YouTube sensation Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, and her husband, Aron Accurso, have released their debut album, titled “I’m So Happy.” The 23-track collection, released on Sept. 25, features a variety of songs, including reimagined versions of fan favorites from Ms. Rachel’s YouTube channel and classic children’s tunes. The album also includes original compositions designed to foster bonding and social skills among young listeners.
"Music is such a wonderful way for people to bond, for parents to bond. I know from the minute my kids were born, we’re singing to them," Ms. Rachel stated. She launched her YouTube channel in 2019 with her husband, who is known online as “Mr. Aron.”
Accurso, a music educator, expressed enthusiasm for children engaging with a diverse range of instruments on the album, citing tracks like “Icky Sticky Bubble Gum” which features a clarinet. The couple aims for the music to be inclusive, with songs like “I Could Be Your Friend” providing social skill scripts for children, including those with disabilities or autism.
The album explores various musical genres, with the single “I Love a Rainbow” presented as a bossa nova track, and a rendition of “Old McDonald” leaning into a bluegrass style.
"Music is at the heart of our show," Accurso said. "And so, we’ve always wanted to release the music and have families experience the music away from the screen."
Co-produced by Accurso and Grammy winner Scott Riesett, “I’m So Happy” boasts elaborate arrangements. Accurso worked with a team of 19 vocalists and 42 instrumentalists to expand and elevate familiar songs. "It was a process of, you know, looking at them and saying, ‘OK, what else can we do to this to make it sparkle more? What can we add to it? What does it need to be on the album?’" he explained. The couple hopes the album will encourage spontaneous "living room dance parties."
Ms. Rachel has also utilized her platform to advocate for humanitarian causes, including the plight of children in Gaza and those detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She has also commented on social justice issues, such as the death of Nolan Wells in Mississippi. Ms. Rachel views her advocacy as intertwined with her work, stating, "I view myself as an advocate for children’s rights so anytime they’re being violated by anyone anywhere, I want to be speaking out."