Year (With Violet).
That’s a whole lot to talk about before we even touch on what brought us here today; Pete’s first full-length album, Songs for Theo, a collection of seven lullabies.
It might seem an odd choice for a twenty-something songwriter. I mean, where are the screaming guitars? Where are the house beats and cuss words or the hordes of screaming fans that so often inspire the work of young artists? One thing is for certain:iIf you’re looking for any of the above you’ve come to the wrong place. What you will find, however, is a beautiful, melodic, and touching collection of songs written by an artist who has definitely put the time into his craft.
The first impression when pressing play on this album is just how good it sounds. Subject matter aside, this is a sonic delight. Crisp guitar sounds, soulful saxophone lines, and warm, fat bass are on full display here. It would seem that MacDonald’s time at Berklee was time well spent.
Although he was the one in the studio chair, Pete wasn’t alone in making this record. He enlisted the help of some wonderful friends. Spencer Fitzgerald (bass), Sarah Newell (sax), and Ronald Hutton-MacDonald (vocals) teamed up to create these tracks and what they were able to accomplish will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, and perhaps a little sleepy.
“Sleepy” is not an adjective you toss around when you’re looking to make people think, or sing, or dance, but it’s absolutely perfect here. Inspired by the newborns and toddlers of his family and close friends, Songs for Theo scores high on the list of parents who are looking for a secret weapon at bedtime. It’s tender and sweet, and the melodies are simple and memorable; something all good lullabies strive to be.
Tracks like “Mcaleigh’s Chocolate Orange”, “Goodnight” and the standout track “Quite the Creation” usher the listener into a calm and quiet place; a place that competes with all the noise we’ve grown accustomed to over the last while.
There is something beautiful and innocent that comes along with writing for children. It defies criticism from music journalists and cares little about what you think of its lyrical content or choice of instrumentation. It’s honest, soft-hearted, and aimed squarely at enriching the lives of little ones.
“It’s lullabies. They make you feel warm and safe and light,” says MacDonald, who smiles when he thinks of his tiny audience and the grateful sighs of weary parents who, at the end of a long day, are glad to have this record in hand.
If you want to check out Pete and lullabies aren’t your bag, you can find him with his alt/pop group, With Violet. Their debut album, Long Story Short, received two MusicNL award nominations.
After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and everything that we’ve been through lately though, you’d be forgiven if you secretly wanted someone to rock you to sleep. Pete is that someone and Songs for Theo is your new nap time favourite.