About this project

Dear supporters, friends, and lovers of music,

As you may have noticed, a little perfectionism, one emergency back surgery, and a large lack of funds has made the time between records stretch on for what seems like an eternity.

For the past four years I’ve been working on "The Archives", a record that is a real departure from my past work, which was composed mostly of love songs. "The Archives" is a concept record that explores our fractured relationship with Nature.

Most of the attention around this issue has been on climate change and its effect on people. My focus is on what we lose when we force other species into extinction. "The Archives" explores my feelings around this issue, as well as the perspectives of displaced and extinct animals, in an attempt to create more empathy from people and hopefully inspire change.

In March 2006 I was awarded an artist’s retreat in the woods of Oregon where I wrote the songs. I've since recorded them with my own funds, songs which include a full band, cello, horn, and keyboards.

Now I need your help funding the final steps that will bring this music into the world.

Making a record has many costs you may not know about. In addition to our equipment, a small recording studio is $550 a DAY. Session musicians, mixing and mastering, and ecologically responsible duplication add up fast; on past albums to about $10,000 per CD. To save on recording costs down the road, I’ve invested in gear so I can record some things at home, but the computer and recording equipment are really expensive too. All these costs make it hard to break even, much less fund future projects.

Kickstarter allows you to invest at any level that feels right to you and brings you rewards in return. If we reach our goal, I will donate the net proceeds from tickets to the Archives CD release concert to the NRDC, an environmental group that protects endangered animals.

If we raise the money needed, I can not only finish the Archives, but explore other ways to help raise awareness around the issues raised by the project. I can even start recording a brand new set of songs for CD number four, "Giving up the Ghosts"!

Let’s make this happen!

HEAR MY MUSIC AT http://www.odessachen.com

Project location: San Francisco, CA

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Project By

Odessa Chen

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Odessa Chen's singular musical vision is not easily categorized. She approaches songs of love, longing, and displacement with accomplished lyrics, and unusual song structures. Aspects of folk, classical, and indie rock converge to make music that requires quiet attention.

Described as intelligent, subtle, and haunting, Odessa's pure, ethereal voice and finger-picking guitar style has drawn comparisons to Jeff Buckley, Sigur Ros, and Cat Power.

Her debut One Room Palace (2003) attracted international attention and laid the foundation for her current release The Ballad of Paper Ships, which she wrote, produced, and arranged. She has had the pleasure of collaborating on her recordings with Wilco's Nels Cline, Xiu Xiu's Devin Hoff, The Drift's Rich Douthit, Scott Amendola and Matt Brubeck among others.

Touring internationally, Odessa has been featured on NPR, MTV U and MTV Chi, KRON4, and in independent films, compilations, and on radio stations. She has shared stages from a boat in Paris to the Great American Music Hall with artists such as Jolie Holland, Damien Jurado, Mia Doi Todd, and Vienna Teng amoung others.

Interested in exploring collaborations and alternate settings for her music, she most recently performed at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts with 24 dancers, string quartet, piano, drums, and bass clarinet in the Illustrated Book of Invisible Stories. She is set to release a new record in 2010.

A former poetry major, she has studied classical voice and cello, and sung in early music choirs. A self-taught guitarist, she grew up in Baltimore, Maryland.