About this project

From October of 2008 to November of last year, I traveled through South America with my wife, writing songs for a little-used musical platform: violin and voice. Upon returning to the U.S., I tracked eleven of these songs with my brother-in-law, Russel Munson; we're currently mixing the project. The next steps are mastering and duplication, and we need your help to make it happen!

Ideally, I'd like to make this solo violin/voice configuration a major part of my life and career: playing solo concerts, opening for other artists, and giving clinics to string departments, in addition to ensemble work. Having a good CD is an important calling card; when booking venues, trying to receive press, and getting radio and internet airplay, it is essential to show what one can do. So, by funding this project, you are not only getting a copy, you're helping me turn my unorthodox perspective on violin playing into a potential new frontier in acoustic music.

Another important aspect of this project for me is the prospect of purchasing a new, better instrument. With the CD duplicated in an initial run of 1000, I can begin selling copies at shows, which over the course of a number of months will enable me to replace my violin. During these shows, I'll inform the audience that anyone who buys a CD may choose to have their name printed inside my new violin.

But since all of this is still in an incipient phase, I can try to interest YOU with this pitch, first! Anyone who pledges $20 will receive the CD and their name inside my new violin once it's purchased.*

I do NOT plan to release this album as a digital download, at least not until I've sold the initial run and bought the violin. ONLY those who pledge through Kickstarter will have access to this download, which will be DRM-free, and will include the album art in PDF format.

If the project succeeds, I anticipate that the CD itself will be mailed out to Kickstarter pledge-makers in late August or early September, before any CD-release shows take place.

The rewards for any pledges larger than $20 are spelled out on the right. I admit that writing lots of chorales, fiddle tunes, and full songs could potentially be overwhelming, but when it comes right down to it, there's nothing better than the notion of being commissioned to write a huge mess of music. If the reward limits should happen to be reached, I reserve the right to take my time, and will have each pledge-maker's individual song, chorale, fiddle tune, or personalized 10-CD run finished by December 1st, 2010. If, on the other hand, demand is not so high, pledge-makers may expect their songs sometime in September or October.

All pledge amounts include the cost of shipping. International pledge-makers, please add $5 to any pledges $20 and over. The digital download pledge amount is, of course, unaffected.

Thanks for checking out my project! Please pledge! Be well!

Sincerely,

Kip Jones

www.kipjones.net

*no more than 15 characters, please. And no profanity. And 1000 names -- that's A LOT of names. Some names might overflow to the outside of the instrument, but I'm going to try to confine them to the interior.

Project location: St Paul, MN

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Kip Jones

St Paul, MN

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Kip Jones describes his music as "traditional fiction" or "experimental folk"; that is, traditional music from regions or people that don't exist. Having dragged his violin across the Americas from Cape Breton to Tierra del Fuego, and across Asia from Kanyakumari to Jeollanamdo, years of travel have shaped his music into something both structurally foreign and profoundly American.

1. kipjones.net
2. morningzephyr.com