We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on September 19, 2010.

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House of Wills is a recording/documentary featuring Will Taylor and Strings Attached performing the songs of Willie Nelson in the Style of Bob Wills

Help us reach our ultimate goal! Only Hours Left


Thanks to the hundreds of Strings Attached fans, we met the minimum fundraising goal and are now at Level Three

Can we make it to level FOUR in the few hours left!!! Yes we can!

Level four will give Strings Attached the opportunity to work with a professional PR firm that specializes in the arts. Read more about it below.

LETS DO IT!



Current magic:


  • We received a call last Friday from Longtime Neil Young Producer John Hanlon. He is now confirmed to master Strings Attached's "House of Wills".

  • Austin Chronicle article and photo of Will Taylor came out Thursday

  • FREEShow and final fundraising blowout this Friday at Central Market on North Lamar. The entire "House of Wills" album will be performed live.

  • Will's been asked to write and perform and arrangement to back Willie Nelson this coming November. How's that for synchronicity?


Let's pay tribute to a living legend of American music by funding a CD/DVD featuring fabulous acoustic settings of Willie Nelson songs.



This July, I painstakingly crafted new arrangements for 16 Willie Nelson songs and presented them in a new light at two live concerts in Austin, TX.

Imagine the most sublime Nelson lyrics given a new setting of sophisticated yet grounded western swing sty-lings, a bit of mariachi, a touch of Chet Baker played by a family of season acoustic musicians - violin, cello, trumpet, upright bass, classical and steel string guitars, mandolin, female and male vocals and harmonies.

Listen to a few of the songs we've completed here and videoshere.

We've presented the live concert (see photos here), have recorded and filmed most of the songs in my home studio (see videos here), and now you have the opportunity to give this project wings and receive fun personal rewards as thanks.


  • How about being able to come backstage to any Strings Attached show for the rest of your life?

  • Or a private voice lesson from Karen Mal.

  • Look to the right on this page for a detailed list of rewards.


Wings to do what, you say?

First and foremost we want to release a recording of the gorgeous arrangements and playing that has already been captured in our home studio as a CD and digital recording available on iTunes.

But, if we raise more then our goal, we'll also produce a DVD documentary including footage of the recording process, interviews, and videos of every song on the album.



Here's a breakdown of what we'll do with the funds at various levels.

Level One: 3000.00


Duplicating 1,000 CD's will cost about $1,500. Album artwork (a bargain!) costing $100. (See poster from show below) Licensing 12 songs takes about $1,400 in funding. (digital and cds) So, in order to produce 1,000 units, Will Taylor and Strings Attached will need $3000.


Level Two: 5000.00 and above... [this is our goal]


We want to pay all of our musicians what they truly deserve. This will cost us about $2,000. At this point in the project, they've shown their passion and commitment for the project by donating the studio time. Lets show them they deserve to be paid for their craft.


Level Three: 6200.00 and above...


A DVD Documentary Since the beginning of creating this show, Will, the Strings Attached interns, and volunteers have been capturing HD video of everything from the late night creation of an arrangement, to bloopers, full visual of each individual track recording, and a glimpse inside Will's mastering and technological savvy. See some of this footage at http://youtube.com/songsofwillienelson



The production of this DVD will require funds of $1,200 to duplicate 500 units.


Level Four: 11,200.00 and above


A PR campaign managed by Wyatt Brand of Austin, TX.

This will cover radio, press, internet and tv promotion. Our dream is to see National Public Radio, Fresh Air do a story on our project or to be invited on to Prairie home companion. Furthermore, if we gain national press and recognition for this album, this could open doors for Strings Attached to tour and play festivals. Which is something we've worked our butts off for nearly 20 years to do.


Overall, our goal is to raise enough backing to produce, distribute and pay the players for an album that honors and re-creates the music of a Texas treasure.

Just a total of $5,000 will do it. Some of you may be wondering why there are no editing or recording expenses. There won't be any because we've recorded all the music live at my central Texas living room studio. I'm donating the mixing and video editing to the project.

I believe the quality of the recording is about as good as any major label acoustic release. But you can hear for yourself and decide. Download a free song from the session here, here and here.

We appreciate all of your help and thank you for taking the time to donate to our album.

See our list of rewards over to the side ->>>

Continue reading below to learn more about the project and musicians who brought to life this new music.

