About this project
The next album, "Trickster for Kids," delves deeper into the vintage-futuristic sounds now known as, Afro-Freestyle and Electro-Afrobeat.
LISTEN to CHICO MANN here!
I think of it as exploring the landscape of a parallel universe as it intersects with ours.
Chico Mann began as an experiment employing afrobeat musical vocabulary in an electronic context. Using drum machines and synthesizers to paint the picture of a sound that could have been but never existed until now.
In my first few albums, I set aesthetic parameters to work within to achieve a particular effect. I began with Casio keyboards and rudimentary recording equipment on Manifest Tone Vol. 1-3. Over the last few years I've upgraded elements of my studio and experimented with differing recording techniques in order to refine my sound. The result was "Analog Drift : Muy Esniqui."
The album I want to record now, Trickster for Kids, builds upon the foundation I've already set in earlier works. The evolution of the Chico Mann aesthetic will be clearly audible to anyone familiar with my catalog. My vision for the album is quite clear to me now. On the track, "The Selector," you can hear what the general feel of "Trickster for Kids" will be. It could be described as futuristic from the vantage point of 25 years ago. Once the album is completed, you can be the judge!!!
This is where you come in. As an independent artist, my task to is to fund my own recordings. There is no record label funding my endeavors or PR firm promoting my music; I function as my own recording engineer, producer, manager, booking agent, promoter, marketer, creative director, graphic designer, and so on. Luckily, I do get a little help from my friends here and there!!!
Your generous support will ensure the following related to the production of the album: • Studio Time: Recording and Mixing
• Professional Mastering
• Album Artwork and Design
• Short Run of CD's through Sire Press (manufacturing, etc.)
• Studio Maintenance and Supplies (tapes, minor repairs, etc.)
• Limited Merchandise Manufacturing (stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.)
...
***For the sake of clarification, it is not a "Children's" album. The title comes from my ongoing collaboration with my daughter. In fact, the first Chico Mann recordings are the fruits of our initial collaborations beginning when she was six years old. You can hear her voice on the track "Sound is Everything."
Note: If we exceed the pledge goal, I will look to press a short-run of limited-edition 12" Vinyl.
Thank you for your support!!!
FAQ
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29
Backers
$6,140
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 3, 2009.
Pledge $15 or more
Supporter includes: • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Select Chico Merchandise (pins, stickers, etc.) • Select "Trickster for Kids" Downloads and Instrumental Traxx • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $25 or more
Supporter includes: • Signed “Trickster for Kids” CD • Signed and Personalized Chico Mann poster • Select Chico Merchandise (pins, stickers, etc.) • Select "Trickster for Kids" Downloads and Instrumental Traxx • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $50 or more
Fann includes: • Complete Digital Chico Mann Catalog • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Select Chico Merchandise (pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.) • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $100 or more
Super Fann C includes: • Exclusive Pre-Release Chico Downloads • Complete Digital Chico Mann Catalog • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Select Chico Merchandise (t-shirts, pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.) • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $200 or more
Super Fann B includes:• Chico Mixtape on Cassette (Limited, Handmade) • Chico Mann Live-Show Comps/Tickets • Exclusive Pre-Release Chico Downloads • Complete Digital Chico Mann Catalog • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Chico Merchandise (t-shirts, pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.) • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $500 or more
Super Fann A includes:• Visit to Furious Panther Studio • Dinner with Chico • Chico Mixtape on Cassette (Limited, Handmade) • Chico Mann Live-Show Comps/Tickets • Exclusive Pre-Release Chico Downloads • Complete Digital Chico Mann Catalog • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Chico Merchandise (t-shirts, pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.) • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $1,000 or more
Associate Producer includes: • Associate Producer Credit on the Album • Chico DJ Set at Your Dance Party or • Visit to Furious Panther Studio • Chico Guest Spot on Your Track/Album as well as • Dinner with Chico • Chico Mixtape on Cassette (Limited, Handmade) • Chico Mann Live-Show Comps/Tickets • Exclusive Pre-Release Chico Downloads • Complete Digital Chico Mann Catalog • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Chico Merchandise (t-shirts, pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.) • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $2,000 or more
Co-Producer includes: • Co-Producer Credit on the Album • Chico DJ Set at Your Dance Party • Visit to Furious Panther Studio and Recording Session with Chico or • Chico Guest Spot on Your Track/Album as well as • Dinner with Chico • Chico Mixtape on Cassette (Limited, Handmade) • Chico Mann Live-Show Comps/Tickets • Exclusive Pre-Release Chico Downloads • Complete Digital Chico Mann Catalog • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Chico Merchandise (t-shirts, pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.) • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Pledge $5,000 or more
Executive Producer includes: • Executive Producer Credit on the Album • Chico Track Written for You • Chico Mann Performance (NYC Area) or DJ Set at Your Dance Party • Visit to Furious Panther Studio and Recording Session with Chico or • Chico Guest Spot on Your Track/Album as well as • Role in the next Chico Mann Video • Dinner with Chico • Chico Mixtape on Cassette (Limited, Handmade) • Chico Mann Live-Show Comps/Tickets • Exclusive Pre-Release Chico Downloads • Complete Digital Chico Mann Catalog • Signed "Trickster for Kids" CD • Chico Merchandise (t-shirts, pins, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.) • Chico Mann Ringtone Download
Project By
Connected as Chico Mann (3604 friends)
CHICO MANN (pronounced: mæng)
Chico Mann, a time-travelling multi-instrumentalist-producer who with drum machines, synthesizers, and guitars has singlehandedly filled the 30+ year gap between afrobeat, afrocuban, freestyle and electronic music while throwing a wrench into the cogs of musical history.
Chico Mann grew up in a musical family in New York and New Jersey. His father was the owner of a Latin record label based in Hell's Kitchen in New York City and a young Chico observed the ins & outs of the biz while practicing his guitar and piano. It was then that he began to propagate his deep musical roots with such influences as Afrika Bambaata, Lisa Lisa, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz and Fela Kuti. Ignoring his father's advice to stay out of the business, he found his voice at age 12 and began his journey into sound.
It was in the winter of '04 that Chico began putting together a series of tracks during his offtime from touring with Antibalas. What started as a lo-fi beat making excursion quickly became "Manifest Tone Volume 1", a musical lesson that spoke volumes on the music of New York City, Miami, Cuba, Africa and the previously unknown love affair in sound that 'could have been' had Afrobeat, Electro, and Freestyle cross-pollinated. Hailed as an instant classic, it proved as the first step in a groundbreaking career that is destined to re-write the history books.
Chico Mann has created a musical time machine that simultaneously fuses the sounds of 1970s Afrobeat, 1980s Freestyle and Afro Cuban in a hybrid beast of culture and tone. Its the big 'what if' Freestyle, Afrobeat & Afro Cuban converged and hit the mainstream for an army of Chicos to pick up where Stevie B, TKA, George Lamond, Sa-Fire, Information Society, Noel, and Cult Jam, and Exposé left off. Chico's choruses of multi-layered vocals with funky guitar lines helps to cool off the heat created between the bass and rhythm... creating a unique conversation of color and value that pays homage to the past but raises the bar for the future.
