About this project
Anthony da Costa has been making music for as long as he could remember. Singing from a very young age, music has always been a huge part of his life. For the past seven years, he has been writing songs and singing them at venues all over the country-- from coffeehouses and living rooms to large clubs, theatres, and festivals. He has made eight records and released four of them professionally, each with its own distinctive sound and voice. These albums have been a part of his creative process and development over years of maturing in the singer/songwriter field.
In 2010, he set out to make his latest album, and it is already proving to be his most ambitious release. The new record, entitled "Secret Handshake", is co-produced by himself and James Frazee, an extremely talented engineer/producer who has worked with everyone from Sufjan Stevens, Sonic Youth and Gym Class Heroes to Betty LaVette, Shakira, and The Hold Steady. Together, they have been working very closely on da Costa's new album, his first real venture into the Pop/Rock/Americana genres. This record is already proving to be a series of firsts for da Costa, including the first album he's recorded live in the studio with a rhythm section (consisting of the Dresden Dolls's Brian Viglione on drums and top NYC sideman Shawn Setaro on bass). Contrary to most of da Costa's previous releases, which have involved little to no pre-production and mostly raw, acoustic arrangements, this album features a number of songs that are band-driven and feature the talents of some of New York City's best- Rich Hinman on pedal steel (Ben Kweller, Roseanne Cash, Madison Square Gardeners), Emily Hope price on cello (Pearl and the Beard), Franz Nicolay on accordion and organ (The Hold Steady, World Inferno/Friendship Society, Against Me!), and many more. Needless to say, he is very excited.
With this album comes a yearning to take this career a step further. The new style and sounds of the project breathe signs of aspirations far beyond the world of singer/songwriter-dom. In order to bring this album to life, Anthony will need the support of his fans. For the first time, he is reaching out for funding assistance in the form of a grassroots campaign, using Kickstarter as a means for this effort. Though he has been able to front much of the money for tracking himself, there are still many more costs involved in the process...This is where you come in!
Though albums are quite expensive to make, Anthony firmly believes in this concept of grassroots fundraising as a way of not only bringing art to life but also include fans in the artistic process. Patronage is one of the most classic forms of supporting the arts, and it is good to know that it is alive and well today, despite these hard times.
The first $5,000 will allow Anthony to complete mastering, artwork, duplication, and promotion. Any additional funds will be used to help cover the costs of recording the album, as well as a potential vinyl pressing.
Please enjoy the video, check out the awards and if you'd like, make a donation today. There are tons of goodies for those who choose to become involved! YOU are the ones who make it possible for independent musicians to do what they do and only YOU can keep this medium alive!
Thank you for your time, and here's to progress!
:)
FAQ
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 15, 2011.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
You will receive a pre-release digital download of the album's first single, delivered straight to your email inbox!
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
You will receive a pre-release digital download of the entire album before it is made available to the masses!
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
You'll receive the pre-release digital download of the record, as well as an autographed copy of the CD, plus a personal thank you note!
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
You'll receive the digital download AND signed copy of the record, plus an additional handmade CD-R of outtakes and demos.
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
Above awards plus a signed copy of Anthony's previous CD "Not Afraid of Nothing".
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Autographed copy of the new CD, plus two previous solo records "Not Afraid of Nothing" and "Typical American Tragedy", both signed!
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Previous awards, plus signed copies of the rest of Anthony's solo discography ("Quality Time", "Rearrange", "Eclectic Basement Abnormalities", "Gary & Anthony" & "Already There"), all out of print and extremely rare. *Note- Some may be handmade CDR's.
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
The previous awards, plus a special mix CD of demos and rarities from Anthony's 7 year recording history, as well as a signed tour poster.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
The previous award plus Anthony will take you and a friend out to dinner at his favorite restaurant in Morningside Heights (next time you're in NYC). He'll wine and dine you all evening and do his best to be charming.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Autographed copy of the new CD, all of the previous album/CD packages, as well as a "Special Thanks" in the liner notes.
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
An autographed copy of the new CD, the previous album packages, as well as a personalized song based on YOUR experiences/poems/journal/etc. written and recorded especially for YOU!
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
The previous album packages, a personalized song, and a solo acoustic performance at your house EXCLUSIVELY for you, your family, and your friends. (NE only during school year, elsewhere during breaks/summer).
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
The previous album packages, a personalized song, a solo acoustic performance at your house, a songwriting/guitar lesson, and a "patron of the arts" credit in the liner notes.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
The previous album packages, a "super patron of the arts" credit in the liner notes, handwritten lyrics, and Anthony's first guitar, a Yamaha classical acoustic on which he's written countless songs.
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"Seeing Anthony da Costa on stage is a perfect storm — talent, intensity, humor, passion, intelligence and charm — all bouncing off the walls of the room he is playing" (Court House Concerts). Anthony's music combines folk, rock, Americana and pop, plus what it's like to be "a very young man with a very old soul" (legendary New York DJ, Pete Fornatale).
Now nearing 20 and a sophomore at Columbia University, in 2009, Anthony was named an MSNBC.com "Top 5 Up-&-Coming Young Singer" and a "WFUV-FM New Artist To Watch". In 2008, he released two, critically-acclaimed albums and was a Folk Alliance "Emerging Artist of the Year" nominee. In 2007, at 16, he became the youngest winner ever at the Falcon Ridge and Kerrville Folk Festivals.
Anthony has played major festivals, including Kerrville, Falcon Ridge, Philadelphia and Tonder (Denmark); showcased at SXSW and Tin Pan South; opened for music icons, like Loretta Lynn, Judy Collins, and Dan Bern; and, with one foot in folk, and the other foot loose and wandering into various other genres, released his eighth record in 2009, "Not Afraid of Nothing," which "has the lyrical quality of a John Prine album" (Twangville). He has nearly completed his latest album, a rock/americana effort recorded in Brooklyn, NY and featuring a slew of wonderful NYC musicians.
