Crowdfunding Campaigns of the Week: Lucinda Williams, Kris Delmhorst, and Sarah Morris
Chris Griffy
Posted On August 20, 2017
Once only used by independent bands looking to fund the creation of new music outside of the traditional label system, crowdfunding has become something much more, while still maintaining its independent roots. A look at any of the major crowdfunding sites will reveal campaigns from regional roots musicians looking for a few thousand dollars for an independently released album, established artists looking for a new media platform to promote their newest release, and album pre-orders from the biggest names in roots music, with extra merchandise added on. This week’s edition of Crowdfunding Campaigns of the Week will highlight one of each of these categories to get a feel for the breadth of the crowdfunding world.
Sarah Morris- Hearts in Need of Repair
One of the hardest things for a truly independent artist is getting their message out there from the hundreds of other crowdfunding campaigns running at the same time. It’s why I began this column. But even I can’t find or know everyone, so I sometimes crowd source my crowdfunding article. Sarah Morris came to me by way of another independent artist, Kari Arnett. Sarah is a true independent artist, a former stay-at-home mom who found new inspiration via social media and has gained a following for her “song a week” posts from inside her green bathroom. Hearts in Need of Repair came from one of those songs and explores themes of vulnerability and longing for connection. Backer rewards include VIP access to her album release show in November, homemade cupcakes, and a house concert.
Kris Delmhorst is a name likely familiar to many Americana fans. She, along with husband Jeffrey Foucault have become fixtures in the New England Americana scene and to a national audience via festival shows. The Wild is the first studio collaboration between Delmhorts and Foucault, who also co-produced the album. The release date is Sept. 22. Backer rewards include the album on digital, CD, and vinyl, guest list for any Delmhorst show on her upcoming tour, or a spot on the guest list for life, and what is called a “Karmic Adjustment” for fans who only stream Delmhorst’s music and feel bad about the lack of monetary support.
Lucinda Williams- This Sweet Old World 25th Anniversary
Re-working a classic album is always a dodgy prospect for an artist. Often, this evokes memories of some band from the ’80s who lost the rights to their work and are throwing together a re-recorded version to try and make a few bucks. But Lucinda Williams isn’t one of those. She’s arguably the biggest name in Americana and her decision to re-record her album This Sweet Old World for its 25th birthday is an intriguing one. Instead of trying to faithfully reproduce the sounds of the original, which only serves to shine a light on the differences, Williams and co-producer Tom Overby are playing with new arrangements on all of the songs. Lucinda Williams has seen a lot and done a lot in the 25 years since This Sweet Old World was released and it will be interesting to see where a quarter century of experience will lead her to take these songs. Backer rewards include a signed and numbered vinyl test printing, hand written lyrics, and a signed set list.
