Justin Roberts *2023 Grammy Nominee
JUSTIN ROBERTS RETURNS WITH SPACE CADET
FEEL-GOOD POWER POP FOR KIDS
PROMOTING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE & UNITY
16th ALBUM FOR FAMILIES - JULY 15, 2022
Full of energy, four-time GRAMMY Nominee Justin Roberts’ 16th full length album, Space Cadet, is a return to his power pop all-ages sound. Heavily inspired by his life as a new dad, the feel-good album offers themes of inclusion and acceptance that wind through emotionally intelligent songs. Roberts creates a welcoming space for children to celebrate their uniqueness and dance it all out. Alongside his epic 5-piece rock band the Not Ready for Naptime Players, Justin is joined by jazz horns, 80s synthesizers, soaring strings, harp, and plenty of hand clapping.
Justin Roberts is well known for helping to create the modern family music scene and has been praised for his ability to take kids seriously, seeing the world through their eyes and writing meaningful songs that acknowledge kids’ emotional depth while still letting the fun shine through. Roberts released his very first kids’ album, Great Big Sun, back in 1997, and 25 years later he is now making family music through the lens of a new dad. Roberts’ son Eli was born in 2018 and inspired Wild Life, Justin’s last album of sweet, quieter songs. With Space Cadet, Justin returns to the huge rock energy of his GRAMMY nominated albums, Jungle Gym and Recess. While still using his imagination and childhood memories, Roberts now weaves in first-hand parenting experience. Kitchen dance parties, fascinating fire trucks, and playground life have inspired these joyous and passionate new songs. While writing this album, Roberts noticed recurring themes in his new songs about inclusion, the importance of being yourself, embracing differences and self-discovery. From a very personal perspective, the experience of isolation during the pandemic, combined with the loss of his father during 2020 contributed to songs about healing on the album.