Help me make an all-ages music video for Asians Have Feelings Too, my new, quirky pop track with magical pop melodies, subversive lyrics, feel-good dance breaks & an epic Freddie Mercury piano molten centre!
It actually comes out of coronaracism, sinophobia & navigating life as a marginalised person. To find out more, please watch my the video above or keep reading.. All donations & shares are gratefully received!
Why I wrote the song, "Asians Have Feelings Too"
Why the world needs this music video
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This song is for ANYONE who's ever had trouble fitting in and dealing with pressure. It's about resistance, the power of music and imagination.
- Positive role models help build respect.
- There are around 1.2 million British East and Southeast Asians in the UK - undervalued community members, creators, professionals... but we've been sidelined from culture and erased from history.
- Last year, coronaracism rose by 300%.
- We also have a long way to go before we can feel safe and welcomed as queer and trans people.
- So far, Asians Have Feelings Too has already had a positive impact on people from young children to older people in at least three different continents... With your help, I could reach more people!
- ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) and LGBTIQA+ people of all ages deserve a nugget of hope and the seeds of positive representation! So this music video can be enjoyed by people from different backgrounds and also includes marginalised people.
Why a music video?
- Music has the power to soothe and entertain. Combined with an energising video, I think this an effective way to convey a serious message.
- People of different races and backgrounds have told me they relate to this. I hope that by making this video, I will inspire others to make music and tell their stories.
Help me make music video history!
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I'm proud to say I have gathered an incredible professional team of around 17 people - most of whom are BESEA, ESEA, BIPOC or LGBGTIQA+ as we are underrepresented in the arts in the UK.
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The core creatives are: Darius Shu (multiple award-winning director/DOP), Tuyet Van Huynh (Producer), Tim Lytc and Raisa Kabir (Dancers) and myself.
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To make this video I will need to pay them as well as the set and costume designers, makeup artist, stylist, set design, accessibility consultants, video editing and also things like crew food, venue, equipment hire so on to make a high calibre, upbeat and uplifting music video.
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Depending on how much we raise, my priority is to pay the team. It is unlikely that I will generate profit from this project. Once my team have been paid, any funds beyond this will help me recoup my costs and labour. I've invested months of time, energy, skills and £545 of my personal money into this project so far plus I will be footing the bill for producing the rewards as well.
About me
- I started playing the piano when I was very young. and drawing. I perform, create visual art, write, self-publish, teach and more!
- Since 2007 I've a track record for making and delivering entertaining and uplifting work to big and small clients and audiences - sometimes on a small or no budget. Here's my recent cv.
- All my recent creative projects had a community and/or educational focus.
- People were stunned to hear that this is the very first time I will be making a music video for my own song with a professional team. (Here's one I self-made in lockdown).
- My lack of confidence comes largely from being underrepresented and marginalised as an older, British-born Chinese, queer, trans artist - something this video aims to address!
- Music really helps me with my mental health. I live with depression, anxiety and neurodivergence. I also perform unpaid care work for a parent and am quite isolated from creative scenes, so it's been extremely hard to find the energy and confidence to develop my art as I would really wish to.
- Over the past year I donated what I could to 28 different humanitarian causes. I also raised organised a small music student event and together we raised £135 for my local foodbank. I assisted and co-ran the Stratford & East London Festival of Music & Drama as a volunteer since 1997.
Ways you can help!
- PICK A REWARD & DONATE - if you're in a position to do so.
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TELL SOMEONE who might care about this project. ESEA, LGBTIQA+ or it might just be someone who is open-minded and likes music and video.
- Follow me on social media and share my posts / about this project.
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK @TheMolluscDimension
TWITTER @MrGloomyTunes
- This fundraiser page also has some handy share tools.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to me!
- This is a massive endeavour for me :)
- Thank you for considering donating and/or spreading the word.
- I can't wait to share Asians Have Feelings Too, the music video with you!
Want to find out more?
If any QTPOC-inclusive interviewers, journalists, bloggers or podcasters want to ask me about the song or the project, please get in touch. ☺️
PHOTO CREDITS:
Shaven Raven Designs (The Mollusc Dimension)
Bristol Trans Portraits (Tim Lytc)
Captured by Corinne (The Mollusc Dimension)
IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
9 images:
1. Character standing on trans spaceship illustration.
2. Be yourself keyboard illustration.
3. Six felt colourful squids on an upright piano.
4. "I just want you to know I exist" and "Home Grown Zine" - 2 perks.
6. "Asians Have Feelings Too" brown paper stickers & AHFT spaceship on neon stars.
7. The Mollusc Dimension smiling at a large transparent plastic fish in the garden.
8. Spaceship with portholes in trans colours surrounded by multicolour stars in a heartshape.
9. AHFT fundraiser main image with (left to right) Darius Shu, Tim Lytc, The Mollusc Dimension, Tuyet Van Huynh & Raisa Kabir outlined in white on an illustrated background with the