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(Photo by Stephan Pruitt Photography)
My name is Jane Kramer. I'm a 38 year-old touring folk singer, songwriter, poet and story- teller. I live in the mountains of Asheville, N.C., with my husband, our dog and cat. I have been playing music professionally for more than 18 years now, writing songs for 22 years and singing since I could speak.
I believe that telling thoughtful, poetic stories about the beauty, mess, humor and heartbreak of our human experience through my songs and sharing them with others in a relatable way is why I am here on this planet. I believe deeply in music's ability to foster connection, honesty, love and social change. I get out of bed every morning with the intention of touching hearts and spreading compassion and hope in the form of songs. I consider myself to be in service with my music, and believe I have a duty to help make people's lives better. I donate about 35 percent of my performances per year to causes I believe in.
I made the switch from full-time social worker and half-time musician to full-time musician about four years ago, and it's been a profound gift to throw myself head-on into what I know is my life's true purpose. I've logged thousands of miles touring over the last 12 years and have shared my songs in listening rooms, folk clubs, bars, churches, festivals, prisons, theaters, animal shelters, classrooms and libraries in several different countries.
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(Photo by Dylan Trivette - Trivette Images)
In the last handful of years, I have fully given myself over to honing my songwriting craft. I have written a new full-length album of songs that, I believe, demonstrate this immense growth and me reaching my potential as a songwriter. This collection of songs is called Valley of the Bones and it tells a cohesive story about self-acceptance, love, partnership, grief and faith.
This is a story that I believe is worth telling and sharing with the world. By contributing to this campaign, you will be helping me do just that and I humbly ask you to join me on this journey.
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(Photo by Matt Daniels)
I assembled an incredible group of Asheville-based musicians, (Free Planet Radio, which is River Guerguerian, Eliot Wadopian and Chris Rosser as well as Billy Cardine,) whom I am lucky enough to have been performing with over the past three years and we tracked the songs at Sound Temple Studios in Asheville with Adam Johnson, engineer and producer of Sound Lab Studios at the helm. We had some amazing special guest musicians join us for some of the songs, including Nicky Sanders of the Steep Canyon Rangers on fiddle and Franklin Keel on cello.
There are 10 beautiful, juicy, nuanced, artfully produced songs for you to hear!![]()
(Photo by Dylan Trivette - Trivette Images)
This is my first crowdfunding campaign, but my third album
Making a living as a full-time touring musician, or an artist of any kind, is difficult and takes a lot of hustling and a lot of heart. I play a lot of four-hour solo gigs in places where no one is listening, just to pay the bills. It's all worth it. I continue to make my art.
Making a quality album and promoting it is expensive, even when going about it as frugally as possible, which I'm certainly trying to do. Paying for studio rental, paying the musicians, engineer and producers what they are worth, mixing and mastering, duplicating the album, paying a publicist, paying for marketing and merchandise costs can add up very quickly to thousands of dollars.
I have self-funded my last two albums (with some generous help from my family,) and my husband and I have invested everything into this project that we are financially able to at this point. It's difficult for me to ask people for anything. I'd always rather be giving. It's even harder for me to ask for money. But one thing that sharing my music has shown me over and over again is that people are generous and want to support things that are made with intention and beauty, things that will make a difference. Giving builds community, and I'm all about building community. I believe that my fans and supporters care about my music and want to help me fully bring this project to fruition. Since I know it's my best album yet, I want to give this everything I've got.
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(Photo by Dylan Trivette - Trivette Images)
My hope is that you will choose to support me in finishing up this important, deep, love-filled album and sharing it with the world by making a contribution in any amount to my campaign. I have perks with rewards for any size of budget and all kinds of interests. Check them out! The holidays are right around the corner and music (and the fulfillment that comes from supporting musicians) is the gift that keeps on giving! I promise you albums by early spring, 2019 and updates all along the way.
Your contributions will make it possible for me to pay for:
- The mixing and mastering of the album
- A great publicist /radio promoter who believes in my music and who will work hard running a full four-month publicity campaign to get it the album coverage and airplay in regional and national print publications, national online platforms and Folk/Americana radio stations across the country.
- Duplication of the album on CD and pressing vinyl records
- Artwork (created by local and regional artists) for the album packaging and merchandise
- Photography and other marketing materials
- A Music Video
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I want you to know exactly where your money is going if you kindly choose to contribute and be part of this campaign.
This campaign is not all or nothing. While I really (really) hope to reach my goal, anything you can contribute will help me and the project!
