If the project overfunds to $7500, I will order a limited edition vinyl pressing for all who pledge $55 or more. Fibonacci!
100% funded! We did it!
We did it! 100% funded, with 2+ days to go! Kickstarter keeps the project open until the deadline (Sat, Jan 7, 2012 - 11:59pm Eastern / 10:59pm Central / 9:59pm Mountain / 8:59pm Pacific) - so if you're looking for some great new music (due in April 2012), make a pledge and pick a reward. My debut album IS happening, and I'm grateful for all the support!
New goal: If the project hits the $7500 mark, I will order a limited edition vinyl pressing of the album, and make it available to those pledging $55 or more.
The Project
My project is a reflection of my journey. My story started when my mother, a Russian native, met my father, a Sri Lankan engineering student, in Moscow. He spotted her wavy hair and contagious laugh as she was walking down the street, and acting on pure instinct, asked her out to ice cream. Before they knew it, this unlikely pair from different worlds was starting a life together with a cat who pooped in the toilet, and me, a bundle of joy named Roman (pronounced like romano cheese without the “o”). We lived in Russia only a short time before embarking on a world adventure (unfortunately, the cat had to stay behind)—moving to Germany and Sri Lanka, and finally settling in the United States.
Each place, with its unique cultural and musical influences, left an impression—my dad singing and playing guitar around the house, American pop music on “The Voice of America” in Germany in the 1970s, Jamaican reggae played on Sri Lanka’s beaches, and traditional and contemporary Sinhala music.
As a teenager in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my musical tastes included classic rock, skater punk thrash, heavy metal, progressive rock, folk and psychedelic rock. Inspired by the inter-cultural collaborations by the Grateful Dead’s drummer Mickey Hart, I became increasingly interested in world music. Inevitably, my skills as a multi-instrumentalist, and my ability to mimic sounds and language were a perfect match for the world music group One Drum. Other bands followed, including Sindoolaa (African), De La Buena (Latin jazz), and Urban Empress and The UrbanItes (reggae). Inspired by all these and other influences, I eventually started working on songs for a solo album.
I’ve channeled my life’s impressions into these songs. My hope is to take my audience on a journey as rich and meaningful as mine has been. Since I don't have major record label backing, your generous donations are the only way this will happen. Here’s your chance to be part of the process.
Please make a pledge. Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing fundraising means if the funding goal isn’t met within the allotted time, this project (sadly) doesn’t get funded.
A list of music I've done solo or in collaboration with other bands:
- Roman Rising - Single Releases (2010-2011)
http://soundcloud.com/roman-rising/sets/singles/ - Roman Rising - Modern Dance Sound Design (1998-2000)
http://soundcloud.com/roman-rising/sets/dance-compositions/ - Urban Empress and The UrbanItes, On The Wings of Jah, 2011 (performer and producer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/on-the-wings-of-jah/id440920669 - Holly Wake, In Love We Trust, 2011 (performer, Costa Rican Blues)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-love-we-trust/id421897879 - De La Buena, La Tortuga, 2011 (performer, Sambaji, Imbe)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/la-tortuga/id428974406 - One Drum, 2011 (performer, producer, Waka Waka (Zamina))
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/waka-waka-zamina-single/id439736311 - Longacre, Transfixed Summer, 2010 (performer, 16, Transfixed Summer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/transfixed-summer/id400999846 -
Oumar Sagna, Sindoolaa, 2005 (performer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sindoolaa/id69791399 - One Drum, One Drum, 2003 (performer, producer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-drum/id49620080 - Love Live Music Collective, Stringzology MKE, 2003 (performer, No Se Na)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stringzology-mke/id6112383
FAQ
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As I mentioned in the video, much of my work has been as a sideman/supporter/producer on other bands' records. I've included links to some music I've worked on over the years below:
Roman Rising - Single Releases
http://soundcloud.com/romanrising/sets/singles/Roman Rising - Modern Dance Sound Design
http://soundcloud.com/romanrising/sets/dance-compositions/Urban Empress and The UrbanItes, On The Wings of Jah, 2011 (performer and producer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/on-the-wings-of-jah/id440920669Holly Wake, In Love We Trust, 2011 (performer, Costa Rican Blues)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-love-we-trust/id421897879De La Buena, La Tortuga, 2011 (performer, Sambaji, Imbe)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/la-tortuga/id428974406One Drum, 2011 (performer, producer, Waka Waka (Zamina))
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/waka-waka-zamina-single/id439736311Longacre, Transfixed Summer, 2010 (performer, 16, Transfixed Summer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/transfixed-summer/id400999846Oumar Sagna, Sindoolaa, 2005 (performer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sindoolaa/id69791399One Drum, One Drum, 2003 (performer, producer)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-drum/id49620080Love Live Music Collective, Stringzology MKE, 2003 (performer, No Se Na)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stringzology-mke/id6112383 -
No. Only you and the project creator will be able to see your pledge amount.
