Overview

Hello! My name is Kirstie Lynn, and I’m a folk musician based in Kansas City, Missouri, but I’m originally from the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate, NY! Music and performing has always been a huge part of my life: singing and playing in school choirs and bands, performing in musicals and operas, teaching myself how to play the ukulele and guitar, completing both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Voice Performance and Opera, to now writing and performing my own folk music! Though my journey has had many turns and twists, music has always been at the heart of it, and I couldn’t be happier to share the fruits of it all with you.

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 seasoned Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together,  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 “Blazing Prairie Star,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Blazing Prairie Star” 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.  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!

No matter what language you speak or where you live, music is the universal language we all can understand. It heals, excites, unites, and comforts us when words or even people fall short, and I feel so lucky that I get to participate in the communication and offer my music to communities and listeners near and wide. 

This project is a culmination of the past 30 years for me, as I’ve just hit this benchmark. Themes of self discovery, doubt, and hope all find their way throughout these songs, but not without the help of friends, family, peers, and collaborators that have helped open my eyes and mind to ideas and notions of all kinds. It is because of this I feel so excited to share this record with not only my supporters, but new listeners and folks of all kinds! A poem from Emily Dickinson always comes to mind when I consider the impact a song or an album can make, 

“If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.”

If just one person finds solace in this project, I shall not live in vain! The hope is, of course, with your support this record finds many people, offers them a shoulder to cry on or a big bellied laugh, and strengthens that musical network that connects all of us humans through our shared experiences.

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.