Follow this link to my fundraising campaign or scan the QR code below.
https://KICKSTARTER.COM\FUNDRAISINGLINK
Your donation will help me cover the massive costs of renting studio time, hiring musicians, paying mixing and mastering engineers (a combined $6,000+ lump sum), pressing a vinyl double record, and managing a professional print, radio, and online release campaign. Thank you!
The Story
Folks, I’ve been playing music for a long time. It’s gotten me into and out of trouble, carried me through the worst parts of my life, and delivered me to my best. I’ve always worked hard—hustled through each step, given it everything—but there’s always been something missing. There was some traction I could never gain, some piece I could never find; a missing element I needed to put it all together. And I feel that I’ve finally figured it out: I need help.
When I was younger, I felt I could do everything myself. I would write the songs, track all the instruments, engineer the whole thing myself, and release it how I felt a project should be released. And it never went anywhere. That simply doesn't work; I need help, and honestly, I’m proud to finally ask for it. With this fundraising campaign, my aim is to do it right—to do right by my music, to do right by the people who believe in me enough to play with me, and especially do right by those who have helped me on this path so far. If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of those people.
I’ve spent the last two years on the road, playing more than 200 shows each year, striving to save up enough to make the album of my dreams. So far, I’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars and invested hundreds upon hundreds of hours on this record, but I just can’t take it across the finish line alone.
Here is the dream: a sprawling country & folk double album comprising 21 tracks which explore—through unspeakable tragedy, dark humor, utter absurdity, and inane playfulness—the American West. It’s already written, it’s already in progress, but it’s unfortunately stalling. The insurmountable costs ahead of me near $30,000. That’s a lot for a working musician. So I’m asking for a partner in you. Between the money I’ve already invested and the money I will continue to earn and invest out of my own pocket, I believe I can wrangle up half of the money I need. I hope you saddle up and ride with me. Thank you so much for considering spending your hard earned money on me. It means the world to me and I can’t possibly express my gratitude.
What Are We Giving For?
This album is sprawling—both artistically and logistically. It features massive maximalist country rock tunes, vulnerable folk songs, delicate bluegrass ballads, skits, interludes, and rambling honky-tonk waltzes, and plain old two-steppers.
At present, I’ve tracked over 20 musicians playing a broad assortment of instruments: accordion and banjo, saws and synthesizers, entire string sections, pedal steel, fiddle, and everything in between. Personally, I’ve played everything I can to cut costs and spent hundreds of hours editing this record to save on post-production expenses, but so much of this—and the joy of music in general—relies on the talents of others who deserve to be paid.
After principal recording has concluded, each track must be mixed and mastered. These 22 tracks each require individualized professional post-production. It’s not uncommon for a single track’s mix and master to cost $200 each, which means $400 22 times. This is the largest cost of all.
Then we need to press the album. The length of this work means it will be a double album replete with special jackets, inserts, and a two-fold sleeve.
After it’s brought into the world, we’ll need to tell the world about it and hiring a PR team to handle press and radio ain’t cheap. I’ll also be administering a marketing campaign and ad space costs money.
Then comes the easy part (for me at least). I’ll tour this thing relentlessly. I plan to spend several months on the road making sure that your investment in me and this project goes as far as possible.
So to recap, that’s: tracking, mixing, mastering, pressing, promoting, marketing, and touring.
What Will I Get For My Support?
Well partner, that kinda depends on your taste. After a whole bunch of research on how to run one of these things, I created a list of gifts I hope will feel worthy of your generosity. We’ve got tons of exclusive items, one of a kind lathe-cut records, and limited run merchandise we will only ever offer once for this fundraising campaign.
And if, as Willis Alan Ramsey says, your tastes get a little strange, you can always count on me to peddle some bizarre pledge gifts as well. Baseball cards, boudoir shoots, existential conversations with wisemen, and prank calls are on my list of unconventional items I’d be happy to trade for a donation.
I am blessed to share gifts from some of my many talented friends as well. They’ve donated everything from traditionally-tooled Diné silver jewelry to tattoos and woodcuts (as well as a litany of novelty items and experiences you pledge for at your own peril).
What Are You Doing On Your End?
Well, I’ve been doing quite a bit. If you know me you know I’m an industrious guy; I never stop hustling. I work tirelessly for my dream. Over the past three years, I played over 600 shows and there’s no end in sight to my touring and gigging. And frankly, that’s the way it should be. I play music full time and I should be working as hard as any of you.
I’ve been busy working on this record since June 2023, and frankly, quite a bit before then. While the vast majority of these songs were written while I lived in Arizona, some are from as far back as 2017. The process of an album this ambitious is yearslong.
I’ve spent $9,000 so far and several hundred hours on this album so far. I’ve stayed up all night editing takes, deciding between nearly identical versions of the same lick or line, agonizing over minor mistakes, and composing new ideas . I fully expect to invest many more thousands of my own money on this record, on PR, on associated merch, and especially on future touring to promote this release. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m not looking for a handout, I’m looking for a partner. What I am asking of you is to split the cost with me. My $20,000 and yours together will do just that.