Robert Sarazin Blake photo by Tom Eberhardt-Smith
Periodically, my fellow No Depression columnist and analog enthusiast Amos Perrine publishes a column detailing the state of vinyl in roots music. Certainly vinyl is continuing its recent comeback as the primary physical media form. With CD players in cars disappearing, CD sales have plummeted while vinyl continues to rise, to the tune of 43 million albums in 2023 according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Vinyl has been a major boon for crowdfunders as well. While the cost of pressing vinyl puts it out of reach of some campaigners, many take the financial risk in hopes of reaping the rewards that CDs and digital downloads (a media format that is sinking even faster than the CD) just can’t bring in. This month, I’m featuring three campaigns that are placing their bet on vinyl to push them over the top.
Robert Sarazin Blake- Let the Longing Run Wild and Free (click here to view campaign)
It’s been eight years since Robert Sarazin Blake released his last full-length album, recitative. While he’s released one live album and a couple of singles since then, it hasn’t fulfilled his fans’ desire for new music from the bluesy folk singer. Now Blake is ready to finish up his 13th LP, one that he’s been working on since 2020, Let the Longing Run Wild and Free, and he’s set up a Kickstarter campaign with a $13,000 funding goal to get it out into the world. In addition to the vinyl option, you can also get the album in digital and CD formats. This campaign is almost wholly focused on the album, with additional backer tiers being “donate more to make it happen” goals, though he does have a house show as a high end perk.
Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver- Hinterland (click here to view campaign)
Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver both have successful careers as solo artists and collaborators. They’ve even collaborated with each other frequently throughout the years. But this year they made it official, coming together as a duo and preparing to release their debut album Hinterland. If their previous work together, as well as the snippets of new music in their campaign video, is any indicator you can expect something that goes beyond traditional Celtic folk, delving into the corners of that expansive genre to find the atmospheric, historical, and often haunting melodies that linger in those dark places. The duo’s $11,000 Kickstarter campaign has a number of backer perks to reach their goal. You can get the album on vinyl or CD in a signed edition or in digital download format. Additionally, they have an exclusive track they’re releasing just for Kickstarter backers. Other backer perks include a limited edition art print, a backers only Zoom concert, an in-person album listening party, and a singing or music production workshop with either Knapp or Diver.
Molly O’Mahony- New Album (click here to view campaign)
After a decade of touring with the band Mongoose, West Cork Ireland’s Molly O’Mahony spent most of 2020 the same way most of us did, stuck at home. But during that time, she found inspiration, releasing a number of YouTube cover songs with her two siblings and working on the material that would eventually become her first solo album, 2022’s The House of David. O’Mahony ran a successful GoFundMe campaign to release that album but has chosen Kickstarter for the $18,000 campaign for her follow-up album, which she plans to record in January. She’ll be releasing the album in digital format, as well as pressing to CD and vinyl, the latter two in signed or unsigned formats. Other backer perks include t-shirts, a perssonalized thank you card, hand-written lyrics sheets, a cover song of your choice, and tickets to any of her concerts in 2025 and 2026.
