My name is Liz Simmons, and I’m a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, primarily with the American folk/roots group Low Lily. I’ve been singing and playing folk music in its various forms since I was small, and have been performing in bands since I started on a professional musical journey more than a decade ago. After recording my first solo album in 2006, I promptly decided I preferred to work in a collaboration with others rather than perform and arrange solo. Finally, after many years (and many bands, and many albums with said bands) the creative impulse has struck me again to create a second solo album! There have been several songs and arrangements percolating in my brain for awhile, and now I have a full collection of original songs, co-writes, and covers ready for recording (and unveiling) for you, my friends and supporters. I have assembled a team of guest musicians whom I adore: Flynn Cohen, Gabe Bradshaw, Nicole Zuraitis, Dunia Best, Andy Hall, Hannah Sanders, Corey DiMario, Greg Liszt, and more.
I invite YOU to help fund this project and show your support by pre-ordering, and you will be the first to receive the album! Also please be sure to check out the additional Perks, such as the super fan bundle, a song written for you or a loved one, the Skype lesson, and the house concert.
My goal is to raise $6,000, of which $3,000 will go to publicity, and $1,600 to manufacturing and duplication. The rest will help cover artist fees, the 5% Indiegogo fee, and 10% to the Ocean Cleanup, my charity of choice.
Creating music that speaks to people is so important in the tough times we are living in, but so crucial is funding action-oriented environmental causes. This is so important to me that I wouldn't feel okay about raising money if I didn't donate something towards an environmental charity. Therefore, I will be donating 10% of all money raised to the Ocean Cleanup. They are an amazing organization doing incredible work cleaning garbage out of our oceans: https://theoceancleanup.com/ And since "Poets" contains so many ocean-themed songs, it seemed a natural pairing.
I love creating music, both at home, onstage and in the studio. And audiences tell me over and over again how important it is to them to hear music that speaks to them, and how meaningful it is. That reflection that music creates– that connection– is the magic of storytelling and music. That is why I am calling the album "Poets". Humans have always had storytellers, poets and bards, and as long as we can remember it has been crucial to our existence.
The album is about halfway finished, but right now I am out of funds, so I need help in order to complete it and get it out into the world. That is why I am turning to crowdfunding, and you, my supporters, friends, acquaintances, and beyond. There are not a lot of funding or grant options available to artists and musicians, yet we are still expected to create albums every couple of years in order to stay in the business. Meanwhile, the urge to create new music is strong for most of us! I have songs that I would like to send to your ears. Maybe you have ears that would like to hear new songs. Hey, we're in this together.
If you can't contribute anything, of course I completely understand, and there are other ways you can help! You can share the link to this page (or use one of the handy Indiegogo share tools) along with a little blurb about why you think it's a cool project to support.
Thanks a million trillion times over! I truly couldn't do this without you.
xx Liz
