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Von Bieker hasn't added a story.
Am I naive? Probably. But hope got me this far.
I'm hoping you'll help me make my second album exactly the way it deserves to be made. I need your help because making an album is expensive. Getting an album heard is expensive, too.
In short, I need you and I'm so grateful that you're considering supporting this record.
You can hear some of these songs in progress here >>
How much does an album cost?
More than $10,000, to be honest. But I've set my goal there for three reasons. First – that number still seems huge to me. It's a challenge to my own dumb hope. Second, I'll be working with Paul Zacharias collaboratively to make this record, so I'll be doing a lot of work from home as well as in studio (more on the process later). Finally, I'm investing my own money in this project, too, and will be applying for grants to help with production and promotion of the record once it's done.
Here's some more detail about costs.
The production side of things will cost me about $9000 for 11 songs. That's recording studio time, production time and mixing. And that's low because of the work I'll be doing myself.
I'll want to pay session musicians for certain songs. Solid session players often charge $150 per song and they're worth every penny. One player per song ).
Then there's mastering at another $700 or so, bringing us already to over $12,000.
Of course - that's not the end of the story. There's production of actual CD's and ... finally, vinyl (almost $2000 on its own).
Yes - this record will become an actual record.
About Dumb Hope
The phrase came to me in the midst of bad news. War in Ukraine just beginning. Pandemic unrest boiling over. Ice caps melting faster than anticipated. Religious leaders getting caught with their literal pants down. Again. You know, the apocalyptic kind of bad news.
And yet, I have this hope. This crazy, stupid hope.
I wrote a song about it and immediately felt this was a defining phrase for me. This is more than a song. This is a body of work that taps into my deepest beliefs about the world.
I started to pull together songs I'd been writing through the pandemic and others I'd written long before. New songs kept coming. I whittled down to 11 songs that cover the spectrum of a hope that survives the darkest moments of life. These songs deal with parenting, family breakdown, loss, death, abuse, cult control ... and hope.
Musically these are "indie folk" songs. I have a rock album I want to make but this isn't it.
Paul Zacharias makes great acoustic folk music with atmosphere in the style of artists like Gregory Alan Isaakov, Sufjan Stevens, so I'm trusting him to make these songs better than I could on my own.
About Paul Zacharias
I met Paul through mutual friend and musician Karla Adolphe. I designed the logo and branding for his studio, Wheelhouse Sound, in exchange for a day in the studio together.
I had no idea how we'd work together, but even in early zoom conversations Paul and I clicked. In person we had so much shared history both as struggling artists and struggling believers that it was hours before we hit record.
We worked on the title track for this record, Dumb Hope. Immediately Paul began to unlock the song in a way I hadn't been able to reach in my demo versions. The timing and feel transformed.
I went home and sat with what we'd made, adding instruments and ideas in my home studio. Paul did the same.
Weeks later I was listening to Paul's mix of the song driving a red dirt road in PEI and tears came to my eyes. The song moved me. Paul helped me capture the heart in the music.
I wanted more of this shared process. I let Paul know that I wanted to him to produce this project with me, not for me. I'd do a lot of the work from home where I feel more comfortable to explore. I'd bring what I learned recording my first album myself at home and Paul would bring his taste and skills as a producer, engineer, mixer and multi-instrumentalist.
Paul is open to this collaborative process and I feel safe to push back on ideas, wrestle with others and share my stupidest hunches that just might lead somewhere.
That kind of dumb hope is just what this record needs.
Why I Want Your Help
In reality, I need your help. I simply can't afford to make this record the way I want to make it on my own.
But this also presents an opportunity to look at this project in a new way.
Dumb hope is a fire we stoke together. Hope grows only in community so it makes perfect sense that this record takes community, too.
You have a lot to offer beyond your financial gift.
Just knowing you're with me on this will make it much easier to push through the inevitable setbacks and exhausting moments that hit a project of this scale.
