Overview

Hi, my name is Josh Clay. I'm an artist, songwriter and music producer from Atlanta,GA and this is my Plaid Dog Crowdfunding Campaign for my 1st professional studio album.

Music has always played a role in my life , primarily on my moms side of the family. My granddad was in a lot of groups when I was a kid and I would go out with him on the tour bus to those good ole gospel “sangings” if you know what I mean. My uncle sang as well and took me to his high school once to sing the national anthem with him when I was like 5 haha but it wasn’t until I was around 12 years old that I saw this guy singing and playing the acoustic guitar at the church we were attending .. and I turned to my mom and said.. “I want to do that”. I guess she talked to him afterwards about how much a guitar would be or if he gave lessons. The next week he showed up with his very first guitar he ever got and gave it to me for nothing. He gave me lessons for a little while but I guess we just couldn’t afford to keep doing lessons.. but I continued to learn all I could. Around the age of 15 we started a youth band at church and I also started to pick up drums and bass when I could. In high school there was a guy in a “screamo band” that heard I could sing and wanted me to come to a practice .. and I became their bands singer. My writing skills were very sub par and vague back then ha. I played in a few bands throughout high school and then in college started playing around with my best friend. We kept that band together for I would say a good 3 years before moving to California.. but eventually that season of my life came to a close. After that.. I kinda gave up on music .. like completely .. I think I went a year if not 2 without even picking up my guitar. 

Once I started getting my life together .. which I accredit a lot of that to me rediscovering my faith I moved back to Georgia and linked up with some old friends and started playing bass in their group. I started trying to write original stuff but nothing major.. that group also eventually dispersed but I was leading worship at various churches at this point. 

In 2018 I purchased logic and started messing around with production and got serious about writing. Around 2020 when Covid brought its wrath I started to really hone in on bringing my songs to life from voice memos to actual full length songs. 

In 2022 I released my first debut single “Greater than the Grave” and my first EP No chains on me , all fully written , played and produced by myself.. and haven’t looked back since. 

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

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

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Lightning" 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. Ryan 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 change my life.

I don’t know how to put into words of what the success of this campaign would mean to me. I guess in a nutshell .. I have a huge picture in my music space that says DREAMS COME TRUE. My wife and I have had it for about as long as we have known each other. I assume she hung it up there to remind me that anything is possible and I can do anything, but if I can be honest, sometimes I wonder what’s the point ? Is anyone actually listening? Would they notice if I just stopped? I have come to the conclusion .. that maybe .. if just one persons life is changed by my stories and songs then I’m going to  give it all I got for that one person. I can promise you this.. if this campaign is successful I will pour every ounce of my heart, creativity and passion into this project even if it’s for that ONE person! The success of this campaign to me means.. WE DID IT. Not just me by myself .. but it was because of YOU that my dreams came true and for that I would be eternally grateful. 

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.