Kickstarter

Dear Friends,

What? The Magnolias are finally going to record and release a new album/CD? Well yes!! With your help we will be doing just that. Insert my applause here!! The Magnolias have not released an album/CD (I'm going to use the word "album" or "record" from here on out, because I'm old school) of new songs since 1996’s "Street Date Tuesday” on Twin Tone Records.  For this project we will be working with Mike Wisti at Albatross,  his home studio in south Minneapolis. I have previously worked with Mike back in 1999. He recorded and produced the Pushbacks record “No Strings Attached”.  The records title was literal in meaning. It was the first time that I was involved in a recording project that wasn’t backed by a record company (either Twin Tone or Alias) and the distribution and promotion that a record label can bring. The recording process was smooth and the results were fantastic.  Better than some of the previous Magnolias records even. So with that in mind, we hope to equal or surpass the results from that recording session.

Like all previous Magnolias records as well as the Pushbacks, we will be recording analog (tape) and not digital. It will cost us a little more because of the cost of tapes, but worth it for sure. Analog is so much warmer sounding than digital. The plan is to record ten new songs. They’re a great batch of songs that I’m very proud of.  A mix of rockers, mid tempo songs, and a couple of… dare I say ...... ballads.  We estimate it will take about 40 hours of studio time to complete. The process would be basic tracking, followed by overdubs, finished vocals, mixing, sequencing of songs and mastering. The other side of the project that needs to be addressed is the cover art. I usually come up with the concepts for this and will either put it together myself or may have outside help, depending.  Then it’s off to the CD manufacturer.  I am involved in every step of this process. From loading gear into the studio, to picking up the CD’s. When the day comes when the manufacturer calls and says your CD’s are ready to be picked up, it is a very exciting and satisfying moment indeed.

Downloads will be available through iTunes as well as many other sites.  CD’s will be distributed through Electric Fetus one stop distribution center here in Minneapolis, which will cover us locally and through the upper Midwest. It will also be available via download or hard copy from CD Baby and our own band websites.

This record will be a springboard of sorts for us. We plan on doing a three week tour of Europe in the spring of 2012. This will mark the third time we have been overseas. The record will be very important in the success of the tour. It will bring added attention from press and radio, which translates into more people coming out to the shows. This makes for great shows, as well as not coming home broke or in debt.

With Kickstarter, we've found an exciting and creative way to involve friends, fans, and family in the process of making this record come to life. Like public radio pledge drives, we need your help!! For any contribution over $10.00, as you can see, you will receive back a personal gift.

If we happen to exceed our request, all money will go toward tour support, and various promotions.

You're still here? Good!! If you feel like making this a reality for us, we would greatly appreciate anything you can do to help. All the best, John and the Magnolias!! 

John Freeman

http://home.earthlink.net/~johnfre/themagnolias/

http://www.myspace.com/themagnoliasband

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-MAGNOLIAS/243319599026842