THE PITCH:

This May I'll be recording my EP - Whitelight Blackdog, written about my experience with depression. I've suffered from depression on and off since puberty - as have a significant number of people within my community. Whilst this paints a fairly bleak reality, it means we have an incredible community of people sharing this experience… If only we could TALK about it.

For those of you who don’t know me, I am Caity Fowler, a Melbourne based singer, songwriter, actor, playwright, cabaret artist & occasional opera singer. You can check out my music here:

https://soundcloud.com/caity-fowler 

Since graduating from the VCA in 2006 I’ve released a CD, started a theatre company, performed in a Disney musical, toured interstate with Melbourne band Playwrite, appeared in an opera, written a musical, toured regionally with an Australian play, performed over half a dozen original cabarets, staged a protest concert & drank a LOT of soy lattes. *I also make a mean soy latte in my other life as a barista – just in case I wasn’t busy enough.

          

For me, no matter what medium I’m working with, art is about a conversation. This realisation has lead me back to my song writing, sans band mates, back to my guitar & right here to this pozible page.

ABOUT THE EP

Whitelight Blackdog is a 6 track EP (mini cd) I’ve written about my experiences and those of people I love with depression. I didn’t sit down to write a “depression cd”…I realized when I looked at my collection of songs that this is a conversation I’ve been having with myself for a long time. The title has 2 distinct and contradictory elements, much like an experience with depression. This collection of songs reflects that duality. The Whitelight is the fundamental need for a message of hope, the belief, no matter how faint, that you will survive even the darkest times. The Blackdog, a term many have used to describe this beast, is the monster. For me it is important to talk about the dark and the light. I believe in acknowledging someone’s pain we validate their experience which can often be so lonely, so difficult to describe & worst of all invisible.

"I AINT SAYIN SHE’S A GOLD DIGGER"

I’m attempting to raise $5000 in four weeks to bring this EP to life.

This money will cover the recording (booked at Four4ty studios in Eltham), mixing, mastering and printing/production of the CDs onto 100% recycled cardboard. I will be contributing some of my own funds to cover all the extras. If we can exceed this $5000 target, I will be able to pay the incredible musicians who have thus far donated their time to record, and get a team together to PIMP this out to everyone. Ie publicity. The more people we get talking the better.

Your kindness WILL be rewarded. Check out some of the extra special “gifts” we have planned for your goodness to the right. There are EPs, hand-made-hugs *super cute*, gorgeous limited edition custom made just for US prints by incredible illustrator Jenna Ramondo from Musings from the Moon, Victory Party invites, Launch tickets, Caity covers & lounge room gigs. Phew. Go, shop! Have fun.

THE METHOD

Crowdfunding is a way for my audience and my community to be involved in this project from the word go. Putting myself on the public stage like this and inviting you in, I must admit is a little scary. But staying hidden doesn't serve my cause or anyone's for that matter. I want to find YOU! All those people out there who want in on this conversation. Yes, You! I would love to share this experience with you and I can’t do it without you.

This EP is the beginning of a conversation I’d like to start with you. The secrecy and taboo that surrounds mental illness even in this day and age create shame and embarrassment. I may never learn to be proud of my suffering but I am proud of my resilience. If I’ve learnt anything from the past decade as a story teller it’s that sharing our stories heals us in ways I don’t even fully understand.

I hope these songs help you understand yourself or those you love a little bit better. And if you can’t find the words, please feel free to use mine.

Let’s get to it. Share. Tweet. Post. Like. Talk. Let’s make it happen.

And from the bottom of my heart…thank you.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Magaret Mead.