Overview

Hey there music lovers! My name is Camille Hartley, and I am an old time fiddler and songwriter based out of California. 

I have been playing fiddle music and writing songs for about seven years. After attending an Alasdair Fraser camp when I was 16, I have been gathering bits and pieces of traditional fiddle styles from all over the world, from Scottish tunes, to Finish, Galacian, Irish… anything I could wrap my ears round. A few years ago, I landed in the old time scene (music stemming from Appalachian mountains) and have been spiraling down that rabbit hole ever since. Meanwhile, I have been writing my own songs and tunes in a steady and unstoppable stream of whimsy and inspiration. This solo project is loop-pedal based, and attempts to combine my two musical muses; blending my fiddle roots with my nature-twined songwriting. 

The songs and tunes have been written and arranged, the producer and guest musicians are waiting-- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step in creating my first professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Bryan Fennelly in Boston, MA. Bryan is a Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Bryan and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life. 

We’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing one song, “Roots and Scales” which is ready for you to check out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Roots and Scales" on my dirtbag, bird-nerd savings, studio costs add up quickly when creating an album of this quality. This campaign gives us a unique opportunity to collaborate and bring forth great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts. Bryan and I will work up arrangements for each song slated for the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This includes studio time capturing the music and is where the songs become what you'll hear on the album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for each element of the song.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture and color that make up a track. As a final step, the album will be mastered from beginning to end so that the listening experience is cohesive from start to finish.

Beyond just the warm fuzzy feeling you’ll get for supporting art, there are also some awesome perks included with your donation!

I am hugely grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really fun, special array of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below and a full list to the right!

This project is a huge step in my journey as a musician.

Those of you who have seen me in the ooey gooey center of a jam know that there is no better place for this Cheeta to be. I love songwriting. I love fiddling and the chaos of improvisation, but I never thought I could do both together until I tried. This past year, my passion for music reached a tipping point. I realized there was nothing I could do but dedicate myself fully to my art. I applied for and completed multiple artist residencies in Pacific Northwest, spending hours writing and arranging songs, and booked and played my first ever tour, all with incredible support and encouragement from the various communities I am so fortunate to find home within. 

The success of this campaign would be a big step for me. I have written so many songs, but up until this point I have never had the chance to record them professionally. Right now the only way for people to hear them is through low quality voice memos or at a live performance. This album will not only allow me to share my music more widely, it will also give me a foot into the gig-booking world; a token of access to venues so I continue touring and chasing my dream.

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts, and I’m incredibly grateful for your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please share this page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. I can't wait to share this music with you.