Crowdfunding platforms make it possible for individuals and organizations of any size to harness social networks and raise start-up capital for projects that might otherwise fail due to lack of funding. Each week, Xpress highlights notable Western North Carolina crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd.
Lyric’s new EP Perspective
Leeda “Lyric” Jones’ music exists to make people move and feel good, according to the artist, who got her start busking after encouragement from her dad. He’s now the bass player in Jones’ band, which churns out a mixture of pop melodies and upbeat jams for increasingly large crowds. “Seeing people get down to a funky groove we might be laying down, it’s amazing. Sometimes I want to get outside of myself and be part of the crowd,” she says. Lyric’s last recording session was in 2011, but the artist is poised to make a four-song EP titled Perspective. “I just feel like it’s time to bring something fresh to the fans,” she says, and “have something that represents me now.” Lyric aims to raise $5,000 by Friday, Dec. 4, to pay for studio time and get Perspective into the hands of listeners and interested record labels.
The WE DO Campaign documentary
“The WE DO Campaign launched in 2011 in a church basement in Asheville,” reads a crowdfunding page by The Campaign for Southern Equality. “The concept was simple: LGBT couples would apply for and be denied marriage licenses in their hometowns all across the south.” A filmmaker then captured 85 hours of footage in multiple states over several years — footage that depicts Southerners facing intolerance in the place they’re proud to call home. “The Supreme Court marriage victory changed our country,” reads the crowdfunding page. “That decision was born out of decades of work in the courts, in the legislatures and in the streets of our hometowns. In the south, one part of that story was the people who took a stand with the WE DO Campaign.” The Campaign for Southern Equality aims to raise $7,500 by Tuesday, Dec. 1, to have existing footage edited into a 30-minute film.
Send your crowdsourcing campaign news to kmcreynolds@mountainx.com. A limited number of campaigns will be highlighted each week, at Xpress’ discretion. Campaigns must be locally based and should represent a current project with an achievable goal. Conditions are subject to change. Read about more Western North Carolina projects here.
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