Overview

My name is k8ie and I'm a singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York.

After over a decade of songwriting, recording, and performing my original music professionally, I am finally releasing my debut studio EP. All my experiences, good and bad, in the music industry since I was fifteen have prepared me for this moment and this project. 

This project is a culmination of songs I’ve written over the last six years, exploring coming-of-age, betrayal, yearning, and growing in, through, and out of myself as an artist. “k8ie” is my pseudonym for this project, which begins with my portrayal of the character, “The Idiot,” dawning a dunce cap and mismatched academic garb, in front of the repeated phrase of “I will not become infatuated.” The song is about forfeiting self-respect and dignity in the name of a romanticized crush, laying all my cards on the table for a person I’ve essentially made up in my head.

This collection of songs is an introspection. It commemorates all the versions of me that have followed me throughout my professional career, but it is led by the need to acknowledge myself as a human being first. These five songs showcase who I have been, who I am becoming, and who I aspire to be.

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

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Carter Sanders  in Boston, MA. Carter is a seasoned 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 covered the costs of recording and producing one song, which you can check out on this page. This first song is called “idiot,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "idiot” on my own, studio costs add up quickly to create an album of songs of this quality. 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 on the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and discuss new and exciting ideas for approaching the recording process.

2. Recording: Here, we enter the studio and start capturing the music, where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a pivotal role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every session musician.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will be mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture, and color. 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 appreciate and am grateful for any support you can give this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've assembled a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

It's hard to express how much this project would change my life.

Songwriting is where I feel most vulnerable. It’s the practice I’ve kept sacred since grade school. From songs about heartbreak to songs about resistance in dark times, I face every polished and unpolished part of myself in my writing. Performing and writing are what I believe I do best, and I want to share that with the people I love and those who find solace, joy, release, what have you in my music.

I’ve been awarded accolades for my lyric writing and music composition in the past; for my last release, “Drifting Away,” I was the recipient of the 2019 BMI Foundation’s John Lennon Scholarship. However, I haven’t released music since 2018 for many reasons: the devastation of the pandemic, self-doubt, and, most notably, a lack of support and finances to create a body of work that made me proud.

There are some things I want to keep “close to my chest” (listen to “idiot” and you’ll get it ;), but I will say that I have a strong artistic direction and vision for this album. This project honors my younger self, a theatre kid drawn to the spotlight to bring different characters to life.

The larger your donation, the more looped in on the project you will be! I am beyond grateful for all donations of any tier. As a donor, know that you are a direct producer of my debut album and I can promise you won’t be disappointed.

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 grateful for all your support.

If you know anyone in your network who 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.