Charlotte is Recording Her Debut Album!
Love, heartbreak, tears, laughter, growth, repeat. That's my debut album, The Diary of A Twenty-Something, wrapped up in a neat little ten-song package. I have been dreaming of a project like this ever since I started writing music. After channeling the emotional rollercoaster of the last five years into my songwriting, I've finally made this project a reality. But one step remains between now and the album playing over your headphones or speakers: I need support to record it!
Project Story
Are you an empath? The partner who always tries to put the other person first, even if it hurts? Someone who can hear what their loved ones are not saying? Maybe you’re like me, where some days the empathy feels like a superpower, but other days you just feel like an emotional sponge that’s leaking all over the place. Even if you don’t relate to all that, I’m going to assume that you have or currently are healing from a relationship or two that tore your heart into a million little pieces. Hopefully not as many as I've written about! If any of that sounds familiar, this album is for you.
The Diary of A Twenty-Something is an album made up of heartbreak, gallons of tears, countless therapy sessions, the seemingly unending struggle with self-love, and ultimately, the critical realization that having the heart of an empath does not mean settling for less.
Why Am I Doing This?
Music has always been the one thing I could rely on to help me understand my feelings, express what words cannot convey, and process my emotions in the most true way. Listening to music from artists - both big and small - that string together lyrics that say exactly what I needed to hear. These songs were my north star, guiding me through the chaos in my head during countless self-reflective solo jam sessions up the 5 freeway, and the unavoidable sob sessions driving back down. I could always count on those drives to heal a little part of me.
To be completely honest, my goal in writing music was not always to make it part of my career. I used to refuse to think of my songs as anything more than just a passion. More so, something to put out there and let fate or the algorithm decide if it was meant to be anything significant in this world. Probably because of some combination of impostor syndrome and subconscious doubt in my abilities as a singer-songwriter, I did not think my songs were worth being professionally recorded and released.
But the more music I wrote, the more I realized these were songs that could really help people in the same way other artists’ songs have helped me. I want to try my best to get these songs to the people who might need them most. The empaths who are struggling to believe that unconditional love does not mean unconditional forgiveness. Those who feel like they are constantly mending their own wounds because they always seem to understand their partner's perspective, but are often not able to receive the same kind of understanding. The souls who are trying to find a way to heal from the deepest heartbreaks of their lives. Or the folks who are just plain mad.
Over the last few years, I have released two EPs and two Christmas songs, all created and released with essentially no budget and no significant promotion. While I will forever love those projects, this time, I want to do it right. I don't want to just create another album and throw it on streaming platforms in hopes that someone will care enough to listen. I want these songs to go to the people who need them. To the people who they can make a difference for. I believe in my music, and for the first time, I have an incredible opportunity to work with a world-class producer who also fully believes in me and in these songs. We know how powerful the right lyrics and production can be, and we both know I have songs that can truly make an impact on this world. Yet, in order for it to get there, I need the support of my whole community. Not just my producer, an incredible engineer, professional musicians, recording equipment, and studios, but also some major financial support to get this album to the finish line. This is where you can help make the music a reality.
It's time...The Money Talk
Every dollar raised goes directly into the creation, production, and release of this album — nothing is for personal profit. The producer, the engineer, every musician, and all my friends involved are contributing as much as they can, on as low a budget as is reasonable. A project of this quality and execution typically costs more than DOUBLE the amount we are raising to complete this album. However, we all believe that if we're going to do this, we'll do it right! A labor of love requires a whole village, including you. I want to be as open as possible about the costs that go into this album, so if there are any questions about why (or why not) the budget is the way it is, please don't hesitate to ask.
Producing this ten-song album without the support of a label requires a minimum of $27,000, covering:
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Production: $1,200/song = $12,000
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Recording studio: $900
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Studio musicians (drums, bass, guitars, keys): Approximately $7,000
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Recording/mix/master: $7,120
Rather than rushing or cutting corners, this campaign allows the project to be completed with intention, care, and integrity. This budget does not reflect the costs associated with PR, photography, travel, gas (!!!), and the 2.9% transaction fee (although you may choose to cover this fee if you would like to!). I will be driving up and down the 5 (Interstate 5 for you non-SoCal people) multiple times each month to juggle work, family, friends, and this album, so all of that will contribute to the ever-increasing costs (ahem, $6 gas prices)! Of course, while I will be investing as much of my own money as I can in this project, paying for it in full is quite daunting. I hope that, with your help, I will be able to fundraise for all the recording fees and cover the "everything else" fees myself. If we raise enough money, I may even include physical media (CDs/vinyls) in the budget!
The great thing about running this fundraiser on my own website is that I can accept Zelle or Venmo!! If you would like to support through those platforms, please reach out so I can provide my information!
Donation Rewards!!!
Digital Single Download
$25
Donate to the engineer budget and receive a digital download of my single a week before it's released!
Unreleased Demos
$100
Donate to the musician budget and receive a digital download of the demos that didn't make it onto the album!
This package also includes a digital download of the single and the release party invitation.
Album Credit
$500
Donate to the engineer budget and receive a special thank you on the album, anywhere credits are printed!
This package also includes the rewards in every tier below.
Release Party Invitation
$50
Donate to the studio budget and receive an invitation to hear me perform the album live at a private release party!
This package also includes a digital download of the single.
Digital Album Download + Signed Album Print
$250
Donate to the musician budget and be the first to hear the album a week before it's released, along with a signed print of the album cover!
This package also includes a digital download of the single, the unreleased demos, and a release party invitation.
Lifetime VIP Guest List Pass
$1,500
Donate to the production budget and receive ONE lifetime VIP guest list pass to any gig or concert I play! This includes violin performances as well!
This package also includes the rewards in every tier below.
House Concert
$5,000
Invite me to play for your friends/family, event, or even yourself!
This package includes all other rewards EXCEPT the release party invitation and Lifetime VIP Pass.
Donate to my Album Here!
I wouldn't be able to do this without you and your support, so from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!!
Additional donations collected via Zelle/Venmo: $250
$1,538.23 raised
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
Engineer Donor: Digital Single Download
$25
Studio Donor: Release Party Invitation
$50
Musician Donor: Unreleased Demos
$100
Musician Donor: Digital Album Download + Signed Album Cover Print
$250
Engineer Donor: Album Credit
$500
Production Donor: Lifetime VIP Guest List Pass
$1,500
Production Donor: House Concert
$5,000
Other
0/1000
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Timeline
Your support powers a carefully planned pre-production, recording, and release timeline!
Songwriting
Done!
All songs have already been written by yours truly :)
