About this project
Thank you so much for coming to my Kickstarter campaign page!
My name is Jim Diego, and I am an aspiring singer, singing in a New York City based semi-professional co-ed a cappella group, The Red States (http://www.redacappella.com), that I helped found. I was also recently named the CASA Ambassador (http://www.casa.org) for the New York City Metro Area (http://www.facebook.com/acanewyork). Over the last few years, I have started to gain attention in the a cappella world as a leading workshop adjudicator on visual performance for a cappella and as a sometime vocal coach for a cappella groups.
As a longtime performer, my dream has always been to produce a professional quality recording of my singing talent. My goal with this Kickstarter campaign is to raise money to cover costs for a recording project to produce a solo multi-track EP, consisting of Whitney Houston covers (uniquely gender bending!), all a cappella. I will be going into the studio in early January 2012 for a hopeful mid-March release!
Please enjoy the video above to learn more about my project! The finished product will definitely be something not to be missed!
To hear some of Jim's singing voice today:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZnOTi18OL8 (Just Dance with the Red States, opb Lady Gaga)
- http://vimeo.com/22540251 (Ordinary World with the Red States, opb Duran Duran)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44g8FBv33jQ (I'm Yours, opb Jason Mraz)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43_BKCB35Zg (Crazy with Bridge 'n' Tunnel, opb Gnarls Barkley)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aik2kulHSwA (Your Song with Bridge 'n' Tunnel, opb Elton John)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGREBZX0ekw (snippet of As [Always] with Bridge 'n' Tunnel, opb Stevie Wonder)
FAQ
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Yes! "Group incentives" not mentioned here... once the total pledges reach certain thresholds, the interwebs is rewarded with a full song video of Jim Diego, the early years. The first threshold? $1,000. I promise you -- it will be pretty fantastical. :)
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Aha! I must keep up the suspense. This is a very closely guarded secret, and the tracklist (other than the single that will be released to Kickstarter donors who contribute at least $5 at the end of January/official single release in mid-February) will not be revealed until the official release of the EP in mid-March!
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
130
Backers
$4,195
pledged of $3,500 goal
0
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 8.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
Sneak preview digital download of the first single before official release!
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Personal thank you video from Jim + items from previous reward
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
Free digital download of EP upon release + item from previous rewards
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
Free hard copy of the EP, signed with a personal note from Jim + items from previous rewards
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Mention in the digital and hard copy liner notes + items from previous rewards
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"VIP" access to the EP release party (meaning basically, you're on *my* bar tab, lol) + items from previous rewards
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
Your name mentioned in syllable form, in one of the songs on the EP (hehe!! This one can get really creative...) + items from previous rewards
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Free a cappella arrangement of any song of your choice by Jim (best for members of groups!) + items from previous rewards
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Personal lap dance from Jim. Obvi. + (I guess...) items from previous rewards
Project By
Connected as Jim Diego (2976 friends)
Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Jim Diego is a sought-for clinician and judge for a cappella, especially in the field of visual performance.
After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Architecture in 2006, Jim moved to New York City to pursue his career. Jim joined the (now defunct) semi-professional a cappella group, Bridge 'n Tunnel in 2007, and stayed on as a member for over a year. In 2008, Jim, with Rutgers alumni Candice Helfand and Brian Chambers, formed The Red States. While active in both groups, Jim also studied hip hop and street jazz dance with renowned New York City-based instructors Derek Mitchell, Eddie Villanueva, Kristin Sudeikis, Sheryl Murakami, and Laya Barak. This training in dance led to assistant teaching with Rommel O'Choa at the Broadway Bodies dance studio, in hip hop and "videography" style dance classes aimed for dancers of all levels. This translated into choreography and critique of movement and visual performance in a cappella, for which he is sought for at a cappella festivals throughout the United States. As a member of The Red States', Jim is responsible for the group's movement. From his efforts, he was awarded Outstanding Choreography (for the entire performance set of "Redux," a subset of The Red States) at the 2010 New York City Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, the first time the prize was ever awarded in the history of the competition.
As an instructor, Jim has led classes at both at SoJam 2010 and Singstrong 2010 and 2011, in Visual Performance and Choreography for a cappella, as well as leading master classes the same festivals. He also has provided commentary on the 2011 ICCA Finals for the Mouth Off podcast, and as a live guest commentator for the AcaGeeks Blog for Season 3 of "The Sing Off."
As of September 2011, Jim was appointed the CASA Ambassador for the New York City metropolitan area. This area includes the five boroughs, plus points east into Long Island, points north into the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley (up to Poughkeepsie and New Paltz), the western counties of Connecticut (New Haven, Fairfield, and Litchfield), and much of northern and central New Jersey.
