Kerryn Fields

Hi Friends!

Welcome to the making of my new album "WATER"

I'm Kerryn Fields - a NZ artist based in Melbourne, a full time musician, a deep thinker, a big hugger and a life lover.

My style of music fits somewhere between Alt-Country and Folk - I'm a storyteller, a guitar slinging troubadour and award winning songwriter.

"An incredible voice..... an Armatrading baritone all the way up to the top of the scale" - Radio13 NZ 

Photo by Cristal Cachia - The Aviary Studios, Melbourne

I self-funded and co-produced my first album ‘Rascal’ working every weird and wonderful job I could get to fund the recording. Collaborating with truly great musicians, the album reflects a time where fighting for equality and letting go of people I love filled every page of my journal and found their way into song. I love how the audience connects with music in their own way, coming back to hear the songs played live time and time again. 

I’ve learned an incredible amount about who I am as a songwriter and performer since releasing Rascal in 2015. I’ve written every day, listened to a library of great music, connected with truly inspiring artists and performed new material for folks in their lounge rooms, backyards, around campfires, in venues and from the festival stage. 

I’ve since toured Australia, New Zealand and Canada both with my live band and as a solo artist, winning the 'Newstead Live Festival ‘Troubadour Award’ in 2019 for the most exciting and inspiring act of the year.  

For this next record I have written my BEST songs.

Photo by Michaela Roy - NZ Country Music Awards 2019

Behind the scenes (and in front of them sometimes) it's been a big few years, undergoing stem cell treatment in 2017 to help manage my chronic illness, made  possible by the generosity of family and friends who helped raise funds I needed to access this treatment. 

I’m beyond happy to share that the new stem cells have been life changing, a transformation that I’m told speaks volumes in my smile every day. Health wise, the good news just keeps coming and I treasure this gift in each moment. Thank you again to everyone who made this happen with me, I truly love you.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE ALBUM #2 

"WATER"

'Mamma' won the 2019 MLT Songwriting Award in NZ Country Music - a massive achievement for the first single from the new record.  

Here's a snap of me and my Mum who also plays guitar and sings like a Queen! 

Photo by Michaela Roy - NZ Country Music Awards 2019

'Mamma' has been added to high rotation on ABC Country in Australia and is being played on radio in New Zealand, America and Canada. 

Listen to 'Mamma' on Spotify

Here's 'Mamma' live with Melbourne babe choir 'If You See Her, Say Hello' live at The Toff in Town.

'Until You' was nominated for the MLT Songwriting Award at the NZ Country Music Awards. 

Here's 'Until You' live with Sam Lohs & rosie Burgess (Tuckshop Ladies) at ABC Hobart

Pretty darn amazing to have the first two songs I wrote for the record receiving such generous praise on home soil.

So let's do this!! 

MEET THE PRODUCER - FRASER MONTGOMERY 

Fraser Montgomery (The Aviary Studios) has produced music for many Melbourne based artists I love including Little Wise, Al Parkinson, Dan Parsons, Emilee South, Brooke Russell, James Kenyon, Brooke Taylor and many more. 

Fraser and I have been working on various parts of the album for over a year, sharing songs and inspiration behind the scenes in order to really get to know one another, define the album and give each song a life it’s own. With an impressive catalogue of songs and albums to his credit, what I really like about Fraser is that he’s passionate about who I am as a person and an artist, he's down to earth and so easy to talk to, it feels right to be creating this record together. 

MEET THE MUSICIANS   

Rosie Burgess and Sam Lohs have been by my side over the past few years as I’ve grown these songs on and off the stage. Their divine harmonies are like the sun that shines on the water and their artistic genius is present in everything they do, inspiring me to be a better songwriter and musician. 

Joshua Barber will join us on drums with Ben Franz on bass, a dream team rhythm section who have created numerous recordings together, most notably "Warm Evenings, Pale Mornings” featuring Melbourne’s finest Americana artists recording each others songs live to analog tape.  

Now - to create the rest of the record, we're off on a grand adventure. 

WE’RE HEADING DOWN THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD.

The bones of the album will be created in what I’m calling the ‘Water’ house, a stunning home near Fairhaven Beach where Fraser, Josh, Ben and I will transform the living room into our own studio for a week in December (that's right - next month!!!) to record in a shared space, connecting with one another and each song in one room. 

We’ll eat together, be together, create together. 

Rosie and Sam have their own home studio (because they are legends), a space I’ve come to know and love probably more than anywhere in Melbourne, spending hours rehearsing our live show, devouring Rosie’s home cooking, laughing at Sam’s jokes, harmonising at the table and watching their garden grow.

Here we will arrange and record the harmonies that make audiences gush and wobble, bringing every song to another level of beauty and wonder.

Any final touches will come together back where we started at The Aviary Studios in Collingwood, then it’s off to be mastered by Adam Dempsey before finally being pressed to Vinyl and CD. 

It is because of you, my incredible family, friends and fans that make it entirely possible to create music for a living and that’s why I’m here now, asking for your support to take things to the next level.  

Professionally, recorded music is an opportunity to support bigger artists, to get heard on the radio and streamed online so there are enough offers to continue touring. And of course, once created - the music lives forever.

I am an independent musician without a record label, publishing deal, or manager so I need your direct support by pre-purchasing your copy of the new record. 

You'll be with me in that house, in the studio, on the road and in my heart every time the songs are played across the world. 

My hope is that there are enough people who want to hear this music, as much as I want to make it.

I am promising you something magic and I know that’s no small offer. 

I want this record to be something you'll want to have, to treasure, and to one day pass it along.

If you can share this link to your friends and family with a few words about my music, that would be truly helpful and so appreciated. 

Aroha nui – much love and deep affection 

xxx 

Kerryn 

Here's what it's going to cost to create my new record 'Water' 

My first target is $12,000! 

If I reach this magic number I can get 'Water' recorded and mixed. (If I don't reach this goal I don't get ANY of the funds). 

My stretch target is $15,000! 

If I reach this goal I can cover the cost of mastering the record and pressing 'Water' on Vinyl & CD

Anything above that would complete the full cost of the record, including all the artwork, Vinyl and CD pressing, merchandise printing, travel costs (house concerts and paying the band etc) and any hidden costs that might (and always do!) appear throughout the process. This doesn't include the promotion or publicity, this is just to get the music recorded, mixed, mastered and pressed. 

Here's a bit more of a breakdown of the costs to show you what it takes to bring life to new music: 

Recording Production & Mixing: $8800

Location Costs: $1300

Musicians: $2600

Mastering: $1100

Vinyl Pressing: $3300 

CD Pressing: $1200 

Album Artwork: $550

Pozible fees (5% of total pledged) $600

$19450 to make this record happen. Whew.

As a full time musician I am constantly touring, creating and working to keep myself watered and fed, all additional funds are poured straight back into creating. 

I also create programs for Aged Care and deliver these hugely rewarding workshops in homes across Australia and New Zealand as a way to bring music to our most vulnurable and treasured members of our community. This is the not so public side of my music career, but definitely a important part of what I do and who I am as a musician. 

I'm ready to work hard my friends, this is no small project - it's a labour intenstive, hugely creative adventure and I am so humbled that you're keen to be a part of this. 

Thank you, thank and thank you again. 

Kerryn