INTERVIEW: Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn Chat on Their Vibrant New Animated Music Series, Do, Re & Mi

Do, Re & Mi is a vibrant new Amazon Original animated series created for preschoolers that follows the musical journey of three colorful birds voiced by Kristen Bell, Jackie Tohn, and Luke Youngblood. The series is eye-popping, which is sure to draw viewers in as they follow along, solving problems with music that spans multiple genres. In a world where music education in schools is the first to get budget cuts, Bell, Tohn, Michael Scharf, and Ivan Askwith as executive producers are finding a way to “sneak teach” and bring music education one cute note at a time in this adorable new series. Do, Re & Mi is a production of Amazon Studios and Gaumont for Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Kids+.

The series was recently launched on September 17 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide and Amazon Kids+ in the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, and Japan. Do, Re & Mi, the brand, is also getting in on retail action bringing toys, a book, a mobile game, and a teacher and family guide to homes worldwide. These elements will surely inspire and guide this wonderful way of teaching musical education at an early age, hopefully inspiring children to be the next big thing in music or simply foster music appreciation. 

Glitter sat down with two of the executive producers and voice talents from Do, Re & Mi, Kristen Bell, and Jackie Tohn. Bell is best known for Frozen and Gossip Girl and recently was presented with her own Hollywood star. She gives the term working actress new meaning as she appears in project after project with not only her incredible acting chops but her electric voice. Tohn is Bell’s certified bestie and is also incredibly talented in acting, singing, and songwriting. She’s appeared in Glow, The Good Place, as well as hosting Netflix’s Best Leftovers Ever. 

Find out what they had to say on the new series Do, Re & Mi, as well as how they got their start, their friendship, and we even get into some skincare tips in our hilarious interview below.

NIKKI: Hi, Jacki. Hi, Kristen. Thanks for taking time out to chat with us at Glitter on your new animation series Do, Re & Mi. A pleasure to meet you both. So I first want to say congrats to both of you on your fabulous careers. Kristen, you’re the epitome of the working actress from your amazing success with Frozen and Gossip Girl and your Hollywood star and all of your charitable endeavors. Jackie fans love your work, including your roles on Glow, The Good Place, as well as hosting Best Leftovers Ever. So congrats to you both. 
KRISTEN + JACKIE: Thank you.

NIKKI: You’re welcome. So how did Do, Re & Mi come about with you both as executive producers, and can you tell us about your voice roles in the series as well? And I know Jackie did some writing as well.

JACKIE: Actually, well, songwriting. Yes. Do, Re & Mi came about because I have always been super passionate about music and how life-changing it is for kids. I wouldn’t be the human I am today if it weren’t for making music my entire life. My dad instilling it in me, playing the piano when I was a kid. And so, I found out from my niece and nephew that music and arts education are the first things to go when schools are facing budget cuts. And my buddy Mike and I both thought, there’s a hole in the market. Why don’t we create a show that brings music education into these kids’ homes if it’s not going to be in schools? Enter executive producer, actress, mogul extraordinaire [Kristen Bell], who then took our idea and more and helped us make it a reality. Always keeping an eye on that mission statement, which was, “Make sure music education is getting into the hands of kids.”  

KRISTEN: Jackie likes to say this thing called we’re sneak teaching, which is incredible because it’s so true. To have a successful property, you do have to have a level of entertainment. There are plenty of great music programs out there, but not everybody watches the music education thing or downloads it on their phone because they want to be entertained first. So to bring kids into this world we were like, “Great, we can create an entertainment-based show about these three little songbirds named Do, Re & Mi, and already there they know the first three notes of the scale.” Right? There’s music theory, lesson number one, and everything. And Beebopsburgh where they live, musical instruments grow on trees. So we talk about different musical instruments, so they have recognition. So if they ever want to join the band, they’ll know exactly what instruments they’re choosing from. Each episode allows us to, and this literally was shown to us by the TV gods, allowing us to fuse an emotional lesson, which you need in a kid’s show, with a music genre lesson because we represent 52 different ones. So each episode is like either reggae or jazz or blues or rock or country. And then also with a music theory lesson like, for example, Jackie’s character, Re, which is this little pink one, wants to join a dance troupe; she’s overworking herself. She’s not listening to her body, which is important for kids to know how to do. And there’s a song called “Listen to Your Body” when it’s trying to talk to you. And it has the word rest in it a lot where her character takes a deep breath and rests. She’s listening to her body. But in music theory, there are rests on the scale and on the grid, and it’s when you learn in music to be quiet. And so we’re fusing sort of all of these things together, so we’re sneak teaching. And the greatest thing about it is that Jackie and Dave Schuler, who wrote all the music, write for very well-known artists on the radio all the time. So they can write a hook that doesn’t make you want to put the television in the microwave as a mom. It’s not a kid’s hook. So they’ll stay in your ear. They’ll be teaching your kids something, but it won’t drive you crazy.  

