Here’s a music video we made for the single ‘Emily’ off of my Kickstarter-supported debut album, Yarrow.
In 2015, many of you banded together to support me in my journey to record my debut album, Yarrow. The results were magical: Yarrow was released on Biophilia Records to enthusiastic reviews, and I’m so proud of the album we made. And I never could have made it without the support of my friends and allies. (If you haven’t heard it yet, here’s a link to the album.)
In the four years that have passed since ‘Yarrow’ was recorded, a lot has happened-most notably, I’ve moved from a frenetic life in the big city to a little town in upstate New York. The move to the countryside afforded me some much-needed quiet space to think and write, and it inspired a new batch of songs. Pretty soon, I had a whole album’s worth of material. And I noticed a theme emerging: many of my new songs are inspired by mythology, be it ancient Greek and Celtic myth, or the stories we carry with us and tell ourselves every day to help us make sense of this crazy world.
Now I’m incredibly inspired to bring these songs to life and share them with you. I’ve assembled a dream team of recording pros and amazing musicians, and we are ready to go. All that’s missing now are the funds we need to make ‘Asphodel’ a reality!
A live performance of my song ‘White Water,’ from my debut album.
‘Asphodel’ will be unique in more ways than one: for this album, we’re bringing the recording crew and musicians to us! My husband Bram and I are working hard to finish the new home recording studio we’ve been building for the past two years since we moved upstate, and I’m thrilled that ‘Asphodel’ will be the first project recorded here. Recording the songs in the environment I wrote them in is sure to bring out a unique sound in the music, and we’ll capture magic that will be different from what we’d get in a regular recording studio. Having the crew here at home will also allow us to focus completely while recording in a retreat-like atmosphere.
Fans of ‘Yarrow’ will be pleased to hear that I’ll be teaming up with producer Benjamin Lazar Davis again for this album. My collaboration with Ben Davis was a huge part of what made ‘Yarrow’ such a unique record, and I couldn’t imagine anyone I’d rather work with on this new one. He’s teaming up with pro engineer Eli Crews, and my band (Bram Kincheloe, JJ Byars, Damon Hankoff, Kai Ando, Erin Webb) will be joined by some special guests as we make the magic happen together in our studio.
Many of you know that creative instrumental arrangements are a big part of my sound. The more generous the budget, the more ambitious I can be when I compose the background soundscapes that complement my songs on ‘Asphodel’. A bigger budget will allow me to record string, woodwind and brass orchestration that will elevate the songs and take them to a new level, a sound that I can’t necessarily create at live shows. Building soundscapes with creative orchestration will allow me to help these songs find their true shape.
Making a great studio-quality record with talented musicians is the best thing in the world, as far as I’m concerned. But it isn’t cheap. Between recording, mixing, mastering, album artwork, hard-copy printing and PR campaigns, it can cost a whole lot to pull the whole thing off. And frankly, without the support of my friends and allies, a project like this simply isn’t possible.
Your support made my first album a reality. And if you enjoyed ‘Yarrow’, if you believe in the music I make, I would be grateful beyond words if you contributed to this campaign, at whatever level feels right. No donation is too small; it all helps me reach my goal! If you invest in this project, you’re part of the community that helps me bring this album to life.
$12,800: THE ESSENTIALS
100% of the proceeds of this Kickstarter will go directly to the recording process. Here’s where the money goes:
SECONDARY GOAL: $15,000
If we reach this goal, I’ll be able to add a wider range of orchestral instruments to the tracks, get experimental, and expand the album’s sound.
If I reach OVER $15,000, the funds will go directly to hard-copy printing, album art design, and even a music video!
If you’re inspired to pitch in, I thank you in advance. I’m grateful beyond words for your belief in my music. But even if you’re unable to contribute at this time, if you’re on board with this project, help me make it a success by SHARING THIS CAMPAIGN on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, telegram, passenger pigeon, or any other means that you like—every time you share this campaign with friends and followers, it increases the chances that I’ll achieve this goal in time! And it’s essential that I reach my goal in 30 days: Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing platform. If I don’t reach $12,800, I don’t get any of my supporters’ contributions. Every time you tell someone about this project, we inch closer to making some really, really special music.
I’ve created a few reward packages and goodies as an expression of my eternal gratitude for your support. There are digital and hard-copy albums, t-shirts, postcards, homemade dreamcatchers, house concerts — there’s something for everyone at every contribution level. Please check out the offerings to the right of the page, and keep your eyes peeled for new, exclusive rewards that I’ll be putting up during the campaign.
If you invest in this project, I can make a great album. I will never take your belief in my music for granted. Without your support, I could not do what I do. You make it possible, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Now let’s make a record!
XOXO
Kim
It’s always an adventure to make a record—it’s a big creative undertaking, takes a whole bunch of time, expense and effort, and unexpected challenges always crop up during the process. But it’s worth all the effort, planning and beautiful chaos: recording my songs in the unique setting of our brand new home studio — with magical musicians and recording pros — will allow me to capture the songs as I hear them in my head. And then I get to share what we made with you, which is the true purpose of me making this music in the first place. I can’t wait to get started!