Rick Hart

It's hard to believe that it's been almost two years since I started recording the first tracks for what will be my first album.

I was fortunate enough that in 2014, my debut EP and its title track "Spiral" helped me win the 2014 Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) "Songwriter of the Year" award, this ignited the spark for me  to start recording tracks for my first album. Now almost two years later I'm so close to achieving that dream.

From "Spiral" through to my last single "Driver Alone", it has been a hectic, but immensely enjoyable ride. But it's only the start and there's so much more to come.

In between helping raise a young family, a demanding job and life, with the amazing support of my wife, sons, family, friends and fans, the album has become a reality.  While I never planned for it to take so long, in many ways I'm glad it did because it has allowed me to really enjoy and take in the journey to get here and take my time making something I am very proud of.

I certainly haven't been idle since winning the ASA award, I've released another three singles "City Lights", "Levon Helm" and "Driver Alone", all of which were so warmly received. I've played lots of shows, both solo, acoustic quartet and with my band Rick Hart and The Sweet Addictions.  Lots and lots of writing too, with several albums worth of songs still to come. But I need to finish this exciting chapter first.

At shows people continue to ask me "when are you going to release an album"? Well now, with your help, I'll be able to say "here it is, here is my first album 'Let Me In'".

Many hours were spent in the recording studio with my good friend, producer and engineer Michael Zammit (Airwaves Recording Studios) to produce, record and mix "Let Me In". Mastering was done by the brilliant David Briggs (Little River Band). Along the way, there were some super talented people who leant their talents to the album and I can't wait for you to hear the songs.  

I'd be lying if I said there weren't times when I asked "is it all worth it", but the answer was always a resounding "Yes". 

Everything to this point with the album has been self funded. The production, recording and mixing, mastering and album design, I have managed to fund them all.  

But I now need your help to finish some of what's left to do.  I'm calling on your generosity and support. In helping me get there, you will be the first people to score some really exciting rewards, not to mention being the first to get your hands and ears around the album.  All those who purchase the album through the campaign will get the album several weeks before its official release. All pledgers will also receive exlusive offers and musical downloads in appreciation and only available to those who pledge. Please remember any contribution counts !!

Thank you for supporting this exciting chapter in my musical journey.

Now and Forever,

Rick 

The recording of this album has been a real labour of love.  I have saved hard and funded all the production, recording and mixing, mastering and more.  I will also continue to fund what I can and where I can.

But as any independent artist will tell you, releasing an album is a very expensive exercise, especially when you want it to be the best it can be.  "Let Me In" is a collection of songs that I am very, very proud of and want to share it with the world.

So I would love your help to raise funds to help me with: 

- artwork, design and layout

- CD packaging and replication 

- distribution, media servicing, promotion and some PR 

- all Pozible (campaign) administration and transaction fees 

I will still continue to self fund wherever and whenever I can, but need your help to get me over the line !!

While I ideally need closer to the $6000 mark, I have decided to target only $3500 to help me get there. Of course if you'd like to help me exceed $3500 then I that would be fantastic, and I sure as hell won't be complaining :-)

Any additional funds raised beyond my target will go towards hiring a dedicated publicist and heightened PR to spread my album far and wide, and even internationally.  As well as allowing me to tour the album to more places. That would be great !!

One thing I have learned through this whole process is that making an album is not cheap and takes a lot of time and effort. As well as the support you draw on to get there, makes it very demanding.  But through persistence and an unbelievable support network around me, I have produced the album I wanted to make.

Any and all of the money I have generated through my music itself (gigs, CD and merchandise sales, royalty payments, awards) has gone back into helping me make this album. However, it isn't enough to get me over the finish line. This is why I am running this campaign and asking for your kind support to help me get there.

The album has been almost two years in the making. Throughout, I've always given priority to my family (wife and three sons), but without their support and understanding of the time that I had to put into this album, and the sacrifices that not only I but they too had to make, I would not have got this far.  This combined with the demands of a full time job has seen the process take this long.  But it is totally worth it as I have produced an album of twelve songs that I am so very proud of.