I am asking for $18,700 and here's a transparent breakdown of where it will go:
- CD duplication - $2,300 (1,500 CDs + Shipping)
- Vinyl duplication - $1,200 (100 Vinyl Records + Shipping)
- Full national publicity and radio campaign with a great publicist (spanning 4 months, includes mailing out over 600 CDs for potential review and airplay in national publications, online platforms and radio) - $8,500
- Mixing and mastering costs - $2,000
- Posters - $500 (for 100 posters printed)
- Artwork - $550
- Photography- $1,400
- Video - $2,300
= $18,750
IndieGogo fees on my end - IndieGogo keeps 5% of total funds raised, plus they keep a 3% credit card processing fee (or $.30 per transaction) and also hold back an additional $1,000 for 6 mos after the campaign ends, to help cover refunds or bounced transactions.
Ok, now the fun part: what you get!
I'm certainly not asking you to pour your hard-earned money into an abyss. This thing is happening. I'm asking you to invest in me and my special new collection of songs if you are moved and able to do so. These songs are already recorded and just need the final finishes (that I broke down above) before they're ready to be released as a pretty, packaged album. Basically, you're just pre-ordering the album and are welcome to pledge more - any amount, not just the perk amounts - if you are able to.
Each amount of money you pledge to me, starting at just $5, is categorized with a unique perk that carries a reward and my rewards are pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. The perks with their rewards are all listed along the right side of the page, so take a look and pick what you like, or what your momma or sweetie or brother or friend will like. And you can certainly pledge without claiming a perk/reward as well, if that's your thang.
Some of the REWARDS I'm offering are:
(And there are many, many more than this so be sure to look thoroughly through the list on the right and click on the boxes of the ones that interest you for a full list of what's included!)
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Digital downloads of the new album (plus my two other albums as well!)
- Physical copies of the new album on CD and /or VINYL!
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Beautiful, collectible posters designed by an amazing regional artist and locally printed
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A one-on-one songwriting session with me where I'll work with you to write your own original song
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Stickers, T-shirts, tanks and sweatshirts with a lovely original design by a regional artist, locally printed.
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A House Concert for you and your friends and family where I will come play an intimate show for you in your living room or backyard.
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Or make it dinner and a show: did you know that I'm a great vegetarian chef? If I'm not singing, I'm cooking. This perk will include me coming to your house (or a friend's house that you specify) and cooking a delicious vegetarian dinner (and dessert) for you and up to four of your friends or family, then playing an intimate set of songs for you in the comfort of your own home (or even in your kitchen!)
- Handwritten lyrics
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Your own personal Behind-the-Song video that I will record for you and send you, featuring me telling the back story for the Jane Kramer song of your choice and performing it unplugged and dedicated to you!
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A download of one or several of the unreleased demo tracks for songs on the new album that are just me and the guitar- stripped down sweetness.
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I'll marry you! Well, I will officiate your wedding or renew your vows for your and your sweetheart! I'm an ordained reverend through the Church of Universal Life and I would be so honored to come give a special, heartfelt and unique ceremony for you and your love. Also, I will sing you up and back down the aisle! I've officiated several weddings (and sang at hundreds) and celebrating love is one of my very favorite things to do!
And lots more- check them out!
My promise to you:
Is a beautifully-presented and gorgeous sounding, poignant album in early spring of 2019 and a heart on fire to share it far and wide. My promise to you is that I will update you during all the important steps of this process. My promise is to pay it forward and spread all the love, hope and generosity that you are spreading by contributing.
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(Photo by Dylan Trivette - Trivette Images)
Aren't able to contribute financially?
There are still ways you can help!
Just make some noise about my campaign and let your friends know about it!
I understand that sometimes it's just not in the budget to be able to give, but I'd still be so grateful if you could help me spread the word about my campaign to your network, friends and families by sharing a link to this campaign on your social media platforms (or by good old fashioned word of mouth) if you are moved to do so, and saying a word or two about why you think it's an awesome idea to support me.
You can use the Indiegogo sharing tools which make it super simple!
Thank you. I love you. Your support, encouragement and love lifts me up and keeps me going. It's everything. I love singing to you.
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(Photo by Matt Daniels - Arrow Sound Studios. Guitar by EJ Henderson)
Questions?
There's an FAQ I put together here, a really good and comprehensive FAQ on the general Indiegogo web site, and please feel free to email me with any questions at all regarding the campaign, its perks and rewards, etc. (even if it's just about whether or not shirt sizes might run small, etc.) Contact me at janekramermusic@gmail.com with anything you need.
Love, light and gratitude,
xo Jane