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All rewards will only happen if the funding is met. If the goal is met, recording will commence immediately. Physical items will be shipped in April 2012, and digital media will be available some time in March 2012. Some reward items will be available May 2012.
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Kickstarter will allow as much money as is given before the deadline, so if $5000 is exceeded, I’ll be able to spend more money on making the recordings sound better! Additionally, if the project hits the $7500 mark, I will order a limited edition vinyl pressing of the album, and make it available to those who pledge $55 or more.
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YES! Once you pledge to the project, you may decide to change your different one, or increase your pledge amount. To do so, go to Kickstarter and sign in. If you go to our campaign page, the green “Back This Project” button has been replaced with a blue “Manage Your Donation” button. Click it and you may enter a new amount, or choose a new incentive.
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Of course! If you would like to donate to the project, and give the reward to someone as a gift, follow the standard process of making a donation. For billing purposes, this action must be completed in your own name. After our deadline, I’ll send a message to you via Kickstarter (It will be forwarded to the email address you provided). Please reply with your gift recipient’s shipping information, and they will receive the reward.
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If the funding goal isn’t met before the deadline, no money changes hands and no debut album is made. Boo hoo!
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Every penny (minus the fees for Kickstarter/Amazon Payments) will go directly to this project's budget.
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Yes. You may pledge from anywhere.
189
Backers
$5,732
pledged of $5,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Dec 8, 2011 -
Jan 7, 2012
- First created · 9 backed
- Roman Edirisinghe 1249 friends
- Website: romanrising.com
Pledge $1 or more
0 backers
Choose one song from the album to receive as a digital file (your choice of MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AIFF), plus a PDF of that song’s cover art. Your name will be posted on my website as a donor.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $2 or more
2 backers
Select two songs from the album to receive as digital files (your choice of MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AIFF), plus PDF album art for the selected singles. Your name will be posted on my website as a donor.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $3 or more
4 backers
Choose three songs from the album to receive as digital files (your choice of MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AIFF), plus PDF album art for the selected singles. Your name will be posted on my website as a donor.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $5 or more
9 backers
Choose five songs from the album to receive as digital files (your choice of MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AIFF), plus PDF album art for the selected singles. Your name will be posted on my website as a donor.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $8 or more
10 backers
Choose eight songs from the album to receive as digital files (your choice of MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AIFF), plus PDF album art for the selected singles. Your name will be posted on my website as a donor.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $13 or more
50 backers
Receive the complete album as digital media (your choice of MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AIFF), and PDFs of not only the CD art, but each individual song’s cover art as well. Your name will be posted on my website as a donor.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $21 or more
53 backers
Receive the completed CD, a sticker, and everything at the $13 level. (International donors, please add $5 US)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $34 or more
18 backers
Receive an autographed CD, a sticker, and everything at the $13 level. (International donors, please add $5 US)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $55 or more
21 backers Limited (129 of 150 left)
Receive a personalized thank you note along with your autographed CD, a sticker, and everything at the $13 level. (International donors, please add $5 US for shipping and handling)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $89 or more
3 backers Limited (97 of 100 left)
Receive a personalized note along with your autographed CD, a poster, a sticker, and everything at the $13 level. (International donors, please add $10 US for shipping and handling)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $144 or more
6 backers Limited (19 of 25 left)
In addition to everything at the $89 level, you’ll get exclusive access to digital media of early and alternate versions of the tracks, plus your name in the album credits. (International donors, please add $10 US for shipping and handling)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $233 or more
1 backer Limited (14 of 15 left)
You’ll receive a signed, hand-made, original artwork by Roman Rising, plus everything at the $144 level. (International donors, please add $20 US for shipping and handling)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $377 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
This puts an anagram of your name, or a name of your choosing, as the title of a new hidden track on the CD, plus everything at the $233 level. (International donors, please add $20 US for shipping and handling)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $610 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
I will work your name into the lyrics of a song on the album, plus everything at the $233 level.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $987 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
You will receive an autographed, limited edition CD of Roman's out-of-print album “Organica,” approximately fifty copies of which were gifted to friends and family in 2003, plus everything at the $233 level.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $1,597 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
You will receive an autographed, limited edition CD of Roman's very early recordings circa 1987-91 (these have only been heard by less than a handful of people), plus everything at the $233 level.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $2,584 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
I will fly out to your home (continental US only), and hand-deliver your rewards, plus everything at the $233 level. And I will sing you a song. (International donors: please add $1000 for airfare)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $4,181 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
I will fly to your home (continental US only), and hand-deliver your rewards. I will impose on your generosity to stay at your house for a few days, during which I will cook you Sri Lankan food, and put on a house concert for you and your friends/family, plus everything at the $233 level. (International donors: please add $1000 for airfare)
Estimated delivery: May 2012
