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.
Tristan Eckerson’s first full-length
Classically trained piano player and retired punk singer Tristan Eckerson ventured into electronic music making while earning his master’s degree in production and sound design in San Francisco. Shortly after that, the multi-instrumentalist began releasing online EPs, blending his new muse with influences from younger years — Pink Floyd, Sigur Ros and composers Steve Reich and Phillip Glass among them. Now, with a collection of new songs written, Eckerson is ready to record his first full-length album, Pan Galactic Three Day Pass. He aims to raise $6,000 by Sunday, May 29, to finish production, book a tour, hire a publicist, get his music copyrighted and published, and manufacture CDs and merchandise.
Devils In Dust’s debut album
You may know Leigh Glass and Corey Bullman from their own band t-shirts, as the couple points out in a blooper-filled Kickstarter video. The two recently traveled to Muscle Shoals, Ala. with drummer Jacob Bauman to record part of their band Devils In Dust’s debut self-titled album. After that, the project continued at Echo Mountain Studios, where musicians from local groups like The Honeycutters and Steep Canyon Rangers contributed to the moody mix of tunes. “Some of these songs will break your heart,” Glass says, “and some of the others are rather uplifting — even funny.” Devils in Dust aims to raise $7,500 by Sunday, May 29, to pay for mixing, mastering and marketing the work and pressing CDs.
Travers Brothership makes an album
Kyle and Eric Travers started their self-described neo-soul funk rock ‘n’ roll band Travers Brothership in 2012 after a long process of gestation.”Being twins, we began learning and playing music together at a very young age and soon fell in love with it,” Kyle says in their Kickstarter video as family photos corroborate his claim. “Before long, we decided we would dedicate our lives to a career in music together.” A 2015 tour funded their seven-member band’s initial recording sessions at The Eagle Room in Asheville, but they aim to raise $5,000 more by Thursday, June 2, to cover remaining studio expenses and the distribution of their debut full-length, A Way to Survive.
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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