Ear Snacks, Soundwaves, and Shenanigans: Meet Andrew & Polly

Jul 01, 2025

Whether they’re composing family-friendly jams or orchestrating the whimsical world of their popular family music podcast, Ear Snacks, children’s performers Andrew & Polly are a truly harmonious duo.

The pair has spent nearly 15 years crafting clever, toe-tapping tunes and heartfelt musical conversations that strike a chord with both kids and grown-ups. Ahead of their upcoming performance at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, Andrew & Polly discuss their musical beginnings, the delightful chaos of creating content for kids, and how an episode about tissues can turn into an unexpected adventure in science, emotions, and connection.

Musical Origins and Sound Soccer

For Andrew & Polly, music has always been an instrumental part of their lives. Polly Hall was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, where her first musical experience was watching her neighbor play violin. The impromptu recital sparked inspiration for the then-three-year-old, who begged for violin lessons. That first experience launched a lifelong love for music…and an innate talent for all things strings.

Diagnosed as legally blind at age eight, Andrew Barkan was immediately introduced to the beauty of sounds. “My parents thought it would be a good idea for me to take piano lessons,” he recalls. “I got really excited about building music and figuring out music on my own and being part of bands.”

Following childhoods full of song, the two met in college where they focused on indie rock. After their friends started having children, they began singing for younger audiences, and something magical happened. “Babies and young children were just transfixed,” Polly said. “We really helped them find something enjoyable, regulating, joyful, [and] calming. And we just didn’t stop.” 

Cue the debut of Andrew & Polly, who soon emerged as a household name for modern children’s music. The pair emphasize the team dynamics of composition, describing it as “playing soccer but with sounds.” They thrive on collaboration—not just between each other, but with their audiences. “Music is a chance for people to come together,” Barkan explained.

The Deliciously Curious World of Ear Snacks

In 2015, the duo found a growing fanbase around the world and more ideas than time. “We started getting emails from families saying, ‘When are you coming to see me?’” Hall said. While they were able to tour and fulfil some of these families’ wishes, they couldn’t visit everyone, and they knew this left some fans disappointed.

The initial guilt caused a creative endeavor to blossom. Barkan proposed, “What if we built a show, a podcast, that brought kids into their ideas and voices?”

Enter, Ear Snacks—a podcast that blends music, children’s interviews, expert guests, and joyful exploration of everything from fruit to shadows. Equal parts funny, absurd, and heartwarming, Ear Snacks tackles small ideas that evolve into kid-friendly life lessons.

“We fundamentally believe kids are people,” Barkan said. “Their ideas connect with all the big ideas out in the world.”

While Andrew & Polly occasionally bring kids into their colorful home studio, most interviews are done by parents at home—after snacks, of course. This relaxed environment leads to surprising and meaningful responses.

“There was a girl named Emily in Scotland who asked, ‘Can we do an Ear Snacks about tissues? How are tissues made?’” Barkan recalled, laughing.  

Hall elaborates, “Then as we start to think about tissues and all the different meanings in the word tissues, we draw up all our questions for the children, and we think, what are the bigger ideas connected to tissues? How far can tissues go? We try to then find a grown-up expert who can join us [for that] episode.”

This approach has fueled their work not just in podcasting but also in composing for children’s networks like Nickelodeon and PBS. Using their live performances to gauge excitement, the duo takes an authentic approach to their commercial sounds. “We come to the studio with a lot of road testing, and I think it makes our music really interesting,” Hall explains.

A Final Note

Andrew & Polly’s style of music veers toward the ‘kindie’ genre, an evolution of family music that mixes indie sounds with lyrics that appeal to children and their adults. The duo’s performances harness the creative energy that has made their podcast so popular with families.

As they prepare to bring kindie anthems to Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, Andrew & Polly remain grounded in what’s always mattered most: compositions, curiosity, and connection.

“We always love the opportunity to put a little music in someone’s day,” said Hall. “And Wolf Trap is an amazing place to make that happen for concert goers of all ages.”

Grab your tickets now to see Andrew & Polly on July 11 at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods!