Two years ago everybody here helped fund what was to be The XYZ Affair's second album.  Aaand then things ended up turning out pretty differently from what we had planned.  What was going to be our last record ended up turning into the first record for my solo project, Leonard Friend, and it ended up taking me a really long time to finish.  I've been on tour playing guitar for Enrique Iglesias all year, all the while posting songs intermittently on my facebook and twitter pages, waiting for final mixes and masters to come in.   And FINALLY...it's done.  So here's the deal!

1) I will send all of you a download link via email early next week.  I won't be printing up physical copies at this point because...well...people don't really do that anymore. 

2) Since I've been focusing my efforts on finishing the record itself, I haven't printed up t-shirts or posters yet.  But whenever that happens (probably in a few months), those who are entitled will get free ones as promised.

3) I'm already recording a second record. When that one's out, you'll get it free and early as well!  

I have not forgotten you guys or your contributions, and I couldn't have made this record without you.  If you chipped in and are dying for your specific reward (e.g. "Man, I really wanted that bonus acoustic track"), just let me know!  I want to make sure that everybody who took part feels like they got their money's worth.  

This album means a lot to me, and I really hope you guys like it.  If you have yet to follow me on Twitter or Like my facebook page, please do so!  It'll help you keep updated on further news with this album, my first music video (completed and being released soon as well!), my next album, and everything else.  So: http://www.facebook.com/LeonardFriend and  www.twitter.com/LeonardFriend .

Thank you guys. So much.  If you have any questions at all, please contact me at alex.feder2@gmail.com.     

-Alex

www.leonardfriend.com

www.facebook.com/LeonardFriend

www.twitter.com/LeonardFriend 

Aaaaand here's a super late update.

So, as hopefully all of you have heard, XYZ's album didn't quite pan out the way we planned it -- in fact, the band ended up amicably disbanding in December. However, I have been hard at work all year on making the album that we originally set out to make as a group, recording the songs we had worked on as well as a number of other songs that we hadn't gotten a chance to work on. Though this plan has taken way longer than originally intended, things are in fact moving along! I've been in the studio with producer Chuck Brody (Ra Ra Riot, Lykke Li, Tigercity, Wu Tang, J. Lo) for the last three months getting the songs together, and at long last we are scheduled to start tracking drums tomorrow with the rest of tracking to follow soon thereafter. I'm hoping for a fall release for the album, which has turned into my first ever solo record.

For those of you who donated -- all of the prizes will still be in place with the new project, and the album will be a) finished as soon as possible, and b) amazing. I'm really proud of the music and I hope you like it.

If you would like your money to be returned and haven't gotten it, please just message me. Things were a little hectic for me when I initially messaged folks, just shoot me an email at alex.feder@gmail.com, and please accept my apology for not getting it back to you before.

The solo project is called Leonard Friend. To keep updated, follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/LeonardFriend. I've got amazing guys playing in my band and I'm super excited about it!

I'm really excited about the album, and I can't wait for you guys to finally hear it. I greatly appreciate your support and your patience! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.
-Alex
alex.feder@gmail.com

So this whole thing has been amazing and we cannot thank you guys enough for your support. We've been hard at work on the new songs and are beyond excited to record this album. We have greatly surpassed our initial goal of $3,000, but in truth making an album will cost significantly more than that. Initially we wanted to raise enough money for pressing and publicity, but you guys have blown us away. We just crossed the $5k mark, and with only two days left we are pressing onward! Let's see if we can bring it close to 6k before the deadline! Between recording, pressing, mixing, publicity, and making some awesome awesome videos (for which the planning has already begun), making an album is a big process. Thanks to your continuing support, we're going to make sure that we make something that you and we will love.

Ya know, it's always a risk to take on fundraising of any sort because it could totally bomb, which would be really embarassing. Thankfully, everybody has been absurdly awesome so far, and at a week and a half in we've already raised nearly $2500! Our initial goal was set at $3,000, which means we're almost there, but once we hit that we're gonna keep going, so keep spreading the word! The project continues until our end date in November, and all the rewards are still applicable past the goal, so pledge away! So many exclamation marks!
Recording a full length record is a big financial undertaking for an independent band (just to give you an idea: our first album cost us $8,000, which is NOTHING in the music industry for a professional sounding record. We have friends who just recorded their record for a still modest $25,000. Meanwhile, a major label release produced by somebody like Timbaland or Kanye costs in the millions). $3k will help us fund the pressing and PR, but the more we raise the easier it is to insure that our finished product will the be RIGHT finished product. This is going to be the best album we've ever recorded and we are SO grateful to have your help in the process.
Let's keep this train rolling right along!
-Alex
The XYZ Affair