Kid album ‘Carry On’ celebrates a friendship with a backpack

Sunset Park artist Benjamin Weiner and Princess Backpack, his magical talking bag, zip listeners into a journey of silliness, vulnerability and fun. Pun intended.

Benjamin and Princess Backpack’s new album, “Carry On,” comes out Aug. 22, which includes fun songs that celebrate volcanoes, dressing fancy, squirrels, a fanny pack and making too much soup. Benjamin’s epic music and Princess Backpack’s hilarious British accent and attitude make the album a sonic journey of fun and magic.

Benjamin has been making music since he was young. Born and raised outside of Philadelphia in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, he enjoyed playing in the backyard and the woods as a kid, exploring and inventing imaginary worlds. The first song he wrote at the age of 6 was a lullaby for squirrels because he felt that they looked too stressed out.

He and his family moved to NYC when he was 16 where he went to college in the city, studying theater. Benjamin went on to work as a teacher for nine years, teaching kids in preschool through third grade, as well as writing theater in his spare time.

And then one day, as he walked past his backpack lying on the floor at home, it caught his eye.

Princess Backpack having a moment.

“I thought, ‘My backpack looks like she's having a moment,’ and I took this photo,” remembers Benjamin. “I realized that my backpack was a ‘who,’ not a ‘what.’ She became kind of a Mrs. Doubtfire character, just sort of a dream babysitter, silly, playful, with kind of a wry humor and a healthy dose of attitude. And I have always loved the fact that she's a backpack, because kids will often grab their own backpacks so they can talk to Princess!”

Benjamin began to develop the character of Princess Backpack and record songs. This project pulls from exciting musical influences, everything from percussive folk to epic rock and bassy fun. Benjamin’s writing makes the song compositions interesting for caregivers to enjoy, while allowing lyrics to be easy for children with which to sing along. With his early and elementary school education background, Benjamin’s lyrics take on important themes and make them relatable for young kids.

“It is accidentally about resilience and perseverance. I just liked the name ‘Carry On,’ with the backpack pun, but realized that there were actually a lot of songs that connect to the idea of keeping going and sticking up for yourself,” says Benjamin. “There's a song about staying true to who you are, wearing the clothes you want to wear (‘Fancy’), a song about saying No, a song about taking time to hide, then coming out when you're ready (‘Cardboard Box’).”

Benjamin has been making music in Sunset Park for over 12 years. He loves the vibrant and intergenerational community that makes it so special. He has also shifted from working in the classroom as a teacher to writing scripts for kids TV — shows like “Dora” on Nickelodeon, “Vida the Vet” on Netflix and “Rosie's Rules” on PBS. He also writes for kids podcasts, toys and games. His work with Princess Backpack is his passion project, and he hopes that this record will be a fun way for families to have fun together with their kids.

“[Princess Backpack and I] bring a celebration of silliness, imagination, and joy that invites kids to come sing and play along with us, in the ways that they love,” says Benjamin. “There's a song about making too much soup, and at every show we all make a big crazy soup together, kids adding whatever they want to it. That's exactly the kind of music I want to be making for and with kids — a big crazy soup that we all cook and eat together.”

Benjamin and Princess Backpack will be playing a live show for their album release party on Sept. 14 at Jalopy Theater, 315 Columbia Street, Brooklyn (doors at 10:30 a.m.). $10 adv / $15 door / $35 Family of Four (2 adults, 2 kids). Dancing is encouraged! Ticket info here.