Overview

Hello world! My name is McKenna Stamm and I'm a singer-songwriter from Lynchburg VA living in the beautiful city of Nashville, TN.

“Music has always been a major part of my life and who I am. I like to say that songwriting was the first love of my life. From sitting at my grandma's grand piano, pounding out notes on the keys until it became a melody, to playing Nashville writers rounds and headlining iconic venues…all of that has led me to this point in my career and artistry. I am so excited to take my songwriting and my artistry to the next level and share this campaign with all of you. It is such a joy to announce this album and work on this process with you all!”

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my newest, 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 “No More,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "No More” 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.

“For all of you who know me, you know that I have been working for this dream my entire life. From church plays, to singing at Christmas parties, to releasing my own (low quality) music from my college dorm room..I have always dreamed of being a professional musician and a songwriter. I believe this next album, Bones and All, is going to be the catalyst in my career to make those dreams a reality.

Music is my everything. When I was diagnosed with my chronic illness and disability, I worried if I could ever make music a career or feel normal ever again. I want to use this opportunity I have been blessed with as proof that with determination and no “plan B,” those dreams don't have to stay dreams. I want to show other young artists with illnesses or disabilities that you are capable of doing amazing things, and life doesn't end at a diagnosis.

Music, for me, has always been my outlet. When I didn’t have the right words to say, somehow the right words found themselves onto a scrap piece of paper married to a melody in my head. This project has been just that for me, an outlet. An outlet with a destination.

For the first time ever, I’m not just writing as an outlet for myself and my experiences. I am beginning to really cultivate a community of people who can relate to my songs, my stories, and my experiences. My audience has steadily gone from my mom and roommates, to more and more crowded bars and iconic venues. This project will help me take that next step as a professional in this industry and share my story with more and more people.

With your support, I can take these dreams and songs and help inspire others all while building credibility as a musician, and leaving Boston with a product to be proud of. At the end of the day, all I want to do is make my family proud, redeem the pain I’ve been through, and inspire others to do the same. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with me, I truly cannot thank you enough for letting a girl from small town Virginia, chase her dreams and make them a reality. All my love!”

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.