Hier geht’s zur Deutschen Version.

Some basic drafts for my song's intro and the melody on soundcloud. This was by my old composer, which eventually did not turn into a collaboration. I am very picky with who I want to work with (professionally as well as on a personal level), and now have to record different bits and pieces in different towns to be able to work with the people of my choice (hence the Berlin-London-Vienna part), so please bear with me.

The song's base (piano, voice, electronically modiefied scream) will be recorded in Berlin with my composer Wolfgang sometime mid to end of January, the other instruments will be recorded and added to in Vienna soon after that (if we have the money for it- good musicians are costly).

The Project

My name is Anima (latin for: The Soul). On the paper, I am an artist and a human resources/sustainability manager, but I would personally describe myself as a Vitruvian (~holistic human being, born with an unlimited, universal potential). I am currently running a music project called „V“ (that’s short for Vitruvian Vision, named after Leonardo's Vitruvian Man).

I have spent much of my life learning, and looking for ways to change what I perceived as being fundamentally wrong around me. One major problem being how society more or less systematically weeds out people's potential, which would actually be the key to changing much of the suffering (in and) around us. Another one being the (outdated to stupid to pathological) boxes society puts us in, very often by force- until we break. 

Look around you- this is what I am talking about.

I was thinking up ways and strategies that would enable me to bring out the light in me and in others, and art (as a broad term) seemed to be a viable channel to get my message across.  I see my art as a vessel for the godliness in all of us, which is often the opposite of what contemporary TV or media make us believe (and many artists, many women, unfortunately play their part along to it). I believe it is possible to communicate strong, powerful, live aspects of what it means to be a female, but much of it will have to be re-written.

Marie's "Light of Science" Oil Lamp and Thermodynamic Tables

My art IS political, and I firmly believe that creativity can be a tool for positive change, the more it transcends borders and interlaces other areas of society/craft: (music) psychology, materials science, architecture, and then some.

The Song and Video

This project on indiegogo aims to finance my first song and music video "Oh, Joan" (named after Joan of Arc)- which will also be the first song on "amazon", my debut album, dealing with the "strong", the warrior side of women.. something I think is being strongly underrepresented in the music industry of today.

The Video-Song is an all-in-one, and both could not exist separately. It will be an exceptional undertaking even by my standards, a round arch of colours and personae, illustrated by a soundscape that is just as diverse. For this project, I have written the lyrics, the video script, the base melody and musical structure of the song, drawn the storyboards, and co-created most of the designs, costumes and props used in the video (meaning: a WHOLE lot of hard work over the course of almost two years now). Supported by some of my friends, I am aiming to bring the best of everything I have learned so far together and see where it leads me. I need your support and help to finish it, as I have no money left myself.

The song is about how forcing people into playing roles („masks“) brings about a very twisted world void of life and creativity, where everyone eventually ends up exploiting the other for questionable goals, which eventually kills the light in people.

The song will feature my rendering of some very famous (female) characters from the past, all from different areas of life and different countries/cultures, and all with customized (stencilled) fantasy make-up, nails and costumes/sets. It ends with a rebel's outcry,  and the amazon archetype (in gold and black, all studded) soaking up those characters to fight for freedom as many.

What is important to me, even on a budget, is that I would like to set a standard for anyone who chooses to be inspired by this project: I am trying to make it as sustainable as possible (using recycled, second-hand or organic materials, make-up and decoration wherever possible), and as (culturally) diverse as possible.

The music, too, will follow my idea of an arch: a wild mixture of jazz, rock music, Persian and African instruments and my own ventures into overtone singing, culminating in an electronically modified scream. 

The People Involved

Since I had substantial problems finding steady, trustworthy and engaged musicians here in the past few years (a famous German producer recently called Austria a fourth world country by musical standards.. which absolutely mirrors my own experiences), I simply decided to bring the best I know together for this project, even if that means this will be a major cross-cultural venture (hence the Linz-Berlin-London-Vienna ).

Nelly has been my stylist and partner in crime ever since early 2012, and has followed the project’s progress in detail. She is a student at Herbststrasse Fashion College (final year), and has helped me make costumes for my TV appearances, my own show on a local channel and the video itself.

Wolfgang is a classically trained pianist and media designer living in Berlin, and holds degrees in both music and media design. For the song, he will be responsible for the piano tracks and electronic music part.

Oama is a music student and has been active as an African and classical drummer in the Vienna music scene for years, performing with his own band outfit and a couple of reknown Austrian bands.

Yoni is a Jewish hard-core metal bassist with his own very special tapping style. He has been a reknown bassist for bands in the Tel Aviv hardcore scene, and now lives in London, where he has recently been signed by a major label.

Stefan is heading the video and media branch of a major music and media academy, Vienna site. He has produced TV advertisements and short films for some of the biggest industry names in Austria and will be supervising a class of final year students shooting the video.

Jhoselyn is a Peruan-Austrian draughtswoman apprentice, working for the city of Vienna, and my project assistant as far as culinary and paper crafts are concerned.

There are also three Persian musicians in my network, and I will pick one of them to play the Santur and/or Oud, and possibly a more conventional (jazz) guitar, on the track for the video.

We might involve a class of Graphic Design students as well to help with some special graphics needed for the video.

I should add it gives me extreme pleasure knowing that those beautiful, diverse, young people will be working with me- knowing how little foreigners and, generally, people who are „different“ are worth in this country.  

I shall mention that the video, however beautiful, will also sport two (comical) anti-Nazi-scenes. Those two scenes are my personal comment on the misogynism and fascism I have myself very often experienced here.

