General Update, and the Life of an Indie Musician

Wow, I realize it has been a while since my last post.

And boy have I been busy!

These past few months I have been finishing up my new album ‘Indelible.’ I went to Lark in the Morning music camp, Burningman, participated in fun festivals like the Handcar Regatta and the Rivertown Revival, and went on tour with Those Darn Accordions. I’ve been continuing to learn accordion repair at Smythe’s Accordion Center. And the 2011 Accordion Babes Album and Pin-up Calendar was launched at the Cotati Accordion Festival!

While all of these fun and amazing opportunities have been mind expanding and wonderful, there has continued to loom the question of how does an independent artist make a living at this lifestyle?

Lark Camp

With the Neverwas Haul at Burningman

Dressed up at the Handcar Regatta

Backstage at an Oktoberfest with Those Darn Accordions!

In the year of “going for it,” that question has not been fully answered. I have continued to have the lucky support of the years I spent working as an architect in the form of unemployment. Which will soon be ending.

So far, it seems that touring has been a semi-lucrative strategy. Luckily my new album is almost done, and I will have new music to sell. But do people really buy CDs and music anymore? I am also learning to silk-screen. I am excited to be offering merchandise with my fun new logo-design. I don’t want to just offer the standard t-shirts – I want to have many types of up-cycled clothing with cool custom Amber Lee and the Anomalies designs on them. I am just now working on the first versions.

The "Accordion Love Tattoo" Graphic to be silk-screened on clothes

And I have also launched a Kickstarter fundraiser. This trend has become popular in the self-funded world of indie music and films. So far I have paid for this entire album out of my own pocket – and I am amazed that I have been able to afford it. I have made sacrifices and special arrangements to make sure that this album gets done before I loose momentum.

I am SO excited about these new songs and the way the have turned out! And I also decided to have it mixed by the talented and renowned engineer, Oz Fritz.

So now I am on the brink of it’s release, doing some accounting, and realizing the real cost of creating - $4,095 so far, and I haven't yet mastered it, or sent it to print. Oy.

This Kickstarter fundraiser is a way to pre-sell the album to my fans, and is a way to hopefully pay myself back for the cost of this album. One can always hope.

The cover of "Indelible"

As I reflect on the cost of creation, I now feel guilty for all of those albums that I have gotten for free by downloading them from my friends… and all the other things I have felt entitled to receive for free… And yet, I know that without that access I would not have nearly as much appreciation for all of the amazing artists that have entered my ears and heart. I feel like I am inspired to try to give back to these artists in some way now that I am “living the dream.” And yet, I don’t really have the money at this point in my life. I will pledge to make contributions to them when I am able to make a reasonable living at this music lifestyle. I'm starting a list. If you think you need to be on it, please let me know :-).

And so, with that, I am asking for support.

I would love to give you my music for free because I want you to hear it, and enjoy the experience that it gives you.

And I also want to continue to be able to make music for you, and for the world which requires that I make money. There has got to be a way to make these two ideas work together.

Exciting projects underway!

Since I’ve been back from my European tour, I have been in the Amber Lee and the Anomalies Dream Factory:

Working on the 2011 Accordion Babes Album and Pin-up Calendar submission including mixing a song for the Album, and doing a photoshoot, working on new art for the album cover, tshirts, and merchandise. And last but not least, recording a new track for my upcoming album.

The first order of business was to finish mixing the song “Alpha.” I co-wrote this song with Devra Wolf. She and I originally met through West Coast Songwriters, but continued to foster our friendship in Jai Josefs' Saturday Songshop where we co-wrote two songs. They’re both “hits,” but I thought Alpha would be a fun one for the calendar.

You can get a preview and listen to it on my website here.

The next thing I had to do was to fly up to Seattle to work with the extremely talented Michael Doucette, for another successful photoshoot. It was a long and grueling day that made me appreciate the skills of modeling. Wearing uncomfortable clothes, sitting in weird positions, being out in the elements… and the 12 hour day!

But, we got amazing pictures!

See these:

The photo for the 2011 Accordion Babes Calendar

In a Dream

Lights, Camera, Sit really still!

Glamour on the Balustrade

The 2011 Accordion Babes Album and Pin-up Calendar will be offiically released on Saturday August 21st at the Cotati Accordion Festival! Renee de la Prade, the originator, has big plans to make a special feature at the festival which will include a Babes processional and The Hubbub Club!

Meanwhile, I have been making plans for releasing my next album. I have a tiny bit more tracking to do, then some final editing, mixing and mastering! I’m also working on the cover design and all of the associated merchandise that I will be offering on my upcoming tours! In addition, I have been learning about how independent artist are using new internet based fundraising tools to pay for recording, and printing their albums. I am excited to see all of the successful campaigns that indie artists are running! Expect to hear more about my plans to fund the release of my next album, soon!

Nothing like time alone in a foreign country to jump-start the creative juices! I wrote a song that I knew had to make it onto this upcoming album. So I squeaked it in with some help from Jesse Wickman and two other ubiquitous Santa Rosa musicians, Henry Nagel and Paul Hoffman! It has a distinctive old-time Rock-N-Roll flavor that I'm really excited about! Most of the songs on the album I have been performing for at least 6 months to 2 years, but this one is brand-spanking-new! You’ll have to just wait until you see me, or get the album to hear it!

Stay tuned!