About this project
Bold EP and Tour!
$68,302
1,629
Hello babeliest of babes,
It’s here! It’s queer! It’s my Kickstarter! For the last year, I’ve been polishing the Bold EP and getting it ready to release to the world! However, in this newly independent endeavor, I hit a financial roadblock and had to put moving forward on hold. I briefly considered signing to a record label, but ultimately felt that a partnership with a company would not be in my best interest, both creatively and logistically. So I have decided to come to you, dear reader! I believe that YOU are the record label I have been looking for.
It's been 5 years since I launched my very first EP on Kickstarter, and holy crap, a lot has happened since then. I graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2012, and shortly after, I was introduced to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to create the song, "Same Love". After Same Love took off, I toured for 3 years, won a VMA, signed with Capitol Records, sang with Madonna at the Grammys while Queen Latifah married a bunch of beautiful same-sex couples, released "She Keeps Me Warm", was nominated for "Song of the Year" at the 2014 Grammys, spoke at the U.N. about familial safety and inclusion for LGBT youth, released a single, "Secrets" about being totally chill with mental illness that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart and was certified RIAA Gold, was honored as a chairperson for the Department of Health and Human Services for speaking about mental health, partnered with the National Park Service as a Centennial Ambassador, and was featured in JC Penney's groundbreaking plus-size campaign, called "Here I Am". (Also, I've been farting on the couch and eating snacks, but that is neither noteworthy or appropriate)
Last year, Capitol Records and I amicably parted ways. Since then, I have been writing music and poems (even a musical?!) like crazy. I am grateful to be independent, and to have the pressures of making music solely for-profit out of my life. The anxiety is gone, and I am Unicorn Queen of my music (PS should I rename the EP to Unicorn Queen??). But consequently, I've lost the financial credit line that the label provided. I've been nervous for the last few months, trying to figure out how to launch Bold without a real budget, and then I realized: the whole point of all of this- releasing music, going on tour, promotion- is about connection. It's about the relationship I share with you- whether on social media or at shows or at the grocery store.
Connection is what it's always been about. And maybe, you guys value this connection as much as I do; That although it's kind of scary to ask for help, it is a beautiful moment of humanness when people meet you with open arms. So here I am! Back where I started! When I launched my first Kickstarter, one of the rewards was for a pledge to be my plus one to the someday Grammys (PS I'm psychic). Unfortunately this time around, there's no plus one to the Grammys- but there are a lot of REALLY AMAZING rewards. Check them out over here -------------------------------------->
ABOUT THE TOUR
This part is a little tricky, because we haven't planned the routing for the Fall shows yet. I am planning to hit as many major cities as I can (without keeling over from feelings-overload), and hugging as many of you as I can (without getting a virus). I will keep you updated when the tour is announced. If you are purchasing a "meet and greet" reward, this applies to literally ANY public show for the rest of my life. So if you have pledged at a meet and greet tier, please note there is a possibility I won't be coming to your city on this particular tour. I do not have any shows booked or routed for outside of the US at this time- hopefully next year! Also, the meet and greet packages do not include actual tickets to the show.
The shows on this tour will be jam-packed with feelings and my killer band.
If you've been to one of my concerts in the past, you may be aware of the rollercoaster of emotional fuckery I put you through. It will be like that, but with more dancing and more fart jokes. If you want to cry and dance at the same time, and like being confused if you are crying because you are sad or happy-- JOIN THE PARTY, FRIEND.
ABOUT THE EP
Cover!
Bold is a collection of some of the funnest pop songs I've ever made. There are tracks that I've already released videos for ("Hang Out With You", "Lay Your Head Down"), and tracks that haven't been heard yet. I am super proud to say that I even produced three songs on the album! I HAVE HAD SO MUCH FUN MAKING THIS. There is even a new very very gay dancey pop song that says "lady" a bunch of times.
The EP is finished, but still needs to be mixed, mastered, designed, printed, and distributed.
As I'm figuring out, YOU are the best record label I could ask for.
xoxo Mary,
Unicorn Queen
GOALS
Well. Holy shit. The project was funded in 8 hours, so that's insane and made me cry. God. Thank you. Now I get to make even COOLER SHIT, since this campaign stays open until March 7th and you can buy all the EPs your precious heart desires. With more funding, I can make a killer music video, tour more comfortably, and do a serious PR campaign.
TRACK LIST
1. Do Anything
2. Lay Your Head Down
3. Hang Out With You
4. Know Your Name
5. I'd Be Your Wife
6. Love is Love (ft. Mary Kay Lambert) (MY EFFING MOM)
7. Know Your Name (The Reverb Junkie Remix)
TRACK CREDITS
"Do Anything"
Written and produced by Mary Lambert
Engineered by Jeremy Cays
Recorded at Jeremy Cays Productions in Sequim, Washington
Mixed by Devin Kerr
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
Guitar and Bass by Timothy Van Buren
Drums by Heather Thomas
"Lay Your Head Down"
Written and produced by Mary Lambert
Engineered by Jeremy Cays
Recorded at Jeremy Cays Productions in Sequim, Washington
Mixed by Devin Kerr
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
"Hang Out With You"
Written by Mary Lambert and Michelle Chamuel
Produced and Engineered by Michelle Chamuel
Recorded in Amherst, Massachusetts
Mixing and Additional Production by Jeremy Cays
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge,
Assisted by Chris Allgood
"Know Your Name"
Written by Mary Lambert and Tobias Karlsson
Produced and Engineered by Tobias Karlsson
Recorded in Los Angeles, California
Mixed by Michelle Chamuel
Additional Mixing by Devin Kerr
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
"I'd Be Your Wife"
Written by Mary Lambert and Toby Gad
Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Toby Gad
Recorded in Los Angeles, California
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
"Love is Love (feat. Mary Kay Lambert)
Written by Mary Kay Lambert
Produced by Mary Lambert
Engineered by Jeremy Cays
Recorded at Jeremy Cays Productions in Sequim, Washington
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
"Know Your Name (The Reverb Junkie Remix)"
Written by Mary Lambert, Tobias Karlsson, and Michelle Chamuel
Produced by Tobias Karlsson and Michelle Chamuel
Mixed by Michelle Chamuel
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
IMAGE AND VIDEO CREDITS
Photography by Shervin Lainez
Cover Make-up by Katie Pellegrino
Cover Hair by Ro Morgan
Video footage provided by Zoe Rain, Chris Matthews, Declan Whitebloom, VH1, Jon Jon Augustavo, Scott Bulgrin, Ryan Lewis, The Grammys, Phil Poole, and American Express UnStaged
Risks and challenges
The only challenge thus far, is financial. So I do carry a bit of fear considering Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing platform. I could also run into some snags with production timelines, but I just got a poster that says "Stay Focused", so I think my chances are good. If any hiccups arise, I promise to keep you guys in the loop!
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Funding period
- (29 days)