Overview

Hello world! My name is Marisa, and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Los Angeles, CA

I have wanted to be a songwriter and artist ever since I can remember. As a little girl, I loved singing, dancing, performing, and writing songs (even though they were mostly gibberish). Somewhere along the way of growing up, my confidence was shot. I began to struggle a lot with self doubt and low self esteem. I remember having this moment at 12 years old, telling myself that I have to give up on this crazy idea that I could ever possibly be an artist because it would never happen. For years, I basically worked against myself and denied myself of pursuing the thing I was most passionate about. I was afraid people would think I was crazy or delusional, which I’m sure they do now, I just don’t care anymore. I picked up guitar around my junior year of high school as a way to cope with some good ole high school heartbreak. What better way to express your feelings at 16 years old than learning I Almost Do by Taylor Swift? Slowly but surely, I began dipping my toes back into music. I started to take writing songs seriously at 19 years old, but wouldn’t even show my parents until I was 21. Between then and now, I have probably quit upwards of 10 times. Those voices in my head that tell me I’m not good enough are definitely still around, but I have gotten a lot better at telling them to shut up. On this journey of growing and improving as an artist, I have really gotten to know myself, and it turns out I actually do like her. I am so glad I have stuck with it and learned how to believe in myself. I know there will probably be an 11th or 12th time I try to quit. But, I think that’s just my life’s work. Continuing to grow and improve while overcoming those voices that meet me with resistance along the way. So here I am doing just that. 

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 “Something To Prove,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Something To Prove" 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.

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

All my life, I have held onto this secret dream of being an artist. I’ve tried so hard to push it down and ignore it. I was so drenched in self doubt and was so afraid of people seeing me. I know now that it was always going to find its way back to me. I have learned how to believe in myself, and though some days are harder than others, I know this is what I’m meant to do. Recording and releasing this EP will be my first ever step into being a true artist. I know that this is only the beginning for me. I have so many aspirations and ideas for where I want to go with my career. I only want to grow and improve and create bigger and better things. But, I can’t do that yet without a little help from you. 

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

All my life, I have held onto this secret dream of being an artist. I’ve tried so hard to push it down and ignore it. I was so drenched in self doubt and was so afraid of people seeing me. I know now that it was always going to find its way back to me. I have learned how to believe in myself, and though some days are harder than others, I know this is what I’m meant to do. Recording and releasing this EP will be my first ever step into being a true artist. I know that this is only the beginning for me. I have so many aspirations and ideas for where I want to go with my career. I only want to grow and improve and create bigger and better things. But, I can’t do that yet without a little help from you. 

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.