The Microphone Doctors and Doctor Noize release new album “MOOD FOOD”

The Microphone Doctors & Doctor Noize's new family album, Mood Food, is out now.

Imagine two guys from completely different backgrounds having a blast in the studio, not thinking too much about life, and letting their inner kids out to share the feelings of discovery that a deep new friendship can bring. Mood Food reflects the pure silliness and optimism of childhood, an experience that was interrupted for both Danny Darko of The Microphone Doctors and Cory Cullinan (aka Doctor Noize) when they were kids.

“The songs I write are just meant to be fun,” says Danny Darko. “My goal as an entertainer is to inspire joy and create happy moments that we can all share. Bringing those moments to the kids of today that I didn't have as a child has been an unexpectedly cathartic experience. Working with Cory Cullinan was also something I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams!”

Watch the making-of video for “Mood Food” HERE.

“I knew Danny Darko's amazing life story and thought he was, in many ways, the most fascinating – and certainly the most unlikely – voice in children's music,” says Cory Cullinan. “So when he contacted me about producing Microphone Doctors' next album, I was happy to say yes. But little did I know what a fantastic collaboration it would turn into, both musically and personally. We set out to write, record and mix one song a day in a whirlwind of fun and creativity, and we stuck to it and achieved that goal! We ended up having so much fun, which is no doubt reflected in the lighthearted feeling of happiness that permeates the entire record. My transition from producer to co-artist developed quite naturally as we worked together.”

Cory adds, “Through our conversations, it became clear that Danny and I had a lot more in common than we had realized. We both had unusual childhoods for people in children's music. Danny grew up in gang culture, saw many friends die, and was in and out of prison during his youth. When I was a child, my only sibling died of cancer, and that same year my father committed suicide out of despair. Danny and I both decided at some point that our lives should not be defined by the misfortunes of our youth. After a lot of reading, thinking, and planning, we very purposefully and proactively took paths that led in a very different direction. We came to children's music as a creative outlet for similar reasons: trying to relive – and maybe reinvent – our childhood a little and give kids a sense that everything will be OK – something we probably wish we had a little more of.”

One of the album's highlights is “Lemonade,” which sums up everything about the collaboration between Danny Darko and Cory Cullinan in one song. Danny wanted to write a summer anthem similar to Outkast's “Hey Ya,” and that idea became “Lemonade.” “When I heard his lyrics and his rap, I felt like it really represented Danny,” Cory explains. “Writing the music to those lyrics didn't take long at all, and then we added an extended final chorus and a section for me to sing to fully capture the song's upbeat philosophy. Plus, I got to sing like Queen.”

“Chicken! (Don't Cross the Road)” is pure fun and a tribute to some of Danny and Cory's favorite dance masters like James Brown. This incredibly silly number started out as a Doctor Noize workshop song that Cory wrote with a group of elementary school kids. When Danny's creativity kicked in, he and Cory couldn't resist the idea of ​​making a video for the song where they dance around like synchronized chickens. Look out for this hilarious video in October!

The first track Cory and Danny ever recorded – written, recorded, mixed and mastered on their first day together in Cory's Denver studio – is “Cool Beans.” Standing out for its mellow mood and quirky message, “Cool Beans” is full of pop culture references that listeners will love.

ABOUT THE MICROPHONE DOCTORS & DOCTOR NOIZE:

Danny Darko of The Microphone Doctors dedicates his life to inspiring others through musical entertainment that conveys hope, joy and imagination. As a recovered addict and ex-convict, he has the honor of speaking publicly about the experiences that miraculously led him to where he is today.

Danny grew up in an abusive household. When times were tough and his father went to prison, Danny found solace in music, going to concerts from a young age and dancing a lot! He later wrote the majority of his first album and his first children's book in an alternative prison work camp. He is an avid reader, loves poetry and cites the works of Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Bukowski and Henry Miller as life-changing. Danny is both a visual artist and musician and admires the works of Salvador Dali, Van Gogh and Rodin. He lives in Los Angeles and is an avid traveler and has visited more than 40 countries.

Based in Lone Tree, Colorado, successful children's musician and singer Doctor Noize (aka Cory Cullinan) is many things: a Stanford University music graduate, a professor of audio engineering, an entrepreneur, an author, an app developer, a studio owner, a speaker, a commissioned composer for stage and film, and a goofball. He loves Mahler, the Beatles, James Brown, Beethoven, Queen, Prince, and the '80s (his middle and high school years).

With chart hits spanning three decades, Doc's recording catalog is a unique combination of exuberant joy, quality production, revered collaborators, and narrative musical structure. Each album is an adventure that balances inspirational learning with positive storytelling and songwriting for all ages. His work teaches instruments, music fundamentals, language, leadership, sustainability, equity, diversity, and inclusion – all through the eyes of the characters, so listeners don't even realize they're learning.

Microphone Doctors' previous releases include the albums You Can Sit With Us (2023), Country X-Mas (2022), Together with Two (2021), Hot Dog (2020), and Kids Be Like (2017), and the EPs Sizzle (2019) and Cake (2018). Doctor Noize's previous albums include Homemade (2020), Punctuate This (2017), Phineas McBoof Crashes the Symphony (2016), Grammaropolis (2012), The Return of Phineas McBoof (2011), and The Ballad of Phineas McBoof (2010). Cory Cullinan also appears on Funk The Earth by Konshens & The Earth Band (2021).

Atmospheric food

Release date: August 30, 2024

Name: Doctor Noize Inc.

For all ages

Running time: 31 minutes

Mood Food is available digitally on all major platforms.

Danny Darko: vocals, percussion
Doctor Noize: Vocals, saxophones, guitars, keyboards, percussion, production
Allison Young: baritone saxophone
Riley Max: Vocals
Sidney Cullinan: Vocals
Elizabeth Anaya: Vocals

Song List

1. Atmospheric food
2. Lemonade
3. Eggs
4. Chicken! (Don't cross the road)
5. Macaroni
6. The Count
7. Cool Beans
8. Old MacDonald
9. Where is Wally?
10. Lobster
11. Bye

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