We’ve reached $2000!

The backer who gets me to $2300 or the 44th backer (which ever comes first) – gets to choose the third song I record for my Roses and Ruin live-in-studio album. It has to be trad, out of copyright, and in a language I can pronounce. If it fits the theme of the album, bonus (but not required). They will also get a copy of that album when it is completed (which should be about a year, as the plan is to record and release one new song for it a month).

In addition, I’m going to be doing a backer’s only concert (read more about that in this update), and that applies to backers of any level.

If 694 of you bought me a drink, or 231 of you took me out to lunch, or 139 of you took me to dinner, or 70 of you took me to dinner and a movie… only instead of doing those things you chose to back me for what you would have spent, I’ll get there in no time!

On a more serious note, making this album means everything to me. I’ve got some really shiny new songs that I very much want to share with you, and I think you’ll really enjoy. I miss being in the studio playing with Alec and Betsy, more than I can possibly begin to express. You, or at least some of you have been waiting eagerly for the next album to come out, and I want to oblige you!

Also, this is what I want to be doing with my life. Making music, sharing it with the world… I’m willing to give up just about everything I have to make this dream come true. I’ve put in notice for my apartment, I’m selling off as much of my stuff as I can bear to part with, and sinking every cent I have into making this happen. Its not quite as crazy as it sounds… I won’t have much in the way of traditional income for the summer months anyway, so I wouldn’t have been able to keep my place for long. I’ll spend a lot of the time that I’m not recording off camping and hiking with my mom, and performing everywhere I possibly can. Because if I’m going to do this, really make my way as a musician, I need to be out there doing it. Not all the gigs are going to pay, not all of them will have large audiences, but that’s okay. Those small personal ones are where I get to really connect with you, and that’s one of the things I love.

I can’t lie, I’d like to be able to at least make my money back from my albums, and make enough extra off them to at least feed myself (and maybe enough to record the next one so I don’t have to ask for help?) That’s my stomach talking. Its not why I do this. I do it for love, for hope, for dreams, for the music, and for you. I do it because I can’t imagine not doing it. I do it because I was singing before I could talk and I’ve never stopped for long since.

I’m not asking you to do it all for me, believe me I’m putting everything I have into it and then some. I’m jut asking you to help get me the rest of the way.

For your time, your love, your support, your belief… Thank you.