What We Need & What You Get

The following list is my as yet project cost list. So far, some 2.500 Euros have gone into the project from my side. The amount of money I’ll need to finish my project is now higher than originally planned, due to a change of composer (and added recording and travel costs). For some items, I might still be able to find industry sponsors (mainly organic candles, make-up, fabrics and printing).

-  700 ,- Music for Oh, Joan (Studio, musicians fees, travel)

-  80,- Two Busts (one male and one female)

-  200,- Catering for five days (organic)

-  145,- Giant Print 3*3 metres (Jung’s Evolution of the Self, cheapest version possible, Lady Lazarus Scene) and twisted cross, 2*2 metres (on conventional paper)

- 200,- MakeUp Assistance for the more complex makeup styles (Times Five).

-  140,- Materials (white organic nail laquer, nails, organic fabric, wall holstering Joan)

-  50,- organic Theatre Makeup

- 50,- organic candles Joan Scene

- 40,- recycled paper wrapping and envelopes

- 100,- extra Graphics and artwork by students

- 100,- personal travel Anima (Linz-Vienna)

- plus purchase of organic cotton shirts, Video CD's, photos.. etc. (400-600 Euros, dep. on quantity)

...

The Perks

This project is very special in a sense that I am giving away bits of pieces of props and costumes that will be used IN the video itself. So you can actually be part of- and relive- the experience. There will also be hand-printed, costumized organic cotton T-shirts (Shirts by earth positive, designed and hand-printed by me) and wristbands that are the more usual merchandise, as well as Video CD’s (with a costumized cover) and some special, one-off perks like a meet and greet with me (since I strictly separate my private and my art life, this indeed IS a special moment).

Here are picks of the perks I will be giving away.

"Whore" costume (without the wig, plus black organic tooth powder)

Joan's Rosary, St. Mary poster, and Wooden Wall Cross.

Simone's Face stencil, Button, Headband, Ring, Necklace and Flag Shawl, plus a vintage copy of "the second sex" (in English)

Big Golden Heart

St. Mary's white and gold body (the cross is made out of real gold threads!), poster, petticoat, white net leggings, angel earrings and white bra- 80 B)

Marlene's Film roll, an earth globe (we'll use something else in the video), a 1930's piece of sheet music, an organic black top with amazon print, organic leggings and silk shirt, and a set of gloves/cuffs.

"Doll" costume, with collar, apron, dress, silk stockings, wig, and hair ribbon. :)

Handmade Thorn-crown in black and blood-red, worn by the AnimaGaga in one of the Anti-Nazi-scenes.

This is what the wristbands will look like (black organic cotton, golden studs).

Frida's Jewellery, hand-made butterfly brooches, flowers and her wrist/hand stencil. Since indiegogo "swallows" this perk all the time, same conditions and shipping applies to this as for the Heart, Price is 80 $ for this one.

Set of three Make-Up stencils, which will be used for the Brechtian Whore figure (kissing mouth), Frida (flower pattern), and Simone (Liberté stencil).

These three are the photos to choose from for your customized Video cover (all those great photos are by Vienna-based photographer Iris Andraschek, who allowed me to use them for my project).

This photo will be added and signed for the letter+photo deals, and added to as a cover for the Video in case we don't get fully funded (or do not reach 2/3 of our monetary goal).

T-Shirts:

amazon shirt in black on white, also available in gold on black (see below).

Men's Shirts (Fitted Cut) also available in gold on black and black on white print (sample)

studded shirts (organic cotton, printed logo and stud) in female/male, sizes s to l (like above), and black print, golden stud on white as well as golden print and stud on black.

All Shirts by earth positive are GOTS certified quality.

What else is there to say?

Everyone who orders a full outfit, or piece of set decoration, will be listed as a sponsor in the video credits, and receives a Video CD as well. Costumes are all size 38/M Top, and 40/L bottom, even though most can be worn for size M as well (leggings, tights, skirts).

Please note that in case the video does not get fully funded (or under 2/3 of the sum we need), all additional video CD's will be exchanged with signed photos, or possibly a CD with a cover song- depending on how the project goes, really (all donators who are affected by this change of schedule will be notified in good time).

Other Ways you can help

My network is as varied as my background. As many rich people as there are among my friends (knowing those aren’t always those willing to donate), as many students and artists on a budget do I know.

If you are tight with money, and have absolutely no money to spend, there are other ways to help me spread my campaign:

-  Forward the project link to as many people as possible and get the word out. 

-  Help with time and „human“ ressources (we can need people to help me dress, prepare/buy food, make-up people, people to help me set the decoration for the scenes when we’re shooting, musicians, recording people, etc.) All this helps reduce the project costs. So if you see any itemn/service among the project calculation you could possibly provide, feel free to contact me.

- In case you do not have a paypal account or credit card (like a lot of people), write me an e-mail with your perk of choice and delivery adress, and we’ll sort it out.

(Contact) Info

A more detailed outline of the Anima and Vitruvian Vision, please see the band concept/info under my facebook page. This will also answer the question why I am wearing a „mask“. Sort of.

Here are some basic drafts for the song's intro and the melody on soundcloud.

Info on the project progression (together with my own musings) can be found in my blog which is Anima's Laboratory on blogger.

If you want to link up with me professionally, please visit my profiles on Xing (German-speaking realm), or LinkedIn (for international people). I love diversity, and interesting new people are always welcome in my circles. 

If you are interested in my earlier attempts of toying with the Austrian media (mostly subtitled or in English), you might want to check out my youtube-channel as well.

All other questions please see FAQ's and the following text, which should hopefully answer some of them. ;)