Overview

Hello world! My name is Derek and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Dallas, TX.

You could say I have spent my entire artistic career in an ever changing, ever expanding landscape of digital opportunity (or maybe it was chaos)  Two sides of the same screen. The first music I ever produced hit the “airways” - Myspace music player - sometime around 2005-2006. We were a young Highschool band and we just wanted plays. Back then the profile song reigned supreme. Bands were “making it” via an online following. Whoaaaa.. But the idea of creator economies, crowd funding, influencers and youtube stars had yet to make their appearance.  Fast forward, as digital platforms continue to grow, as new platforms stake a claim, as social media evolves and as we continue to see shifts in ownership of old catalogues and undesired results to the creators of these works. I desire to remain "independent" or at least un-tethered from network execs and corporate algorithms. And I want to make a living. 

Working with Plaid Dog Recording, seeking financial support from my close friends and fans and trusting in a  professionally curated launch of the project from a team in a professional setting is a welcome step in the right direction. Trusting that my art has a place in this vast sea of creative voices. That creatives are seeking to build systems that support all aspects of the industry in a way where we all win. You’re amazing if you chose to read all of this and you’re amazing if you choose to donate to our project. As said, personally this is a test in trust. Do I believe these systems can work? Do I believe in my own abilities to use this momentum to jumpstart my next creative chapter? Do others want to see me succeed? 

The Answer is yes, but there is work to be done. And mental gymnastics to stick the landing on the other side of my own bullshit. But it’s a Labor of Love.

See you on the other side

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my next professionally produced studio album and stepping into my creative power as a full time artist.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Mike Davidson  in Boston, MA. Mike is a seasoned Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Mike 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, which is ready for you to check out right here on this page. This first song is called “Let’s Go Drive,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Let’s Go Drive” on my own, to create an album of songs of this quality, studio costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts.  and I will start crafting the 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 is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music and where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every member of the band.

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 and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I am so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

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

The impact of this campaign on my artistic opportunities in the coming years will be huge. I am leaning into all the talents, all the connections and all of the experience I have as an independent artist as I prepare to bring my next project to life. The most obvious goal here is to produce an incredible EP with Plaid Dog and get it out into the world. Supporting this campaign will accomplish exactly that. A wider scope in my overall creative goals looks something like this: 

Personal music “industry” goals:

-Create great music

-Build a true fanbase 

-Collaborate with other artists  

-Tour

-Launch a Label/Production Studio/Artist Co-Earn a living

All of which become more obtainable with each person that decides to place their bets on me. 

“Artists don’t need pity. They need power”  - Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler

Let’s do it

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 so grateful for all your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please feel free to 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.