Overview

Hi, my name is Emily Zisman. I'm a singer-songwriter from San Francisco, CA and this is the Plaid Dog Crowdfunding Campaign for my next studio album.

Songwriting came to me as an angsty teenager, when I felt invisible, when I didn’t think what my interests were were being taken seriously by the powers that be, and as an outlet for all the feelings I was unable to express in any other way. It wasn’t until college when I started performing my original songs at open mics, house parties, and showcases that I realized I was truly connecting with my peers and community on a fundamental level. I was having meaningful interactions and conversations with strangers and even friends with whom I became closer because of these very personal stories I was sharing. Once I felt that kind of closeness, I wanted that feeling all the time. So, I finished my college track and made a u-turn back to where I started and decided to fully commit to pursuing songwriting and performing.

Prior to this project I have self-produced, funded, and recorded two studio albums as well as an EP. It was a fantastic learning experience and I am really proud of my previous work. I also recognize the limitations of executing a project of this scale on my own and have always wanted an opportunity to really stretch myself in the studio. With Plaid Dog’s help, I have an opportunity to take this next album to a completely new level with a whole team of people dedicated to helping my music really be the best version of itself. With your help, this dream can be a reality.

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my upcoming professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Carter Sanders in Boston, MA. Carter is a Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Carter 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 “Nebraska,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Nebraska" with the help of some close friends and family, in order 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. Carter 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!

It's hard to express how much this project would mean to me.

At this point, I've gotten about as far as I can on my own steam, and as proud as I am of my journey so far, I recognize that I’m going to need more resources than I can supply on my own in order to step it up. The success of this campaign could help me take my career to the next level and would really mean the world to me.

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.