NIKKI: How did you get your start in your love for music; what were some of the movies or TV shows outside of family that sparked your interests?  
JACKIE: For me, Little Shop of Horrors was huge; I knew every song in that movie. Also, it taught me how to do runs because you had Tisha Campbell; you had these amazing singers doing the background. Da Do (singing); those are the background vocals. So that really cracked my brain open. I’m from New York, and I was very lucky; I didn’t come from a wealthy family, but the thing me and my parents did, I remember being seven and my dad taking me to A Chorus Line. Then me and my dad went to see Les Misérables, and my dad’s a singer-songwriter, so I grew up in a really musical household. I was surrounded by music constantly. I remember buying cassette tapes. I used to love Bette Midler and Michael Bolton. So every musical that was around in the ’90s, that is how I would beg them to spend their money. I didn’t really want things; I just wanted to go see musicals. I begged for cassettes. I begged for CDs. Music has always been it for me: piano lessons, guitar lessons. 
KRISTEN: I spent countless, countless hours in the mirror because I watched Funny Girl and My Fair Lady on repeat, and I would do “Who Taught Her Everything She Knows?” from Funny Girl and play both the dad and the mom and have a scarf for the mom and the hat for the dad when they’d sing. Then singing “All I Want Is a Room Somewhere” or “I Could Have Danced All Night,” I mean countless hours. 

JACKIE: Everything’s too good. I mean, it’s hard to answer that question because there were thousands of inspirations. I think that’s what’s so exciting about this show because of the fifty-two episodes. There are fifty-two musical genres represented here. So it isn’t just one thing where it’s like, you know, “God Bless Baby Beluga” and these other songs for babies. But this sort of isn’t that, I mean, when we were creating this, KB’s kids were listening to Hamilton and knowing the raps and getting the intricate rhythms and when they would wait for a beat and then the word will come in, and whatever it was, it was like these kids were picking right up on it. So it wasn’t like it didn’t have to just be like one woman with a ukulele in a classroom.
KRISTEN: There are so many things that kids don’t get to learn about, like Yacht Rock. My kids are going to have a musical education in rap and yacht rock and the important genres of music that tell stories and do really, really deep things to your brain.  

NIKKI: Well, you both are the ultimate BFFs. What’s the secret to maintaining your very fun friendship?  
JACKIE: I think just like being who we are. I was just thinking of such a funny story. I remember years ago there was somebody I wasn’t getting along with and KB was like, “No, no, she’s fine. Like, it’s you, she triggers you,” and it’s like, “Oh, that that’s why this friendship works.” Because then I had to step back a second in that moment and say, “Well that person isn’t so bad.” I just think that maybe I thought they were trying to steal my thunder in that moment. And then she’s the best friend who’s like, “Hey, here’s objectively how that actually went.” I think not to blow smoke up my own butt, but it takes a big person to be able to hear that from someone and not be like, “Well, forget you then.” It takes two people, her being able to dish it and take it and me being able to dish it and take it. And it’s made for a pretty wonderful, sympatica working relationship.  
KRISTEN: You see Jackie and I, and we’re both very loud and brash together. You wouldn’t be like, “I bet they’re very vulnerable and have a growth mindset and a commitment to evolving.” But we do we have a lot of fun together. But the reality is we can dish it and take it and keep each other on track so we can be very vulnerable and be very honest. And that was also why it translated into a great working relationship because Jackie knows as her producer, I have her back. When I say, “That can’t be done,” it really can’t be done. But when she says to me, “I need you to fight to get this done,” I know that that means I really need to get it done. Like there’s just a trust factor and an honesty factor that can’t be replaced with a regular business partner.

NIKKI: So I have some quick fun questions. How would you describe each other in three words? 
JACKIE: Oohh, OK. Super, super talent. Compassionate. Generous. I would say generosity is like one of your superpowers; it’s psychotic. 
KRISTEN: I would say fun, and there’s a lot of different adjectives to encapsulate that, but fun would be the main thing, like bring the party. It’s not one word, but a commitment to growth for sure. Like Jackie stating that she can take it and understand how she needs to grow, I have very few friends that have as much of a commitment to growth as a human being as Jackie does, fun-loving commitment to growth. And I’m going to say glittery because Jackie kind of sparkles wherever she goes.  
JACKIE: How dare you. (laughing)

NIKKI: What’s one skincare product that you can’t live without; you only get to pick one. 
KRISTEN: One? (laughing)
NIKKI: One. (laughing)
KRISTEN: I mean, I’m going to say my Clarisonic, it’s not a product, but because, RIP Clarisonic. But like, I would rather wash my face with water than without my Clarisonic. But I will say I did just create what I think is the perfect face moisturizer with a company called Happy Dance that I co-created because it’s got your daily dose of CBD in it. But it also has four different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, which I’m addicted to because it plumps from the inside out. 
KRISTEN: Not to brag.
JACKIE: Not to brag, but how is it not already at my door? Did it not come out?
KRISTEN: No, it comes out next week. I’ll get you some. 
JACKIE: I was like, what’s happening? Because that’ll be my favorite product, and then I can say it too. But at the moment, what do I love? Oh, you know what I love? I love those skin. [Skyn] Iceland eye patches. They’re the only ones that work. They really depuff. The other ones are just sort of like decoration on your face for a half hour. These really suck out the night before.
KRISTEN: Oh, wait, can I say one more? Can I say one more? Charlotte Tilbury, Pillow Talk, lip color. 
JACKIE: Wearing it!
KRISTEN: Me too! 

NIKKI: Well, thank you both so much. It was a pleasure chatting with you, and looking forward to chatting again soon. 
KRISTEN: Thank you. Nice to meet you. 
JACKIE: Thanks Nikki!