Overview

Hello world! My name is Kai Wilson, and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the city of Boston, MA.

I fell into creating and playing music in my early twenties. I have been fortunate enough to play all around the United States in places such as Nashville, all around the state of Colorado, Boston, New York City, and more. My journey began by playing covers at open mic nights and then at restaurants and bars. After realizing that I had something to encourage people, bring others together, and provide opportunities for love and joy, I began putting my all into creating stories in song that I am really excited to share with everyone. 

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 Mike Davidson in Boston, MA. Mike is a Boston-based producer and engineer with 15+ years of 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 “Old School Simple Love,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Old School Simple Love" 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. Mike 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.

Music is a universal language that everyone seems to understand on some level. It has this incredible ability to heal, connect, soothe, mend, and even inspire courage. In my music journey and creative process, I have gone through highs and lows to create music that deserves the time and effort that I am hoping to get out of this new adventure.

Music has been so much more than a skill; it is something that has brought me immense passion. It has brought me a community. It has brought my family closer. It has given me friends that push me to be my best self. It has given me an outlet to hurt. It has given me opportunities to heal. It has given me opportunities to feel love, joy, anger, and sadness. But, not only has music brought me an amazing community and a sense of safety. It has also allowed me to find myself. When I play music, I am my most honest self. I am undeniably me. It is what I am meant to do in this lifetime. I want to create music that makes people feel like their most authentic selves, a place where people feel safe, where they know they are not alone in their struggles.

Through this process of finding myself, continuing to overcome obstacles that I experience in my lifetime, and finding my passion for music, I have come to realize that there is more I can do with the outreach that this crowdfunding campaign is providing me. In the process of raising money for my music, I also want my outreach to provide education and awareness for the struggles in mental health for all but more specifically in men. I have had my struggles with it and there has been a stigma that has prevented me, my loved ones, and many more from seeking help causing some fall into alcoholism, drug abuse, and even suicide. This has been an issue across the entire country and world and it is something that is not discussed enough. 70% of all suicides are men, 1 in 10 men experience anxiety and depression, and men are less likely to ask for help. With the links below, maybe you will be inspired to reach out for help, provide those close to you with resources and education, even lend an ear to those who are hurting, or even reach out to me. I am always willing to lend an ear and a helping hand.

Links:

https://us.movember.com/?home

https://www.manup.how/

https://jedfoundation.org/

I have done many things in my short lifetime. I have managed multiple high rise construction projects, I have completed a master’s degree, I have moved across the country and back, and I have learned to be a pioneer in my passions. With your support, I will funnel all of my hard work, experience, hardships, emotions, and passion into something new and beautiful that we will have made together and maybe even save a few people along the way.

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.