I'm taking a sec to communicate with my Kickstarter backers as to what's been going on behind the scenes as we prepare your pledge packages. Also for those who missed the Kickstarter campaign to pre-order my album "For Love", here's a few updates on what's going on.
Once the project was successful, it took like 2 weeks for the funds to get collected by Amazon, and has yet to be received by the Jams Team. But we got all the tracks mastered by Sterling, one of the top mastering companies in the country.
I'm designing allll the art for the Kickstarter CD cover and the final "For Love" CD itself, and I really wanted to do a good job. After countless hours on my irritatingly packed-with-stuff laptop, I finished every panel for the cd cover fold, and sent it off to get printed up with the freshly mastered tracks. You guys are getting THREE additional tracks that are not going to be on the actual album... For a total of 15 songs including an acoustic version of one of my fave Bob Marley songs.
I had a photo shoot with Angelina Hills, the Maui photographer that took the cover for my first album. She did such an amazing job, capturing the essence of me in my home island. We didn't want shots in a studio, we wanted to continue with pictures set in the natural beauty of Maui. Going through the shots, we picked our fave's and put together the art for the updated webpage and email pages that you'll all be getting to download the music.
I worked with my brother Jordan to perfect the new "For Love" logo which will be the cohesive art throughout the KS and actual album. Once we got the designs perfect for the exclusive 50th State of Mind t-shirt, we found the best printing company to print the shirts, hats, posters, etc on the best quality garment, paper, etc. The designs are in to them now and the shirts and other stuff will be printed throughout the next two weeks.
Thanksgiving weekend is here, so its kinda junk that the week is so short. Although we're working through the weekend, not everyone in the world is, so for some things, this will be a short week.
The CD's and T-shirts are going to be taking a little longer to produce than hoped, and we don't want to keep you waiting for the music. So we decided that for every backer over $35, we're going to give you the link to download a copy of the album digitally, too. Hoping to get everyone that in their email inbox by this FRIDAY. Then if you DID get the physical CD in your pledge package, then you'll receive it by the 2nd week in December, signed and delivered directly to you, along with anything else you pledged for.
I have a few YouTube videos I still have to make, and I have started with the handwritten lyrics for those of you out there who wanted that. I am also even going to be making an exclusive decoupage (collage) for a backer's ipad! Can't wait to finish:) xo
All in all, by the end, every backer will have received their physical things a little more than a month after the last day of this project, which was October 30th. Thank you again you guys! I want everyone to see that this Kickstarter project was a way for me connect more closely with my fans and SKIP the big label formula in creating my album. I do not have a million workers doing everything for me. My small team and I bust our butts every day on every single aspect, but I prefer it this way. Its more rewarding in the end and I have more creative control.
Here's a little preview of the front of the Kickstarter album you'll be receiving... I went with the decoupage-theme throughout the Kickstarter designs for that real hand-made feel.
Be looking out for more cool stuff coming soon!
I'm heading to California this weekend for a few shows!
Friday November 25th - Arterra at the Del Mar Marriott *FREE SHOW!
Saturday November 26th - Sunsets in San Juan Capistrano *FREE SHOW!
Sunday November 27th - Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach
Tuesday November 29th - Don The Beachcombers in Long Beach
Friday December 2nd - Avalon Night Club in Santa Clara, CA with the Common Kings and Tribal Theory
Saturday December 3rd - RockIt Room in San Francisco, CA with the Common Kings and Tribal Theory
Also, the "Higher Than the Clouds" music video is coming soon! We'll make a big splash on YouTube and Facebook with it, so be on the look out. Check here for a preview and some outtakes of the shoot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-SHwJz8bPY
I have written and recorded a Christmas song... its called "Come Back To Me (This Christmastime)"... (ive always wanted a song with parenthesis in it)... look for it on iTunes hopefully by next week! In the meantime, hang tight and do look forward to ALL my new tunes coming to you super super soon!
