Nationally-acclaimed Whatcom County children’s singer releases new album
Blaine resident Dana Cohenour has been creating children’s music for over three decades. Her eighth children’s album, Wonder FULL, is set to release Aug. 15.
Cohenour started her career playing in piano bars in New York City. She found her niche in children’s music after writing lullabies for her nephew in 1994. The lullabies became her first album, and she never looked back.
“It brought me so much joy, performing for children, to be out there in the sunshine, smiling, and they’re jumping right into the music and smiling back at me,” Cohenour said. “It was a lot better than the 2 a.m. in the smokey bar, so I never really went back to doing the late night thing.”
Cohenour has received 45 national awards for her music over the course of her career. She attributes the success of her music to the high production quality in her music.
“What I try to do is really respect children’s ears,” Cohenour told The Herald. “A lot of those folks back in the day were recording stuff in their closet. It was just not the quality that I think children deserve.”
Wonder FULL is based on one of Cohenour’s earliest songs titled “Why, What, Where, Who.” The songs on the new album each contain one of those phrases in its name, and tackle subjects like climate change, spreading kindness, losing things around the house and eating vegetables.
“I was thinking about the myriad of questions that kids constantly have rolling around in their heads,” Cohenour said. “We all still have that childhood curiosity within us.”
Wonder FULL also includes a wide variety of musical genres. Cohenour said introducing children to a variety of music is part of her mission.
“Every one of my albums, I try to include everything from country to pop to reggae,“ Cohenour said. “This new one has a bossa nova song on it and bluegrass. I try to introduce kids to every genre so they’ll discover what they might like.”
Outside of her musical career, Cohenour teaches music classes called “Dana’s Music Playground” at Unique Technique Dance in Bellingham. She said her 11 years telling stories at Whatcom County libraries informs her classes. Children ages 1-4 play with egg shakers, ribbon wands, a parachute and rhythm instruments.
“Music creates connections in those young brains. The more we can introduce music and movement and early learning concepts ... that’s what I try to do,” Cohenour said. “You don’t come to one of my shows to just sit there and watch. The kids have to get into it and they jump, and I find ways that they can be involved in every song.”
She said her favorite part of the job is the kids.
“I tell you, I get my baby fix,” Cohenour said. “There is nothing like getting those hugs around your knees and the high-fives from the kids, you see their eyes light up. There is nothing more rewarding than that.”
Wonder FULL is set to release on Aug. 15 and will be available on most streaming platforms, including Spotify. Registration for Cohenour’s classes begins Sept. 16. Cohenour also encourages families to check out her radio show.
This story was originally published August 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM.
