Missoula, Montana, USA | Children's Music / Family Pop / Singer-Songwriter
From kitchen percussion to Grammy-recognised collaborations, a musical world where curiosity, imagination and play have no age limit.
Meet Cory McAtee
Before Cory McAtee ever picked up a saxophone, clarinet or tuba, her first percussion instruments were considerably more accessible: pots, pans and wooden spoons.
Growing up, Cory and her brother would create rhythms on anything they could find, transforming everyday household objects into musical instruments and staging impromptu performances for family, friends and neighbours.
It was the beginning of a lifelong relationship with music, performance and the simple pleasure of creating something from nothing.
Today, based in Missoula, Montana, Cory is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and music educator whose work is dedicated to sharing that same sense of wonder with audiences of all ages.
Her music combines playful storytelling, memorable melodies and an infectious enthusiasm for exploration, inviting listeners to sing, dance, imagine and discover the world around them.
Although her songs are written primarily with children in mind, Cory's philosophy extends far beyond any particular age group.
After all, why should growing up mean growing out of having fun?
Why We're Listening
Children's music is sometimes underestimated, but creating songs that genuinely engage young audiences requires imagination, musical understanding and an instinct for communication.
Cory McAtee approaches that challenge with an infectious enthusiasm for creativity and discovery.
Drawing upon her experience as an educator and multi-instrumentalist, she creates music that celebrates curiosity, movement, nature and the everyday experiences that can spark a child's imagination.
What's particularly appealing about her approach is the belief that children's music doesn't need to be limited to simplistic ideas or predictable musical conventions.
Instead, it can encourage listeners to explore their surroundings, express their emotions and experience the joy of making music for its own sake.
There's something refreshingly universal about that philosophy.
Whether you're discovering music for the first time or have spent decades listening to it, the excitement of hearing something that makes you smile, move or think is much the same.
A Musical Education That Never Stopped
Cory's fascination with music began at an early age, developing through childhood theatre performances and an increasingly adventurous relationship with musical instruments.
She started learning clarinet in fifth grade before progressing to piano, saxophone and tuba.
Her musical education subsequently expanded into woodwind, brass, strings and percussion, giving her an unusually broad understanding of the different sounds and possibilities available to a songwriter.
That versatility remains an important part of her creative identity.
Rather than approaching arrangements exclusively from the perspective of a singer or pianist, Cory draws upon her experience with multiple instruments, exploring how different musical voices can work together.
And despite her extensive instrumental experience, her curiosity remains undiminished.
The accordion and bagpipes are apparently still on her list of instruments to learn.
Given that she started with kitchen utensils and eventually made it to the tuba, it seems unwise to bet against her.
Steppin' Into the Outside
One of the most important moments in Cory's songwriting journey came through her collaboration with Emmy Award-winning songwriter and producer Tim Noah.
Their conversations about The Pond Beyond, an outdoor education centre in Washington, inspired Cory to begin developing her own original songs.
With Tim's encouragement and guidance, she started exploring songwriting and recording, eventually releasing her debut single, I Want to Go Outside and Play (Steppin' Into the Outside), in May 2022.
The song captures many of the ideas that have since become central to her musical identity: movement, imagination, curiosity and the importance of spending time in nature.
It also reflects Cory's own enthusiasm for the outdoors, where everything from birdsong to changing landscapes can provide musical inspiration.
In 2026, the single received a Bronze Medal at the Global Music Awards, recognising her work in the children's pop category.
For an artist who wants to encourage people to rediscover the joy of everyday experiences, it's a particularly fitting achievement.
Steppin' with Cory: Music for Every Generation
Cory expanded her recorded catalogue with the release of her debut album, Steppin' with Cory, on 23 August 2024.
The ten-track collection brings together songs designed to encourage participation, creativity and emotional connection.
From the excitement of Rock with Me to the imaginative possibilities of Wish on a Star and the recognisable family experience captured in Backseat In-Between, the album reflects Cory's playful approach to songwriting.
Her work has also taken her into collaborative projects, including Patrick Adams's Kindies Do the 80's series.
In 2023, she contributed vocals to a reinterpretation of Bananarama's Venus, returning in 2024 for a version of Cruel Summer.
The projects offered an opportunity to bring familiar pop songs into the world of family music, introducing another generation of listeners to material that their parents might remember from their own childhoods.
It's a reminder that musical enjoyment often crosses generations far more easily than conventional genre labels suggest.
A Voice on a Grammy-Nominated Project
Another important milestone arrived through Cory's involvement in The Colors in My Mind, the album by recording artist and producer Chris Redding.
Cory contributed vocals to the track Love Cure!, becoming part of a collaborative project exploring music, emotional expression and communication.
Inspired by Redding's experiences as the father of a non-speaking autistic son, the album explores the possibilities of sound and music as forms of connection that extend beyond conventional language.
At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in 2026, The Colors in My Mind received a nomination for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album.
While the nomination was credited to Chris Redding, Cory's contribution to the recording represents a meaningful collaborative achievement within her growing musical career.
The project also reflects a theme that runs throughout her own work: the belief that music can help people express feelings and experiences that words alone may struggle to communicate.
Career Highlights
2026 | Global Music Awards
Received a Bronze Medal for I Want to Go Outside and Play (Steppin' Into the Outside) in the children's pop category.
2026 | The Colors in My Mind
Contributed vocals to Love Cure! on Chris Redding's Grammy-nominated album, recognised in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category.
2024 | Steppin' with Cory
Released her ten-track debut album, celebrating creativity, play, imagination and the joy of music.
2023 to 2024 | Kindies Do the 80's
Collaborated with Patrick Adams on reinterpretations of Venus and Cruel Summer for the family music compilation series.
2022 | Debut Single
Released I Want to Go Outside and Play (Steppin' Into the Outside), beginning her catalogue of original children's music.
In Her Own Words
Explaining the audience she hopes to reach, Cory shares a philosophy that captures the heart of her work:
I've been writing music that is oriented toward children, but can be enjoyed and appreciated by people of all ages.
It's a simple idea with an important message.
Music doesn't stop being meaningful when we grow older, and neither should our ability to explore, imagine or experience joy.
For Cory McAtee, the world remains full of musical possibilities, whether they come from a sophisticated arrangement, a walk through the forest or a set of kitchen pans.
Sometimes, the most rewarding thing we can do is remember how much fun it was to make music in the first place.
Discover Cory McAtee
Cory McAtee is featured in Tantalis Discovery, an editorial initiative dedicated to celebrating independent artists and bringing remarkable music to new audiences.