Softer Scissors
My name is Shawn William Clarke, I am an Ontario born, Métis, singer songwriter. I've been writing and touring for 20 years, in which time I released 3 full length studio albums, multiple EP's, and I've managed to do it all without the assistance of grants. I do it with the help of people like you.
Softer Scissors is a phrase that can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. There's confusion and comfort in the words, and I think it embodies this album completely. When I was first planning this project, my idea was that I wanted it to be a mess. A "post" pandemic, haphazard "throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks" kinda album. But with the help of Rob Currie and a wonderful group of musicians, we've managed to weave multiple recording ideas & musical genres (folk, power pop, lo-fi, country...) into a cohesive & concise album, a singular piece of art, and it's truly my strongest work yet.
The Situation, as I see it
As noted, I don't have a lot of luck with granting agencies, and I'm self financing this project. To be transparent, I've currently spent around $6500 on recording, mixing & mastering. The album is recorded and ready to go, but I need your help for the next stage. I'm a lover of physical media, and many of my fans are too. We covet tactile experiences! But producing LP's, CD's, Cassettes, T-shirts and what-have-you means a huge upfront cost. Roughly, $8,000. This campaign gives me the financial security to not only get the production rolling, but also helps me improve the quality.
Your pre-order = better quality merch
I'm no statistician, but that sounds like a classic win-win situation right there!
For those of you who would like to be in on the ground floor of this project, the perks include fun things like:
- First digital downloads
- First to get the CDs and vinyl
- Bundles that will include components of the above along with t-shirts
- Live performances
- One lucky person will pick a single from the album!
*** Oh, hey, do you happen to follow my mailing list? If you do, you'll have access to a SPECIAL MAILING LIST EXCLUSIVE PERK! Join the list below and I'll send you the extra special link.
https://www.shawnwilliamclarke.com/about
I've Been Here Before
As mentioned before, I've relied on the kindness of people like you in the past, running a kickstarter campaign in 2014, and an Indiegogo campaign in 2017. Both were incredibly successful, raising over $12,000! After the release of TOPAZ in 2017, I was able to tour the album all over Canada & parts of Europe. Did you know they still buy a lot of CD's in Germany? and folks from Iceland love vinyl & cassettes? It's true! You know what? I've never met a Canadian who didn't love a T-shirt. (I don't mean to stereotype, just wanted you to know how much your contribution makes an impact. Remember the equation above?)
I'll Do What I Can
As of right this moment, I don't have a set release date. I am hoping for a spring 2024 release, but things could change. Vinyl manufacturing times are a little unpredictable these days, it just takes another Taylor Swift reissue to slow things down, but I promise, there will be a record for you, and I'll keep update on any issues that come up.
Historically speaking, I haven't had to deal with that kind of thing, so we should be OK (Fingers crossed while knocking on wood).
Other Ways You Can Help
- Share this campaign on social media.
- Email campaign link to your friends
- Spread the word!
Thank you for checking this out! Much appreciated.
