Inspiring Collective ‘The Shellies’ and All-Female Band ‘Larkspell’ Energise ‘Whatchamacallits’

Before a note is played, The Shellies like to settle in. That habit of arriving early and messing about runs through Whatchamacallits, the YouTube playlist where melodies, studio footage and live performances share a single home.

Easing In at the Studio

In Song shows the routine best. Long before any chord is struck, the collective turn up at the studio to absorb the vibes of its rooms and equipment. Their icebreaker involves spending a little time messing about, and anyone watching is welcome to join them and sing along. It is a relaxed way to start, and it sets the tone for much of what follows in the playlist. The ease of that opening says a lot about how the collective approaches making music.

Work gets properly underway in Never Stop Believing. The group meets their producer and begins a song called Never Never, adding backing vocals along with bits of this and that. Judging by the expressions on their faces, plenty of fun was had by all involved, which makes the clip a warm look at teamwork. Sweet Nothings keeps the cheerful mood alive with footage of the fun time after that song’s recording session.

A little bit of Fun runs briefly and shows how the bass on one of their songs was boosted in Dandelion Studio. Small clips like this make the playlist feel like a scrapbook of working days. Audio tracks supply a few wow mixers for the ears, and the pictures keep the eyes entertained. Each upload runs at its own pace, so a listener can dip in for a quick laugh or stay for a longer session.

Dandelions, a Pier and a Stage

Creative fun is the glue here. The Shellies treat the studio as somewhere to enjoy, and the clips catch them laughing, adding backing vocals and trying out small ideas. Nothing about the playlist feels rushed, which gives each upload the charm of a diary page. Between them, the videos paint a picture of a group that loves making music together, and the variety makes every return visit feel fresh and rewarding for new and returning listeners.

The dandelion videos form their own little patch. Dandelion Seedlets gathers snippets of fun, nurtured in the Music Studio and ready to bloom into viewers’ days. Dandelion Seeds takes three tracks, shortens them and places them together in a bid to capture the meaning of life in the Shire. Dandelion Spores mixes and matches music fun for chilling, concentrating or dancing along, with three songs on the menu.

Such Fun To Sing finds the collective filming a song on a pier in the Shire while enjoying their day. Its themes are music, positive thinking and creativity, and the clip carries a sunny, easygoing mood that suits the Shire setting. Time We Blew (Larkspell) comes from a different setting. The recording comes from one of Larkspell’s last events, where the song was performed and members of The Shellies joined the band on stage as the music ended.

Led By Dreams Show promo closes the set by describing songs that are happy, creative and feel good, with an imaginative journey on offer for listeners who like to let their minds wander. The playlist name adds a smile too, since whatchamacallit is an informal word for something you cannot or choose not to name, and The Hershey Company makes a chocolate candy bar with the same name.

About the Artists

Singing songwriters make up the collective known as The Shellies, and their outlook is rooted in positivity, imagination and the Shire they call home. Personal growth matters to them, as do the little joys that give daily routines some meaning. Animators, musicians, producers and visual artists drawn to storytelling team up with them, which lets varied perspectives shape what they create. Larkspell, an all-female band, brings a fun-loving character to its music and shares a lively space for creativity with The Shellies, so the studio and the stage both feel welcoming.

Press Play and Wander

Whatchamacallits is an easy playlist to dip into. Its 10 videos offer fun, imagination and plenty of music, from a quiet studio warm-up to a shared moment on stage. Anyone curious about The Shellies and Larkspell can press play and enjoy the ride, whether they have a spare minute or a whole afternoon to spend with the music.