This musical couple’s YouTube channel for kids is taking North East schools and nurseries by storm
A North East couple who met just a week before the start of lockdown have launched a YouTube channel for kids. Four weeks in and the channel is already taking the North East by storm.
Musicians Jane Walker and Ryan Davidson first met in March at Ryan’s studio in Heaton from which he produces music for TV, film and adverts.
As soon as Ryan heard Jane sing, he was blown away. The pair quickly connected over their shared love of music and made plans to start writing music together. Sadly, the following week saw the UK plunged into lockdown rendering the studio off limits.
The pair continued working on music together remotely, and over the coming weeks, a romance flourished. The couple say the early months of their lockdown relationship consisted of “romantic voice notes, sync watching movies, planning their first date, and most importantly, writing music together.”
The couple found it increasingly difficult to remain apart during the pandemic, so Jane took the plunge and moved in with Ryan.
Recognising the colossal impact of the pandemic on children’s mental wellbeing, Jane and Ryan knew they had to do something to help and they concluded that the best way to support the mental and physical health of children was through music.
“Within a few weeks of meeting Jane, she expressed an interest in potentially creating a channel for kids,” Ryan said.
“At the time, I thought it was more important to work on our artistry, so we spent the first months working on a music project together.
“But, as the months of lockdown rolled on, the negative mental effects of isolation on kids were becoming more and more apparent.”
Alongside her career as a singer, songwriter and performer, Jane also works at a local school as a qualified early years teacher.
Bringing together her experience in music and education along with Ryan’s expertise in music composition, production and videography, the couple conceived the idea for ‘Fuzzy Jane’ and got to work building a home studio.
“We found that all of the videos that are currently available lack a certain panache,” Jane said. “We felt as musicians, it was important to deliver songs that not only entertained and educated kids, but could potentially be enjoyed by parents, too.
“After a little planning and some bouncing around of ideas, ‘Fuzzy Jane’ was born.
“The next step was to order a green screen, lights and a professional camera. Overnight, the conservatory was transformed from a cosy den into a Hollywood film set, although Spielberg may not agree.”
The channel has been live for just four weeks, however local schools, nurseries and parents are already catching wind of Fuzzy Jane’s unique videos.
The video content is already being used by eight schools to help engage pupils before and during lessons. The couple are also in talks with Tyne View Primary School to produce bespoke videos covering specific topics on the syllabus.
“We have been delighted with the feedback from teachers and parents so far,” Ryan added. “It has given us a real boost to continue to create bigger and better content.”
Jane and Ryan have ambitious plans for Fuzzy Jane. Intending to keep up the momentum of their successful first month, the company is already working with an animator on a Fuzzy Jane children’s book. The bedtime poetry book is inspired by the classic Studio Ghibli film, Ponyo and will include a link to lullabies for each poem recited by Fuzzy Jane.
As the world opens up, the couple also aims to adapt the Fuzzy Jane concept into a live show and bring the channel’s fun, educational content to stages across the country.
Looking further ahead, Jane and Ryan have ambitions to create an animated series for a streaming service such as Netflix.
“We are of the mentality that if you don’t aim too high, you aim too low. With this in mind, we are aiming for Fuzzy Jane to become a household name,” Jane added.
“From the feedback and success that we have had in such a short time, we feel like we are on the right tracks.
“We want to remain consistent while improving from experience and reinvesting any money back into the company.
“We welcome as many people as possible to subscribe to our YouTube channel for free and stay updated with our new and exciting content. Stay tuned!”
About Jane Walker
The face of ‘Fuzzy Jane’, Jane has a bachelor’s degree in Creative Musicianship with many years of experience in the music industry as a singer, songwriter and performer. She performs in various projects such as Soulutions, The Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir and Soul’d Out. She is currently working with Ryan on a solo album. Outside of music, Jane works at a local school as a qualified early years teacher.
About Ryan Davidson
Ryan has a first-class honours degree in music production and owns an online music library, FCP Audio, which he runs from his recording studio in Newcastle. He has been producing music for 15 years as an artist and produces tracks for Library, TV and advertising.
To subscribe to Fuzzy Jane, visit: www.youtube.com/c/FuzzyJane/