Overview

Hello world! My name is Josie Thompson and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Littleton, MA.

I cannot remember a time when songwriting didn’t feel like breathing for me. Though I’ve gone through many different phases of interest and occupation, expressing myself through music has remained constant. After writing and performing a song about friendship for my first-grade talent show, I wanted music as my livelihood. I spent my grade school years studying instruments and the mechanics of music theory and composition. I am now pursuing a degree in Jazz Studies at The Hartt School, where I am learning more about the history, culture, and practice of the music I admire so deeply. 

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 seasoned 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 “Otis ,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Otis ” 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.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to record and release my single, “Farewell,” with the help of Mike Rolla at the Isle of Dawn Studios. What was originally a song written to heal an ongoing state of devastation became a strong source of empowerment for me. I am still so blown away by the support shown by family, friends, and colleagues. The experience of sharing “Farewell” has given me the confidence to pursue new and challenging projects, such as this campaign. 

My intention for releasing my music has always been, first and foremost, to bring comfort to the listener. Through melody, harmony, and rhythm, this art form provides an escape to those who are experiencing hardship (or happiness!). Though I draw inspiration from personal experience, I hope that my listeners see a mirror image of themselves in my songs. This project is giving me a chance to share a new group of works, each of which reflects an important time in my development as a person. 

I wrote the lead single, “Otis,” about connections that fade away after one final state of euphoria. I originally composed this song being influenced by the works of Karl Suessdorf, Frank Perkins, and Irving Berlin, we experimented with a more modern sound in the production session. I cannot wait for you to hear more of what this album has to offer

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.