Here's the list of songs that will be on the album:

Songs Sung by Karen Mal:

A Moment Isn't Very Long

I'm Sitting On Top of the World

It Always Will Be

Funny How Time Slips Away

Home Motel

I Guess I've Come to Live Here In Your Eyes

On The Sunny Side of the Street



Songs Sung by Steve Carter:

Hello Walls

Looking for a Place to Fall Apart

Always On My Mind

On the Road Again

Night Life

Why Are You Picking on Me

Corrina Corrina

Instrumental: Crazy



Click to read about the musicians:

Karen Mal - Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar

Steve Carter- Vocals, Guitar

Jonathan Dexter - Cello

Michael Stevens - Bass

Will Taylor - Arrangements, Viola, Violin, Guitar, Mix engineer

Stephen Zirkel - Trumpet

Artwork will be done by Chase Mclasky, the artist who produced this poster for the live show.



poster





L to R: Jonathan, Karen, Steve, Michael.



KariemAli_100724_48 by KariemAli.



KariemAli_100724_37 by KariemAli.



KariemAli_100724_53 by KariemAli.



KariemAli_100724_33 by KariemAli.



KariemAli_100724_66 by KariemAli.














FAQ

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169
Backers
$6,905
pledged of $5,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding period
Aug 4, 2010 - Sep 19, 2010

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  • Pledge $5 or more

    6 backers

    Eco friendly thank you letter and 2 mp3s from the album now, before it's released to the world (available at every level). Bragging rights on how you helped fund the new album :-)

  • Pledge $15 or more

    39 backers

    Copy of CD and your name listed on our website as a backer of the project.

  • Pledge $25 or more

    74 backers

    Signed copy of the CD and your name in the album's thank you credits

  • Pledge $50 or more

    17 backers

    1 color-poster of the album artwork and a signed copy of CD or DVD plus your name in the album's thank you credits

  • Pledge $100 or more

    17 backers

    2 Free tickets to a show near you and a signed color poster of the album artwork plus a signed copy of CD or DVD and your name in the album's thank you credits

  • Pledge $200 or more

    1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)

    Meet with Karen and Will via Skype for a live performance, interview and meet and greet. Also be on the guest list of our next show or a show of your choice. Receive a signed copy of CD or DVD and get your name on the album's thank you credits.

  • Pledge $250 or more

    0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)

    A private music lesson with Karen Mal (vocal, guitar, mandolin) or Will Taylor (violin, viola, guitar) plus: 2 Free tickets to a show near you and a signed color poster of the album artwork plus a signed copy of CD or DVD and your name in the album's thank you credits

  • Pledge $500 or more

    1 backer

    Karen and Will take your favorite poem and make a song out of it. Provide us with a poem and we'll set it to music. We'll record it in a professional studio and give you a master on cd. You'll also get a signed copy of the CD and your name in the album's thank you credits

  • Pledge $500 or more

    0 backers

    Business Pledge: Entire staff or clients on the guest list for a show. Up to 20 guest list spots.

  • Pledge $500 or more

    0 backers

    Logo on front page of Strings Attached.org

  • Pledge $500 or more

    0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

    Special email to my list thanking them with a blurb about your company or organization. The Strings Attached list has over 6,000 active members.

  • Pledge $500 or more

    1 backer Limited (3 of 4 left)

    Karen and Will record one of your pre-existing songs. You sing lead, Karen adds backup vocals and/or mandolin, Will adds violin and/or guitar tracks.

  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    0 backers

    Karen and Will write a jingle for your company. Award winning songwriter Karen Mal and composer Will Taylor will write a jingle for you, record it in a professional studio and give you a master on cd. Signed copy of the CD and your company name in the album's thank you credits

  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    0 backers

    Karen and Will write a custom song for someone you love. Give us a list of thoughts, memories, favorite things, people, places, habits, moments in your life together, and we'll create a custom song written and professionally recorded with full musical production. You'll also get a signed copy of the CD and your name in the album's thank you credits

  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)

    Logo on back of the album cover.

  • Pledge $1,500 or more

    0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

    House of Wills private house concert

  • Pledge $1,500 or more

    0 backers Limited (4 of 4 left)

    Acoustic Guitar signed by Will Taylor or a stay at Karen's condo for one night in Austin, Texas We will add your name to the album credits as an executive producer. "Meet and Greet'" Lunch Live with Karen Mal or Will Taylor and Tour of the home studio and be on the guest list of our next show or show of your choice.

  • Pledge $2,500 or more

    0 backers Limited (6 of 6 left)

    Lifetime Backstage Pass!!!! You will always be on the guest list and you can bring a friend to any Strings Attached produced show. We will add your name to the album credits as an executive producer. "Meet and Greet'" Lunch Live with Karen Mal or Will Taylor and tour of the home studio and special thanks to you on our website!