About this project
HELP PUT OUT 12 KARL BLAU ALBUMS!
Attention Backers: you WILL NOT be charged for pledging if this goal of $16,000 is not met. Just making that clear, first time backers may not be aware of this.
POSTING OF ROUND-THE-WORLD SONG RELAY : CLICK HERE, and click here for information on how you may participate. Event to take place on the final day of this fundraiser, September 30th from 12:00am to 11:59pm.
Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society labels the many styles of music and art sound I, Karl Blau, contribute to the world. I concoct, burn onto CD, package, and send these recordings of my own music -- or inspired recordings I make of others -- to mailboxes like a cake of the month club. The cherry on top is the beautiful packaging it arrives in. To bring the total KLAPS releases since 2003 to number 42, I hereby seek your help in funding for concentration on this remaining 12 albums of this series.
What are some KLAPS past releases?
- Several full-length albums including early versions of my K release Beneath Waves and Marriage Record release Dance Positive
- Reggae version of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker
- Instrumental soundtracks depicting Winter
- Live recordings of Karl Blau concerts
If you would like to hear some music that I've made with KLAPS in the past, please visit the online "radio station" of the KLAPS label(by going HERE) where over 100 songs from KLAPS and Karl Blau releases randomize each day for a fresh listening experience (courtesy of my buddy DJ Noggin)
Some of what we can expect with upcoming KLAPS (no promises -- but pretty much)
- Cover album of west coast women songwriters done in a grunge style
- More full-lengths from his Blau-ness
- Country album
- Feature length movie! (this is going to be musical, too)
- A capella album
- yarling album with a Cocteau Twins twist (without lyrics, just voice)
- (with Tori Kudo's permission) a Maher Shalal Hash Baz best recordings of those made while on tour with them in Japan.
- instrumental guitar album
- New Stereoearrings(instrumental "band" of mine) record
A bit more detail about KLAPS: fairly strictly I practice analog recording(this is the art of recording to magnetic tape). Also with KLAPS I have a yen for letter pressing, screen printing, origami-ing and sewing the paper packaging.
WHERE DOES ALL THE $ GO?
The money I am raising covers the time and energy to work on 12 KLAPS albums: recording and arranging songs/sounds, some recording gear, purchasing the actual CDs, packaging supplies and time for hand crafting the packaging. As the budget allows, some amount of promotion of the KLAPS label and issues will be funded by this Kickstarter fundraiser.
PRIZES!
I am preparing some lovely prizes for you Backers. I just added (as of Friday the 9th of September) a prize for the $96 support level: you may send me a poem of yours or of your choice or any words you would like and I will turn them into a song, record it and send it back to you! This is known as making a "song poem." I asked Kickstarter if they were interested in being gifted this prize and they sent this abstract poem to me:
"Thanks for writing in. Unfortunately, Kickstarter transactions are processed by Amazon Payments, which currently restricts the ability to start a project to people or entities with a US bank account, US address, major US credit/debit card, and US state-issued ID (drivers license). People can fund projects from anywhere, it's creation that's limited. We will open up internationally in the future!
Thanks for your interest,
Kickstarter"
And here is a link to the song that I made out of it.
You could have me record an entire 10 song album for a donation of $960!
If you put $5 into the hat, you will get the next KLAPS issue -- number 31 --electronically in your digital PO Box. And should you, for instance, donate at the $150 level, there is a large, signed, Teen Magazine-style vanity poster of Karl Blau with your name on it (figuratively, and I suppose that could be arranged anyways), you get a limited print KLAPS T-shirt, and the remaining 12 issues of the KLAPS series.
At higher levels there is a 20 minute Skype concert for your ears only, a 24-hours-of-Karl-Blau-music-specially-packaged-flash-drive, or perhaps you live in the North West of the United States and fancy an in-home concert for you, family and friends. People, you could get together on this one and make it happen.
After KLAPS issue #42 perhaps will be a time to reconnoiter, or maybe a more standard release-at-a-time continuation? Maybe KLAPS will want to trudge on in a monthly fashion...
Thank you so much for your time and energy! I am so excited about this chapter of music making and sharing; and it will all be because of YOU!!!
And a big thanks to Kickstarter in advance for doing this and figuring out how artists can do their thing in their own (maybe not-so-metropolitan) town.
humbly yours
~k
FAQ
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on October 1.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
You have a digital version of KLAPS issue #31 coming to your electronic inbox.
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
Backers recieve a physical copy of KLAPS issue #31.
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
You will get a limited release KLAPS t-shirt plus one physical copy of KLAPS issue #31.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Large vanity poster of Karl Blau posed in a Teen Magazine style, a KLAPS T-Shirt and a physical copy of KLAPS #31 in the mail.
Pledge $80 or more Pledge $80 or more
You will receive 6 issues of KLAPS(the 1st issue by November, the rest in a timely fashion), plus a limited print KLAPS T-Shirt.
Pledge $96 or more Pledge $96 or more
1 song poem, you send your poem by email or snail mail and I record it and send it back to you electronically! Please include a picture or a link to a picture for inspiration. Plus you get 6 issues of KLAPS in your mailbox.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
At the hundy level, you get 6 issues of KLAPS all in due time, the limited print KLAPS T-Shirt and a large, signed, vanity poster of Karl Blau done in a Teen Magazine style.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
You will receive the final 12 issues of KLAPS over the course of 2011-2012 + the KLAPS T-Shirt + the large, signed, vanity poster of Karl Blau. And I will tell you how awesome you are.
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
Backers at the $200 level will get the remaining 12 issues of KLAPS, the KLAPS T-Shirt, the large vanity poster(signed), PLUS! I will give a 20 minute Skype concert for you and you only (unless you want to gather your friends and family around the computer as well...
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
Contributions in excess of $300 will get the remaining 12 issues of KLAPS, the KLAPS T-Shirt, the large vanity poster, a 20 minute Skype concert PLUS! 24 hours of Blau's music on a specially packaged 4 gig flash drive! I'm going to sign everything too.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Contributions of $500 or more will get all the schwag at the previous levels -- remaining 12 issues of KLAPS, the KLAPS T-Shirt, the large, signed, vanity poster, 24 hours of Blau's music on a specially packaged 4 gig, signed, flash drive -- plus, if you live in the northwest (Portland, OR to Vancouver, B.C. and as far east as Spokane, WA) I will drive to your home and sing a healthy set of songs in your kitchen, living room or where you like for you (and your friends and family?). Please and thank you. PS, I will start to send you this other stuff pronto, but the live concert will have to be some time in the Winter/Spring.
Project By
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Tooting my own horn of experience: including both solo and various group performances I've played over 1,000 shows spread over 4 continents, recorded over 24 hours of my own music and engineered/produced and recorded dozens of albums for others. I've performed/recorded in D+, The Microphones, EARTH, Laura Veirs, LAKE, Arrington deDionyso, The Bundles, Jim White, Angelo Spencer Et Les Hauts Sommets, and Bright Black Morning Light to name a few.
A LITTLE PERSONAL...
In the northwest of Washington State I grew up with the potential to be a 4th generation oyster farmer, but then traded in my pearls for music notes. I've been writing and recording music for over 20 years now. Currently I have a day job making underwater microphones (hydrophones y'all!) which is only part time -- and which is great because it gives me time to do my thing -- music!
Big changes are afoot in my household. As well as an artist I am a husband and a father. My wife, daughter and I am expecting another child in October, so that means the once vital touring lifestyle I've managed for 9 years is no longer valid. And it's perfect timing because my mind will most likely explode with albums full of songs if it gathers any more inspiration! And that could be messy.
