Kickstarting “FOK DUB”

Here is the first draft of a video I’m submitting to Kickstarter.com, to use their service to get the support I need to press my second full-length album, FOK dUb. The video is rough, and has no titles, text, but I think it gets the idea across.

Kickstarter is a brilliant idea that creates an interface for artists and supporters to work directly together. Direct engagement is exactly what I’m always reading I should be doing, and Kickstarter inspired me – with it’s endless catalog of interesting, funded projects – to use it to try to explain to my fans exactly what I’m trying to do and why I need their support in the clearest value proposition possible.

I discovered how much better it feels to ask people to fund a project than to buy a product. I want to believe in it, not feel like I’m bugging people. It’s a better application of the Obama campaign communications code.

I still need to do some creative thinking about what I can offer for various levels of support, but basically I’m going to start with

• $1 gets you the digital download
• $5 also gets you the CD
• $10 also gets you the t-shirt
• $50 also gets you a custom song
• $100 also gets you a house concert

I don’t know what the right goal is, but I’m thinking somewhere between $500 and $1000.

Originally conceived of over the last year as “Folk Dub,” I’ve spent this year refining the set and the business behind it, into “fOK DUb,” an acoustic-soul reggae-remixed album of ten songs.

I’ll record the album at Tonehaus and ask fans and friends to remix the tracks, dub-style (or however they want).

There is a funky, syncopated feel and frequent beach/water theme running through the songs below, making them a perfect set to subject to a reggae-remix production.

1. I Can See You -  reggae soul
2. Mi Estilo Es Tranquilo -  reggae tejano
3. Un Momento Perfecto – folk samba jazz
4. All The Above -  pop folk rock funk vocal
5. Speeding1 and Speeding2– reggae folk rock bluegrass
6. God Has Been Good To Me1 and 2 -  gospel funk
7. Sat Morn (video)
   
8. Nobody Knows What It Means – soul pop horns and harmonies
9. Lake Rules  –  reggae kids fun
10. Dub Lub – stone cold reggae jam (needs lyrics?)

That’s FoK DuB. Over the next six months I will make an album out of these songs with full band, horns, and backup singers while at the same time asking friends, fans, and the public for feedback and colaboration. As I post songs please make sounds of your own, send to me to remix, or remix yourselves. fOk dUb.