Hi

Several years ago, while living in Paris and gorging myself on baguettes, I composed an unsurprisingly fat and epic symphony, called Fallout Symphony. It was a true labor of love, a vast undertaking which required a forty-piece orchestra to pull off, along with countless hours of studio time. Fifteen months after beginning the piece, with the help of incredibly generous people (here's looking at you, those who birthed me), I was able to finish the work- mostly. But it has never been properly released on CD... until now!

With your help I can release Fallout Symphony the way it was meant to be heard. From the lengthy, kaleidoscopic first movement (Steam of Time) to the harp-centric second (Jim Crow), from the Civil War love poem that permeates the third movement (Stained Glass Dirge) to the brash and driving climax (Filibuster Lullaby), Fallout Symphony is a work of intense scale and scope, clocking in at roughly forty minutes. The lead vocals, rare for a genre that is traditionally instrumental, distinguish the work from so many other symphonic pieces and merge with the lush orchestration to tell a story of ambitious proportions. Here are several excerpts from the piece:

I believe Fallout Symphony is a bold and unique musical vision that deserves a wide audience, and I would like to share it with as many people as possible. I invite you to be an investor in the most essential vehicle for promotion, the professional quality CD. There are four main components to this process, and I've broken down the costs for each: 

1) Graphic design

$600

The fabulous designer Brittany Barb and I are collaborating on an exciting booklet for the symphony that will incorporate mixed media, watercolor painting, and the lyrics.

2) Finishing the piece

$2,700

Me and the Inimitable Stephen Schappler have some finishing up to do on certain minute aspects of the piece. We are working very hard at Dubway Studios down in the Financial District to bring the piece to its optimal pace and form.

3) Photography

$700

I am working on a series of portraits with the illustrious photographer, Erica Simone. We will be integrating these arty-farty portraits into the aforementioned booklet, as well as other promotional material for the symphony.

4) CD manufacturing

$1,800

Okay, so a water buffalo is not gonna manufacture these CD's. But what if it could? What then? 

DiscMakers, which is the cream of the crop for CD replication, will be printing 300 copies of Fallout Symphony, along with the aforementioned twelve-page booklet. They will be snazzy and sharp as all get-out.

Between all these costs and the 5% that Kickstarter itself receives, I will need about $5,000 to complete this project. Please consider being an investor and helping me populate the world with my music. The symphony has been an enormous undertaking, which I've directed so much passion towards over the last several years. I've come very far... but the final and most important step is sharing it with you and others. I can't do this without you, and I'm so grateful for any help or support you can offer. My deepest thanks to everyone.

Much love,

Ian