I'll be sharing our process as we go and looking for your feedback.
There'll be opportunities for you to actually be on this record - even if you can't sing :)
I'm excited to see how we shape this work together!
If you have any more questions please let me know.
Let me end by saying THANK YOU!
Even feeling I have the right to ask you for this help is a big deal and I'm so grateful for your support at any level.
In hope,
(Dave) Von Bieker
* Foil Letters images by rawpixel.com on Freepik
Perks
Join me, Paul Zacharias and other supporters for an online party
where I'll play some songs, we'll talk about the making of the album
and have a lot of fun celebrating what we've done together.
Party is also included in all other rewards except "CREDITS".
- 2 claimed
- 3 remaining
Have the entire album performed live for you and your friends,
community, company - whoever and wherever!
You will be contacted soon after your contribution to claim a
date for your performance. Shows can be outdoors or indoors, depending
on current event guidelines in your area.
This perk also includes access to the exclusive online release party!
Alongside my eternal gratitude, receive credit as an executive producer for Dumb Hope as well as all other rewards - that's a private concert as well as a vinyl, CD and digital copy of the album and any other merch.
This perk also includes access to the exclusive online release party!
Highlights
See all activity60FAQ
When and how will I get my rewards?
My goal is to have the album recorded, mixed and mastered by early spring 2023, with physical copies ready for summer. Of course, this could take longer, and if I don't reach my funding goal it most certainly will.
Physical rewards will be shipped to you once the products are complete at the shipping rate of your choice. I'll be in touch about shipping options when the time comes. Vinyl can be pricey to ship depending where you are but I'll do my best to find good rates.
What if you don't reach your goal?
I've set a goal that is ambitious – but also does not cover the full project. I'll be funding the remainder, and essentially I'll make this record as quickly as I can afford to. Paul and I have backup timelines in place in case the funding goal is not met, so essentially the deadline will get pushed back by several months or more depending on how far we are from the $10,000 total. But the record WILL be made.
Is this an all-or-nothing campaign?
No. Whatever you give, I get – whether we reach the goal or not. The goal is important because if I don't reach it I face significant delays making this record, but I didn't want to make this an all-or-nothing project like Kickstarter offers because honestly every little bit helps and I'm going to make this record somehow regardless. On Kickstarter, you don't get charged unless the project reaches the full goal. If I were to raise 9,999 and not the full 10,000, I'd get nothing. This works as a motivator for you to give, but it doesn't feel right for this project.
Why this Crowdfundr site?
Crowdfundr is a Canadian crowdfunding website with very good tools and rates. Kickstarter is the obvious choice in this space, but they only offer all-or-nothing funding and their fees are higher. All crowdfunding sites take a cut your contributions to fund their service. Totally fair. Crowdfundr allows you to cover those fees if you want, which is transparent and awesome.
The Songs
The final track listing is subject to change.
- Hasn't Happened Yet
- It's The Little Things
- Dumb Hope
- Asheville
- I Left You In The Arms of California
- Broken Down
- All God's Poems
- Little Bird
- What You Don't Know
- We Don't Even Fight Anymore
- Two Little Hands
- Azaleas
Activity
Join me, Paul Zacharias and other supporters for an online party
where I'll play some songs, we'll talk about the making of the album
and have a lot of fun celebrating what we've done together.
Party is also included in all other rewards except "CREDITS".
- 2 claimed
- 3 remaining
Have the entire album performed live for you and your friends,
community, company - whoever and wherever!
You will be contacted soon after your contribution to claim a
date for your performance. Shows can be outdoors or indoors, depending
on current event guidelines in your area.
This perk also includes access to the exclusive online release party!
Alongside my eternal gratitude, receive credit as an executive producer for Dumb Hope as well as all other rewards - that's a private concert as well as a vinyl, CD and digital copy of the album and any other merch.
This perk also includes access to the exclusive online release party!
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