Rachel Taylor

I've been a musician pretty much my whole life, gigging at a professional level since the age of 14 and writing music for longer than I care to admit. It's finally time to get this music out there to you wonderful people in a high-quality production. I will be recording a CD of original music using as many reused, recycled, reusable and recyclable products as can be affordably sourced.

           

There are dozens, perhaps even hundreds of CD music projects being recorded in Australia every day. It seems the only popular “eco-friendly” way of accessing these recordings is via digital download. While it’s fantastic to have this option, it is near impossible to get the same audio quality as the physical media through an easily available download.

Artists working in other media have long held with the idea of reusing, recycling, and/or re-purposing. From vintage clothes to art-from-trash, the concept has been around for a lot longer than you might think. Music lovers have long cherished second hand record stores while at the same time wanting to create new music. This project aims to bring those two ideas together.

In today's culture there is a lot of talk about sustainability, and there are plenty of ways people choose to live sustainably. Most of us recycle bottles and cans rather than tossing them into landfill, and plenty of people reuse items because of the economic advantages of buying second hand. Whatever your personal philosophy, the common thread shared by all people is leaving a better world for future generations.

                                                     

Every time we make a choice we create ripples of change that can permeate a whole culture. Sustainability isn’t just a by-word, it’s an achievable and necessary way of life. This is just one way in which I can make my work life match up with this philosophy. I want  to create a new music project that embodies sustainability.

As well as the $4500 target, I have applied for $2000 assistance from Arts Tasmania through the Crowbar scheme. That would bring the total up to $6500 which would be spent on:

Studio hire + engineer = $2400 (3 days)
Mick at Mixmasters studio in the Adelaide Hills has created incredible recordings and built the studio from a converted warehouse using mudbricks, recycled timbers and other materials, as well as using a lot of second hand and refurbished equipment.

Musicians (not including me, just the 3 other guys!) = $2700 (3 days)
Yes, that's right - I really believe that musicians should be paid for what they do. The break down of this figure works out at $300 for a 12 hour day. $25 an hour is peanuts for experienced professionals. They deserve a lot more than this and have been gracious enough to donate their rehearsal time as a favour to me, making me super grateful and humbled by this whole experience.

Media duplication and printing costs = $1200 (for 500)
Media Movers have great deals on printing, this is for an "eco-tray" option using recycled blend board and soy based inks.

Administration costs = $500
This is a conservative estimate for covering the small fees charged by Pozible for the campaign, processing the pledges, and getting the rewards out to you as quickly and efficiently as possible.


Total = $6800
The difference will be made up out of my own pocket and I'll also be wearing other costs, for example travel, accommodation, mastering and all fees associated with making the digital download available. The plan is that after the initial campaign here on Pozible I will be able to move more CDs and downloads to new fans to help recoup those costs - this project is not going to make me a billionaire rockstar!

The first challenge in this project has already happened! Bronchitis and singing do not mix, but recovery is almost complete as of the end of June so we're looking good to be in full voice for recording in mid-August (phew!)

Between now and then there will be huge amounts of work to be done with arranging, rehearsing, and administration. I'll be doing the majority of the work myself with help from my amazing musicians and recording engineer. Keeping on top of the workload will require more self-control and motivation than you might think possible of a musician, but this project has been marinating away for so long that I'm absolutely bursting to get out there and do it.

               

Traveling to Adelaide with all the gear is going to be a bit of an epic adventure, but any of you who know me personally know how much I love to travel (even short distances) and adventure is my middle name! ...actually that's not true, my middle name is Jane. Fun fact. But I do love an adventure.