Hi everybody!!!! Here's an update on the CD....
I spent two weeks in pre-production with David Kalish, and the phenominal piano/keyboard player Chris Joyner. We worked on 5 songs that we decided would be perfect for the record. The time I spent with these guys was pure magic. It was a hard two weeks. I worked my butt off, and really feel excited about these new songs, and so excited to see what you guys all think!
Unfortunately, when it came down to the deadline for the actual recording, I didn't have enough of the money to get the work done. So.... I'm asking you, my fans, to see if you can help me re-book the studio for the record.
I'm $2,700 short to even be able to get into the door for 3 of the songs to be recorded. I think that if we can complete 3 songs, we have something to approach the labels with, and we can continue to complete the record as time allows.
If you are interested in possibly investing in the record instead of donating please contact my manager, or myself, and we can discuss that possibility.
Thank you all for your continued support and love. I will let you all know as soon as I get the go ahead to begin recording, and will give you all an update as soon as we've finished mixing.
XO,
Hope W.
If you have inquiries regarding donations, please contact us at hopewaits.grassroots@gmail.com.
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A message from Hope:
Hi, and Big Hugs to all of my fans and supporters. I just want to start by saying that I am so grateful to all of you for your ongoing enthusiasm, encouragement, and support since the release of my debut album almost 2 years ago.
The album has done amazingly well, considering the limited budget that was set aside for publicity. I felt truly blessed and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be reviewed and interviewed in several publications during that time, and to have the album put in rotation at several radio stations all over the world. It’s been a truly amazing experience, and beyond all of my wildest dreams.
You can read some of the great reviews in the Press section of this site.
I also wanted to share with you that at one point last fall my album sales on Amazon.com, which are tracked daily, had me rank at #100 overall…...That’s the top 100 of all the albums, by all artists, being sold on Amazon!!! I was #2 in Contemporary Blues and #4 in Vocal Jazz! All of those wonderful results happened because YOU, the fans, reached out and bought a disc, told your friends about it, and continued to be a huge part of the music long after the fanfare faded. For this I want to truly THANK YOU ALL from the bottom of my little Cajun heart. I am nothing without the support of those who believe in the music. You are my biggest inspiration! The gift of being able to connect with another human being through my music is the best feeling in the world.
Thank You. Thank You. Thank You!!!
I am also just over the moon that my executive producer Douglas Grossman has partnered with Mark Sterling and his management team, at Sterling Artist Management, Inc. Together they will be guiding me, and taking my music career to new levels. Mr. Sterling and his team bring over thirty years of experience in the business, and along with their passion and belief in my music, they have set the wheels-in-motion for my next exciting new endeavor.
More Amazing News Here.....Keep Reading!!!
In order to generate a greater awareness for my music, I am in need of a larger record label. Through recent efforts by my management team there are several record labels who now want to hear my new music. Yay!!! People want to hear more!!! Can you believe it!?!? There are also album reviewers asking when my next album is scheduled for release. My managers have brought an amazing new production team to the table, and we all believe these guys can take my music to the next level. The producers are David Kalish who has worked with Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, Tracy Chapman and Michelle Shocked and Barrie Maguire who has work with The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant and Amos Lee. I couldn’t have asked for a better production team.
The goal is to write and record 3 to 4 songs toward my next album. These songs would then be submitted to the various interested record labels. Wisely, the producers want to record with some of the best musicians in Los Angeles. We are extremely confident that by placing our best efforts forward one of the interested labels will step up to the plate and cover the recording and marketing fund needed to truly launch my career beyond its present level.
As I said, this is the goal. Here comes the ugly truth.....Unfortunately, there is not going to be a next album, unless I am able to raise the needed financial support to record the required quality demos that are necessary to entice the interested labels.
As many of you know, the life of a musician who is just starting her career, albeit glamorous in appearance, is a life of exhaustingly hard work, with little financial return. I am coming to you, my fans and supporters, as patrons-of-the-arts, to let you know that I need to raise funds in order to accomplish the goal of recording these 3 to 4 needed songs.
No matter how many tables I wait, dogs I walk, blood I donate, or houses I clean, I will never make the money needed in time. And by time, I mean now....if I don’t deliver immediately, the labels will forget about me just as soon as they feel the warmth of the sun at the end of a beautiful day....time is of the essence.
My goal is to have the tracks completed by the end of September. My goal is to live, eat, sleep, and breathe music these next six weeks. I’ve already been hyper-focused for the last three months, and have been writing incessantly, sometimes for 10 to 12 hours a day. I plan to continue those long days until we can make 4 beautiful tracks that will change everything.
Music is what makes my heart beat, and is what nourishes my soul. I’ve waited for quite some time to make this happen. I feel with all of my heart that this is my time to shine.
So, with all that being said, I have decided to become creative in the ways I can thank you for your much appreciated support. Although I feel I couldn’t possibly ever give back enough to show you how much I appreciate you all…
If you wish to support this endeavor please click HERE to see a plethora of cool ways you can pitch in and get something pretty neat in return.
Much love,
Hope W.
